Donovan/Pitino: The Metamorphosis is now Complete.

[Buck_Naked]

After years and years of trying to actually become Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan has finally succeeded!!

Of course he had already perfected and implemented the sideline demeanor, the clothes, the hair, and even the coyness with the media. However, until he led his employer to believe everything was in order, and then bolted to the highest bidder, well, he was merely a (relatively) cheap imitation.

Congrats Billy, you've emerged from your cocoon as a true "Slick Rick" clone!!

(tongue only partially in cheek)

[crazzedcats22]

it is amazing how similar they are. However, being like Pitino sure made Billy D a rich, rich man. I wouldn't mind having $27.5 million

[Buck_Naked]

it is amazing how similar they are. However, being like Pitino sure made Billy D a rich, rich man. I wouldn't mind having $27.5 million

Oh, I'll never blame a guy for improving his quality of life/earnings, it's just the way some go about it that strikes me as funny (and not "ha ha" funny).

I've said for the past 4 or 5 years that the only thing separating the two was their degree of loyalty and that Donovan had yet to master the "speaking out of both sides of his mouth".

No, don't misconstrue, more power to him. I too would take $28million over the next 5 years. Heck, I might even quit my day job..... ;)

[Will Lavender]

It won't be complete until we see Billy D. on SportsCenter shouting, "Shaquille O'Neal is not walking through that door! Penny Hardaway is not walking through that door...!"

[Mr. T]

I heard a clip of him on the radio yesterday..... man, I could have sworn it was Pitino 10 years ago....

[Dr. H Lecter]

Billy D has surpassed Boston Rick. He has 2 rings and Boston Rick only 1.

That said, Billy D is not the ruthless self promoter that Boston Rick was. Heck. I have not seen a Billy D's restaurant or Billy D's Pasta etc... I really believe that Pitino's head swelled due to the adulation he received by our fans and he really started believing his own PR spin.

I don't really see that in Billy D. yet. I think BD just realizes that he is at the height of his earnings potential and is doing what is best for his family. He's striking while the iron is hot.

And what the heck, if he fails in Orlando everyone will simply point at all the other college coaches who have failed before him and he will grab $2.5Mil per season to coach again in college....where he will say he belongs.

Its totally a win-win situation for him.

[Doug Hardin]

The Pitino/Spurrier cycle is almost complete. Now he just needs to sign too many of former players (perhaps he'll trade up to draft Noah or try to acquire Matt Bonner or Donnell Harvey) then get fired and return to coach a rival school like Tennessee or Florida State.

[ukwebfan]

Surely his prosperity is merely fools gold. But the longer I look at Billy's team...I'll say it like this. Dwight Howard is the straw that stirs the drink.

Crap! We're all turning Patina.

A calm has come over me now. I'm complete and whole in my patinaness-nes.

[84Cat]

Crap! We're all turning Patina.

A calm has come over me now. I'm complete and whole in my patinaness-nes.


Now that's funny!

[TrueblueCATfan]

I still can't believe Donovan took the advice from Pitino about taking the Magic job......Did Billy D not see what happened to Pitino in Boston?????????

[Josh]

I still can't believe Donovan took the advice from Pitino about taking the Magic job......Did Billy D not see what happened to Pitino in Boston?????????

If anything, I think Billy will learn from Rick's mistakes. They were just colossal for the Celtics organization. Silly trades and bad draft choices doomed Pitino from the start. His should not have continued to bring in Kentucky players like he did when he got there, with the exception of Antoine (traded for Walter) It just doesn't translate well when you say it out loud.

Billy has a young team like Rick did when he took over the Celtics, but one thing Billy does have that Rick didn't is a solid foundation on which to work. This is still a 40 win club compared to the 15 win team that Rick took over. Dwight Howard is an absolute beast, and Jameer Nelson is a quality player. Two really good players to build a team around.

Off the top of my head, I don't see why this Magic team can't be a few games above .500 next season. I don't suggest that Billy take the Pitino-approach and use all of his second round draft picks on Florida players though :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:. I say they try to make a move and get into the first round. There are players out there in this draft that could certainly help them next season.

[TrueblueCATfan]

If anything, I think Billy will learn from Rick's mistakes. They were just colossal for the Celtics organization. Silly trades and bad draft choices doomed Pitino from the start. His should not have continued to bring in Kentucky players like he did when he got there, with the exception of Antoine (traded for Walter) It just doesn't translate well when you say it out loud.

Billy has a young team like Rick did when he took over the Celtics, but one thing Billy does have that Rick didn't is a solid foundation on which to work. This is still a 40 win club compared to the 15 win team that Rick took over. Dwight Howard is an absolute beast, and Jameer Nelson is a quality player. Two really good players to build a team around.

Off the top of my head, I don't see why this Magic team can't be a few games above .500 next season. I don't suggest that Billy take the Pitino-approach and use all of his second round draft picks on Florida players though :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:. I say they try to make a move and get into the first round. There are players out there in this draft that could certainly help them next season.

I hope you are right..I would love to see Donovan really suceed in Orlando..wouldn't that be the icing on the cake

[POEKLM]

I still can't believe Donovan took the advice from Pitino about taking the Magic job......Did Billy D not see what happened to Pitino in Boston?????????
Pitino is a fine example to follow.....bomb in Boston, find a school desperate to get rid of their coach and sign. Two NITs and one Final Four later Pitino signs a contract for money that he certainly hasn't earned. Billy can and will do the same.