The contract, in this case, is the ticket. Fans will have up to the first three innings to restructure their deal, but even that's negotiable. The price of the ticket, the seat location and even a buyout can be arranged. Part of the negotiating process will involve making a free throw. The Miracle will have Fort Myers defense attorney Michael Hornung on site to negotiate settlements. Hornung attended the same high school — St. Agnes on Long Island, N.Y. — as Donovan.

We had forgotten about the free throw clause; looks like Shaq is there for the duration. Other fans who brave the entire nine innings will win free tickets to a Florida Gators basketball game. And as you may have guessed, waffles will be available at the concession stands. Also, the Miracle will have local resident Billy Donovan — not the basketball one — throw out the first pitch. See you there!

Miracle To Celebrate Billy Donovan's Change Of Heart [Fort Myers Miracle]
Spurrier Empathizes With Donovan's Decision [MSNBC]

The Orlando Magic have decided that if Billy Donovan no longer wants to coach the team — and they are certain he doesn't — it is Donovan who will have to take the step to legally break his contract with the team. Those close to the situation told the Orlando Sentinel that the Magic expect Donovan soon to begin maneuvers to break the five-year, $27.5 million contract he signed with the team Friday — and then return as coach of the University of Florida Gators at some point. Until a settlement is reached, the Magic not only still consider him their coach but would take him back if he changed his mind again despite the fallout from his stunning reversal.

So who is on the Magic's short list now that Donovan has regained his senses had second thoughts? We bring you Stan Van Gundy, former coach of the Miami Heat, and Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo. What, no Rick Barry?

Orlando Magic Wait For Billy Donovan To Void Deal [Orlando Sentinel]

To which the Magic responded; fine. Be that way.

The Orlando Magic today will allow Billy Donovan out of his 5-year, $27.5 million contract that he signed on Friday. "It's over," said a source close to the situation. Donovan had reservations about leaving the Florida Gators for the NBA on Friday and spent all weekend trying to find a way to get out of his contract. On Saturday, Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith went to Gainesville to try to convince Donovan to honor the deal. Smith talked with Donovan again on Sunday, and so did Magic President Bob Vander Weide. Unless Donovan wakes up today and changes his mind, the Magic will let him go, the source said.

Meanwhile, there was further terrible regret, this time in the world of soccer, as David Beckham carefully examined his new Los Angeles Galaxy contract and discovered a glaring mistake ... that he's playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

David Beckham is having second thoughts about ending his playing career in the footballing backwater of the United States. The former England captain, 32, signed a five-year contract worth £125 million with LA Galaxy in January after being sidelined by Real Madrid as well as Steve McClaren's England. But while Beckham insists that his US move will not harm his chances of continuing his international comeback, his return and the reception he received from the 90,000-strong crowd at the new Wembley Stadium on Friday night have made him reconsider his desire to continue playing club football at a high level.

This will probably happen every time that the Tom Cruise Scientology brainwashing has a chance to begin to wear off.

Elsewhere in bitter regret:

• "Sorry for being so physical, and also for shooting Sonny on the causeway." — Phil Pronger

• "Sorry for blinding you with the pink." — Danilo Di Luca

• "Sorry for all the blow." — Milan goalkeeper Nicholas Caglioni

Orlando Magic Will Allow Billy Donovan To Return To Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
Sources: Donovan Wants Out Of Magic Deal [Fox Sports]
Beckham Fears He Has Made A Huge Mistake With Galaxy Deal [This Is London]

I cannot begrudge Billy Donovan for leaving Florida for the NBA. Not after he won back-to-back national titles. Simply put: He has earned the right to do whatever he wants, without anything from Gators fans except, "Thanks for the memories."

Still, the big question on Florida fans' minds: Why the hell would he leave behind what he has built?

For the money? How lame, particularly when you're talking about the difference between $4.X million and $5.X million. I hope that wasn't his motivation.

For the challenge? What, like joining the Rushmore of college coaches (Wooden, Knight, Smith, K) wasn't a tantalizing enough prospect? He'd rather figure out how to shake JJ Redick free for 10 3-point attempts a game?

