April 3, 200719 yr Dick Vitale just stated on the ESPN post-game show that reliable sources told him that Donavan would respect UK enough to listen but ultimately stay at Florida or head for the quote " Big Bucks" of the NBA offers coming in to Donavan. Digger Phelps, who recently said Donavan should stay, now says Donavan should go because things can't get any better at Florida, they can only get worse. Digger said there would be "Down Time" now and the UF fans would expect better and that Donavan should head for a new challenge. Does these comments from Vitale concern anyone as much as it does me? I think Vitale may have been hearing some things at the Final Four. I know everyone is sick and tired of hearing this stuff, as am I, but I thought this was important enough of a comment to post considering he used the words "reliable sources". That concerns me when coming from Vitale cause he has the connections we all wish we had. Comments or Concerns?
April 3, 200719 yr I think Billy is smart enough to not talk to anyone about the situation but his wife and parents. Would you trust a loudmouth like Vitale with a secret? I like the guy but come on:)
April 3, 200719 yr Duke Vitale giving Kentucky any kind of support would be something out of the ordinary. He was good friends with Tubby, and that is basically the only reason he gave any kind words to the Cats in the past few years. Now after Tubby jumped to the bottom of the Big Ten, it has been nothing but a total rip fest when it comes to Dickie V and UK. Since Tubby's departure, Vitale has really earned his first name when it has come to UK fans.
April 3, 200719 yr I'm getting tired of hearing Vitale talk about how loyal and loving the Florida fans are and Kentucky is not. The last I checked old Ron Zook would not be thinking the same thing. But I guess since Vitale isn't buddy buddy with Zook he doesn't have to back him like Tubby. By the way the Florida fans were right about Zook and the UK fans are right about Tubby.
April 3, 200719 yr Dick Vitale's sourse is Rick Pitino...I cant stand Vitale... I'm just tired of hearing how Florida is a fairy tale land of peaches and cream and UK is like turning to the Dark Side. Florida had a website about firing Ron Zook before anyone ever came up with the idea and now Zook is at a Big Ten school being poor at best about like what Tubby will do at Minnesota. I understand Tubby is his friend but at the same time he has a job to do and to say Tubby got a raw deal if full of it. Florida ran Zook off in football as harsh as anyone can be treated but Vitale is not smart enough to think about football even though these are the same fans.
April 3, 200719 yr Vitale is being misled. Even Digger has come around. The Donovan clan knows what is up. As I mentioned in an earlier thread, the deal is complete. There will be a press conference later this week to introduce Donovan. This comes from a two sources second hand that have a very close working relationship with UK, and it entails the money side of things. Don't forget Donovan told Vitale something in confidence regarding Noah and Horford and Vitale betrayed that confidence by slipping up on radio. Is this a way of repayment? I dont think so, because Billy usually takes the high road like he did when Roy Williams lobbied some slavos his way a few years ago. Possibly, someone is doing the dirty work behind the scenes to throw some egg on Vitales face. Vitale and Katz have been the two most outspoken regarding the possibility of Donovan to UK. Katz said there would be no way for Donovan to leave. Vitale says he has reliable sources. As of tonight, I fully expect to see Donovan named coach by mid-week. To quote Donovan tonight, "Im at peace, when I can look back with no regrets."
April 3, 200719 yr Did anyone hear Dickie V. say on the pregame show to "Give me a dollar a year and I'll go coach at UK next year....it's a great job"? That kinda ticked me off the way he's been bashing us the past week or two......
April 3, 200719 yr He didn't say he'd coach at UK for a dollar... He said if Donovan went to UK, give him a dollar and he would coach at Florida.
April 3, 200719 yr Maybe it was just my fantasy mind.....but did anybody catch Billy D's pre-game talk to his team and he was using the "horse race" as a motivator...I kept thinking, that's a hidden message! Oh well...was fun to think about.
April 3, 200719 yr Even with all his talk, I just cannot dislike Vitale. I think that he is great for the game, cares deeply about the kids and the integrity of college basketball and his work for te "V" foundation is amazing. Besides, he certainly is not the only one to ever put down U.K.. To most U.K. basketball is kind of like the N.Y. Yankees, no one likes to give credit to the best programs in the history of the game. JMO
April 3, 200719 yr Vitale is being misled. Even Digger has come around. The Donovan clan knows what is up. As I mentioned in an earlier thread, the deal is complete. There will be a press conference later this week to introduce Donovan. This comes from a two sources second hand that have a very close working relationship with UK, and it entails the money side of things. I don't usually have those kind of sources. But I'm getting good info from somebody I trust who said basically the same thing. He mentioned 3.8 for seven years and another 3.8 bonus if he completes the seven. No guarantee he won't use it as leverage against UF in the end, but that is the deal as it was relayed to me.
April 3, 200719 yr He didn't say he'd coach at UK for a dollar... He said if Donovan went to UK, give him a dollar and he would coach at Florida. This is correct, he said the salary could be donated to the V Foundation. The other panelists had some fun with it and quickly pointed out that Vitale never does anything for a dollar, they said he wouldn't even get out of bed for a dollar.
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