People change their mind all the time; it’s part of being human.

Sometimes you have to make the wrong decision to realize what the right decision was in the first place.

Billy Donovan made the wrong decision, in his mind. Maybe he caught a few butterflies about going pro (like the best of ‘em). Could be that he remembered the movie “Devil’s Advocate” and started to compare himself to Keanu Reeves. (And that’s never a good position to be in) Maybe the dollars were the only part of the whole ordeal that made sense, like the Wu Tang Clan used to say, “cash rules everything around me…”

The bottom line, however, is that Billy D. spurned the Orlando Magic organization. They thought their future was bright, with a two-time NCAA championship coach stepping in to take over their talented young roster and, hopefully, proceed to greatness.

Not like Patino in Boston, this would be different; Billy D. was ready for the big-time… or so everyone thought.

So the Magic would not be out of line to make a list of demands for Billy D. to adhere to in order to void the 5-year, $27 million contract he signed just a few days ago.

Promises were made, promises were broken. The Magic deserve better.

Yes, Billy D.’s legacy in Gainseville will live on for years to come. Back-to-back championships is no easy feat to come by. In fact, he may have already trumped Spurrier as the most famous Gainsville coaches go.

Another victim in all of this is Anthony Grant, head coach of Virginia Commonwealth University, and assumed successor to Billy D.’s Florida throne. He probably prepped his family for mass transit to the sunny state but now… in Richmond they stay. Don’t get me

“I think the easy decision, for me, would be to stay at Florida.”

Then he proceeded to say something along the lines of wanting a challenge. Apparently, he wasn’t ready for that challenge. The college ranks allow more power, less money but if two titles in a row are any indication, he’s not ready for any new challenges. Just the comfortable ones he already had laid out for him back home in Gainesville.

The Magic would never want a guy who doesn’t want to coach for them. Of course they should let him go. But adding in the clause preventing him from going to the NBA in the near future is a light punishment for the trouble Billy D. put the Magic through.

Players catch constant grief for not honoring their contracts. If the league wants to save face for future coaches who decide to spurn other teams, they should make an example of the waffling coach. Play hardball and make getting out of the contract a pain.

Stan Van Gundy is ready to roll as the head coach right now, but what the Magic should do is hop one person down the Billy D. coaching line and tap Anthony Grant as the head coach once this contract dispute is settled. He has worked alongside Billy D. for ten years before heading over to VCU. His style would be similar to Billy D.’s but the difference would be that he would be more likely to apprecitate the opportunity the Magic has to offer.

Nothing against Billy D., because everyone changes their mind at some point, but most adults know that signing at a dotted line means making a contractual obligation we are legally obligated to fulfill.

Make an example of Billy D. now, so when Coach X. comes around after the next big dollar, bait-and-hook job, they will remember to think long and hard in deciding whether or not they are ready and able to accept the seriousness and commitment the job entails.

So to Billy D. we say: GET YOUR MIND RITE! …or better yet, let the Orlando Magic do it for you.