For the location? I appreciate that coaching in Orlando lets him stay near his family, but what could be closer to his family than staying in Gainesville? In Gainesville, he is a god. In Orlando, he is out-ranked as a local attraction by Goofy.

And the final insult for any college fan, Florida or anywhere: What, exactly, is the lure of coaching in the NBA? On its face, it sounds like the shittiest job in sports.

Zero job security, with a "when" not "if" inevitability of a bad ending to nearly every coaching hire. (Welcome to Indiana, Jim O'Brien!) Star players who run the team. Financial realities that hamstring moves.

Roughest of all, the "Ring or Bust" mentality. Jerry Sloan is the ideal of NBA coaching longevity, yet he is best known for NOT winning a championship. And most of the coaches who have won a title recently (Jackson, Tomjanovich, Popovich) have enjoyed coaching the greatest players of their eras. Dwight Howard is the best post player in the East — not a bad foundation to build a contender — and they have double-digit cap millions to use (please God: NOT Vince Carter...hmm: Gerald Wallace?) But yeesh, those odds are still ugly.

Meanwhile, Billy D was on track to be one of the Top 5 most successful coaches in college hoops history. His style seemed MADE for college. (His weakness - Xs and Os - will be magnified in the NBA, while his strength - personality - will be mitigated.)

Gators fans have been through this before: When Steve Spurrier left for the NFL. Spurrier meekly (and inevitably) returned to college football — to some Florida wannabe. Gator fans, ultimately, were better off without him. But still: When the Ol' Ball Coach returns to Gainesville, the fans cheer him like he never left - for what he did while he was here.

We will feel the same way about Billy D. We don't have to agree with his decision today, but his legacy among fans is secure. Even after he realizes that coaching in the NBA sucks and he flees back to college hoops with another program. By then, Florida will be 100-plus wins into the Anthony Grant Era. Thanks to Billy.

To the surprise of many — including us — it looks Billy Donovan is gonna stay at Florida after all.

Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn't interested in leaving a Florida program that he led Monday to the national championship for the second consecutive year.

"After finally having an opportunity to sit down with my family, and with [Florida athletic director] Jeremy Foley, I've decided that I will remain at the University of Florida," said Donovan, a former Wildcats assistant under Rick Pitino.

We still think he should have left; he could gone down as the savior of both Florida basketball and Kentucky basketball. But what the hell do we know? Like we have any idea what coaching college basketball is all about. Apparently it's not just about scary Gordon Gekko-era hair gels.

Donovan To Remain At Florida And Talk Extension [ESPN]

The man on the left, Ohio State head coach That Matta, is two years younger than the man on the right, Florida coach Billy Donovan. There must be something in the water in Columbus that ages people prematurely. At this time next year, Mike Conley Jr. is going to look like Laurence Fishburne.

It looks like we're having an encore this week, though, as Florida coach Billy Donovan continues to play footsie with Kentucky and its open coaching job. Some reports say they've already offered him a contract, and there's no question he's their top candidate. That might be all fine and good — though we don't understand why he'd want to leave a school he could lead to two consecutive titles — but certainly now's not the time to be discussing it? Donovan could have eliminated this whole storyline with a well-placed "I'm coaching the Final Four this week, and that's all I care about," but instead he pulled that "well, I don't know where Kentucky stands, so I can't worry about that" ploy that set everybody off and will surely increase his price tag.

It is frustrating that much of a Final Four this potentially amazing will be tied up in discussing the bank account of Billy Donovan, but we fetishize coaches and probably always will. Even ones as scary as Billy Donovan.

Coaching Search Breakdown [Kentucky Sports Radio]
Bad Form [Yellow Chair Sports]

(UPDATE: A Lexington TV station says the Donovan-to-Kentucky deal will be announced after the Final Four.)

Anyway, Vitale was doing a radio interview yesterday and was talking to someone in the room and forgot he was on the air. He ends up trashing Joakim Noah a bit and telling some off-record Billy Donovan info that we doubt the intense Florida coach would particularly enjoy.

The best thing is that this happens twice; we imagine Vitale just trying to figure out where the "SEND TELEGRAM" button on his phone is. For some big fun, you can hear the audio here and here.

Dickie Vitale Reveals Billy Dononvan Comments.....Oops and Oh Shit [Loser With Socks]