What a fraud?

By John Gottlieb
The Phanatic Magazine

It looks like the only Magic trick Billy Donovan will be doing is the disappearing act.

I know we live in the age where coaching contracts mean nothing, but they typically don't change their minds within 24 hours.

So let me get this straight. On Thursday the thought of making $27.5 million over five years to coach the force known as Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Darko Milicic, etc., having enough salary cap room to lure a high-profile free agent, moving a mere one hour from his home in Gainesville, and having the chance "to do something that would really challenge me as a person and coach and help me grow and get better" was fantastic, but a day later it wasn't?

What kind of a leader is that?

According to ESPN's Andy Katz, "Sources said the Magic pressured Donovan to make a decision last Wednesday and Thursday, and Donovan, who admittedly had gone back and forth on the idea, finally agreed to take the job."

Are we to believe that Billy Donovan is the type of leader that is talked into making important life decisions?

What exactly changed from Thursday to Friday?

Nobody forced Donovan to put his name on the dotted line. Maybe he looked at his mentor Rick Pitino, along with Mike Montgomery, Tim Floyd, etc. and realized that he couldn't do any better than them.

However, those are things you usually think about before accepting the responsibility of leading an NBA franchise.

"And I've always been intrigued by the NBA. To leave Florida would have taken something very, very special," continued Donovan. Billy, are you no longer intrigued, or do you doubt that you are good enough to lead the Orlando Magic to the next level.

Rumors are swirling that if and when Donovan is let out of his contact that he may have to accept a five-year ban from the Association. Why not make it 10? He should be taught a lesson to not string teams along. Be a man and live up to your commitments.

It'll probably be another 10 years before Donovan wins another NCAA title let alone two.

I bet Billy doesn't even care about the roller coaster he's put the Magic, Gators and Anthony Grant through.

Grant was probably an hour away from accepting the job of his dreams. After spending years at Donovan's side, he was probably salivating at the thought of leaving VCU for Florida. Hey, I've got no problem when people change their minds, but how's about thinking the process through before agreeing to do something that you can't fully put your heart in.

I refuse to believe that these thoughts just popped into Billy's head as he was announcing his decision to a crowd in Gainesville. He didn't seem to care at his press conference in Orlando as he walked into a crowded room to a standing ovation.

Maybe he can have both jobs. He can spend half the week in Orlando and the other half with the Gators. That seems to be what he really wanted anyway.

I'm sure Donovan didn't think about anything other that his huge paycheck until Florida AD Jeremy Foley was on his way to meet with Grant to most likely offer him the job.

No doubt Donovan feels remorse now, but it's because he made himself look like an idiot in front of the whole country. He went from having this clean image and being one of the best basketball coaches, professional or collegiate, in the country to someone who can't make up his own mind.

Wouldn't it be great if Orlando decided not to let Donovan out of his contract? There's no way the ownership is going to keep guy that doesn't want to be there, but the thought of Billy roaming the sideline with a sulk on his face is amusing.

Billy Donovan will get his wish and when official practices start in the fall he'll be on the sideline molding the minds of America's youth, but won't you look at him a little differently now that he is a flip-flopper; a man that can't stick to his word.