JB

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting Billy Donovan has been offered and has accepted the head coaching job of the Orlando Magic. Color me surprised. He passes up Kentucky (arguably the best college job in existance) to coach in Orlando? I just don't get it.

I guess guys like Bruce Pearl, Mark Gottfried and John Brady are relieved.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...home-headlines

Bob

Would take a huge check to happen.....

JB

They are saying six years, $36 million. For that kind of swag, can't say I blame him

Beach Runner

Say it ain't so!

Of course, the rumors were that Donovan had accepted at KY, and that didn't happen. I'll hope for a similar situation here.

Weird. The sports anchor on an Atlanta station was just about to say something about Billy Donovan at the end of the broadcast, and then he abruptly stopped in the middle of the sentence and started talking about beach volleyball at Atlantic Station in Atlanta. Very weird.

ESPN radio is saying it's a done deal.

Just in - 5.5 years, $27.5M according to ESPN news.

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ATJoe

Swag, indeed!!

At least it's a much more inspired hire than my home town Pacers announced today.....Jim O'Brien. Egads.

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This isn't flying.....this is falling WITH style.

Bob

Kurt may not be happy about this, no?

JB

I would think not. But my Lord, who in their right mind could turn down $6 million per year?

Beach Runner

From ESPN.com:

Billy Donovan will be named the head coach of the Orlando Magic on Friday, several sources have told ESPN.
The announcement is scheduled to be made at 11 a.m. ET, sources told ESPN.com's Pat Forde.
Thursday, after weeks of waiting for the University of Florida to finalize his new seven-year contract, the Magic offered Donovan a big-money deal. Sources say the deal is shorter and smaller than original reports of a six-year, $36 million deal. The contract is for five years and with a value of $27.5 million.

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Smiling JOe

Maybe he is trying to take advantage of some of the high rise condos he bought in Orlando. Who is Donavan?

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Beach Runner

He's the guy who sang "Mellow Yellow."

They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly).

Actually, as you know, the Donovan to whom we refer was once orange and blue but now is MELLOW GREEN! It was funn while it lasted, but you can't blame him.

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Beach Runner

So Friday I received an email from the President of The University of Florida:
Dear Alumni and Friends,
If you're like me, it was a something of a bittersweet moment when you heard that head basketball Coach Billy Donovan was leaving the Gators to take over as coach of the Orlando Magic.

This morning I woke up to my husband telling me the good news from the Gainesville Sun:
It appears Billy Donovan has had second thoughts. He may be returning as Florida men's basketball head coach. Donovan agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the NBA's Orlando franchise on Thursday, but has approached the Magic and UF about getting out of the deal, Foxsports.com reported late Sunday. According to one source, Donovan was forced to make a rash decision by the Magic management - and he regretted it shortly after agreeing to the contract.

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JB

It wouldn't be the first time this sort of thing has happened. I think a similar thing happened when Arkansas tried to hire a new basketball coach last winter. Still, Donovan went so far as to attend a press conference in Orlando announcing him as the new coach. Strange stuff.

Smiling JOe

I was thinking that Donovan was UGA's former head coach, but after a qiuck search, I see his name was Donnan.

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Smiling JOe

Speaking of basketball, have the final finals started for the pros? I know they have been playing the finals since Feb. They lost me as a fan a long time ago because of this playoff silliness.

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JB

I haven't gotten into the NBA since the Lakers' heyday in the 1980's. I follow it with only a passing interest these days. Game 1 of the finals starts Thursday - Cleveland vs. San Antonio. Should be pretty entertaining watching Lebron James go against Tim Duncan. But I have to pull for San Antonio due to my old bud Robert "Big Shot Rob" Horry.

Bob

Kurt made a phone call.

kurt

I GOT the call.

kathydwells

I bet BR threatned him, and told him she would kick his A$$ if he left U of F for that Magic job. He was skeered of her and changed his mind.

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~He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is and inexorable, indisputable law.~ Pablo Picasso.

Beach Runner

How did you know?

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Bob

Donovan did the right thing shunning O'town. The Magic are owned by Rich Devos, co-founder of Amway. There's enough bad karma wrapped up in that organization to last forever.

Beach Runner

Email I received this evening from the President of The University of Florida:

Dear alumni and friends,

Less than a week after we all said our goodbyes to the winningest coach in UF's history, we're in the happy position of welcoming him back to The Gator Nation.

I know this has been an emotional rollercoaster ride for Gator fans everywhere. In the end, Billy followed his heart, and his heart is in college basketball and at the University of Florida. It was a hard decision but a courageous one, and I respect him tremendously for that.

So it turns out Thomas Wolfe was wrong -- you can go home again. We're glad you're here, Billy.

BR says, "It's great ... to be ... a Florida Gator!"

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Bob

P.S. Billy, If you lose more than 10 games next year.......all bets are off.

JB

I know the UF folks are excited/relieved. But the question is, can you trust him now?