Katina Powell apologizes to U of L basketball players, recruits on local radio show

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Her tell-all book may have started the downfall of the University of Louisville basketball program. Katina Powell has been out of the spotlight recently, but now she's talking again.

Powell introduced herself to radio listeners on Saturday morning.

"A lot of people know that I don't do a lot of apologies," Powell said said. "I want to start off by apologizing to the basketball players and the recruits at the university."

Powell is a former self-proclaimed madam who provided dancers and escorts for University of Louisville basketball recruits and wrote a book about it.

"Breaking Cardinal Rules" was released in 2015. Since then, the University of Louisville has taken hit after hit, and so has Powell.

"You've had death threats, you've had people who have wanted to see you gone, in more ways than one," retired Metro Councilwoman Denise Bentley said.

"I didn't expect it to go as far as it went, I didn't think it was going to break that hard," Powell said.

Gone are former university President Dr. James Ramsey, Athletics Director Tom Jurich, Hall of Fame Basketball coach Rick Pitino and the 2013 NCAA National Championship banner.

"I was shocked, I had so many emotions," Powell said.

You could say those same emotions are responsible for Powell's latest message.

"That's been on my heart for a long time," Powell explained.

Bentley and Louisville attorney Dawn Elliott host "D&D Spill the Tea" Saturday mornings on Praize Power 1350 WLOU and 104.7 FM.

"This is your time, this is your opportunity to tell your story," Bentley said Saturday morning.

Bentley and Elliott gave Powell their platform to deliver her message.

"If I did anything to damage your career or your opportunity at basketball, or championships or anything, I sincerely apologize," Powell said.

"First of all, I wrote the book so I know exactly what happened and how it happened," Powell said when asked what she was apologizing for.

Powell is not apologizing for the book.

"What I apologize for is the feelings and the faces that I saw on those kids faces when things ... when it came to the forefront," she said.

Powell is an avid writer and says "Breaking Cardinal Rules" was pulled from her daily journals.

"The publishing company, IBJ, just decided to take the most out of it, which U of L and write about that, but it was a lot in the journals," Powell said.

These days, Powell is still writing. She has a new publishing company and plans to release two more books in the near future.

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