Donovan Going Back to Florida?

Did he sign a contract or were there details/fine tuning being completed, even though they already had the presser?
Most stories I've read said he agreed to a 5-year, $27.5 mill contract.
If he didn't sign anything, the Magic are SOL.

 

I know ESPN's somewhat known for doing this, but how many times has Katz specifically been falsely given credit for a scoop? I vaguely recall at least a couple others.

 

He signed. I believe ESPN or the Sentinel just reported that they're working out legal stuff right now.

 

I doubt Grant would think twice about the UF job should it be offered. It's a huge opportunity for a lot of money and at a blossoming basketball program in what is becoming a big-time basketball conference. He's done about as much as he could at VCU--they beat Duke (whether Duke was overrated or not is irrelevant) and came damn close to the Sweet Sixteen.

That said, his job at UF would definitely be tough. Florida probably isn't even an SEC Title team next year unless something bizarre happens in Knoxville, and with Felton building at UGa, Vandy building into a consistent contender and Kentucky seeming to improve under Gillispie (at least in overall talent level, thus far), the SEC East isn't going to be an easy place to play.

But none of that would be enough to keep him out of Gainesville should Billy D remain in Orlando. What a circus.

 

Gatorland couldn't come up with enough money to match what the Magic gave him.

 

Fuck Katz and fuck ESPN. After seeing the Goodman story, I checked ESPN instantly. Nothing.

Andy has pulled this shit on me before (I don't want to out myself), but honestly, there isn't much you can do. The first time it happened, I had my editor call ESPN to complain because it is an UNETHICAL business practice. But that went nowhere.

If I were Goodman, I'd ask Fox to sue ESPN. This shit has to stop.

 

BREAKING NEWS Alert
Donovan Having Second Thoughts?
Apparently, in Billy Donovan's world, the grass isn't greener in the NBA. According to sourcesthat guy with FoxSports that kicked my ass, Donovan -- who on Thursday signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with Orlando -- has approached the Magic about getting out of the deal and returning to the University of Florida, where he coached the Gators to the last two national championships. The decision, according to the sourcesthat guy with FoxSports who kicked my ass, rests with the Magic. Andy Katz

 

So the Goodman article reports that Donovan hasn't yet signed a contract in Orlando, but Katz said on ESPN just now that the contract has been signed, though some particulars need to be worked out.

What gives?

 

One difference:

Katz is reporting Donovan signed the Orlando contract.

Goodman is reporting that he hasn't signed the deal.

I guess there's a chance they both found out about the development about the same time ... not trying to be Andy Katz's apologist.

 

Ah, College Journalist beat me to it.

 

The following is from the Orlando Sentinel story. It sounds like a fun way to pass the time at midnight on a Sunday:

In response to a midnight visit by the Sentinel to Donovan's house in a gated Gainesville community, UF assistant coach Larry Shyatt answered the door. Shyatt, whom Donovan said would accompany him to the Magic, said, "You guys can't talk to him now."
UF spokesman Fred Demarest declined comment on the report.

 

Maybe so, Shelby, but I will say that I checked ESPN's site several times after I first saw this thread to see what they had on it, and I'd say there was nothing for at least a half-hour after I first checked (and I don't how long after the Fox story was first posted).

I can't believe for a second that the folks at ESPN were unaware that the Fox site had already reported this information when they repeatedly stated on-air that Katz "broke" the story. Sounds unethical to me.