Fake Left, Go Right
Posted June 7, 2007, 7:29 AM ET

It's June. It's hot. The perfect summertime ensemble seems to include flip-flops....and I bet you that Billy Donovan owns a pair.

Less than a week after accepting the Orlando Magic's coaching job, "Billy the Kid" had a change of heart and has returned to the University of Florida. In the process, the Magic and the NBA have put Donovan on a five-year double secret probation and asked him not to return anytime soon. For Donovan, that won't be a problem.

The NBA has seen two of the all-time flip-flops in the past ten days with the antics and indecision of Donovan and last week's episode involving Kobe Bryant. The good news about the off-the-court issues is that it has filled the void left by a lack of action on the court.

It seems like weeks have passed since we last saw the Spurs play, and we have to be reminded of the "LeBronze Buzz" from the Eastern Conference Finals.....and that's too bad, given the fact that the NBA finally found a spark with the play of "The King" and the upstart Cavs.

For the record, the NBA Finals resume on June 7th....but back to Donovan.

His decision-making process has been scrutinized by anyone who follows sports, and then some. What makes the topic more intriguing is that the opinions vary as much as Donovan's interest in the Orlando job in the first place.

Mark Cuban appeared on my radio show and thought the best thing for the Magic was to let him go immediately without any financial penalties. His reasoning was pretty simple....if the guy doesn't want to coach for you, then why would you want him around. Fans will forget about it, so find a coach that will make you a winner.

On the other end of the spectrum you have ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. According to Bilas, Donovan's decision was completely unprofessional...one of the worst, if not the worst thing, he has seen in college athletics. I haven't seen or heard Bilas this upset about a topic in quite some time.

Of course, Dick Vitale applauded Donovan's return to the college game and claimed that he can establish himself and his legacy like other great college coaching icons. It is hard to downplay Donovan's accomplishments in Gainesville.....he's made three Final Fours, and he has two national championship banners hanging in the rafters.

When it's all said and done with, Donovan is back where he is the most comfortable and happiest. Despite the headaches he's caused for so many people and organizations with his decision, people in Gainesville will be ecstatic to see him on the Florida sidelines for years to come.

Did the decision hurt his reputation? In the short term, yes...but all will be forgotten. That is until the start of the college basketball season when Billy Gillespie and the Kentucky Wildcats look to regain their status as the King of Hoops in the SEC....but that's a debate for another day.