He's OURS, KenSUCKy.

Billy Donovan turns down Kentucky, staying at Florida

To all you arrogant, delusional, inbred Kentucky fans (certain that Billy D was coming to Lexington, just as Alabama fans "knew" Steve Spurrier was coming to Tuscaloosa last year), who said things on ESPN.com message boards like:

Whether it's the right coaching choice for Kentucky remains to be seen, but don't fool yourself. This is a done deal. It's been done for the last six months.

And this:

Pretty much from what someone said and the rumors and knowing some people in the Kentucky Boosters and School, it is a done deal. the reason he doesnt have to worry about it, is because he kn ows he will be in UK Blue next year

And this:

He may not have talked to them yet...but HE is the next coach at Kentucky and will be announced before the bunny hops this weekend.

And this:

Kentucky Announcement .... Friday April 6, 2007... Donovan Named Basketball Coach.. Mark it down.. and I am not a fan of either school...just a fan of the game...

And this:

Whatever, I think you guys will be feeling very BLUE (no punt intended) come next Tuesday. Mrs. Donovan has been in Lexington looking at horse farms this week, I tend to think that would not be necessary if a move wasn't imminent. We sahal wait and see.

And also this:

yea your right about Donovan letting UF sweat it out and thats smart, but there is no way they could match UK's price range anyways. any honestly do you really believ him when he says he hasnt talked to the university of kentucky on the subject of being their coach...please? He's going to be UK's coach next year.

All I can do is to quote the great Nelson Muntz, when I say to you:

HA HA!

Oh, you arrogant bastards. You were so drunk on your homemade moonshine, you were living in an alternate reality. Convinced that Billy D could never prefer Gainesville to the "history," "tradition," the "lore" of Kentucky basketball. You were adamant in your assertions that it was a done deal, that Donovan was just itching to follow in the steps of Tubby Smith, a coach you forced away to Minnesota because 20-win seasons aren't good enough.

Billy has everything he'd ever want in Gainesville. A fully supportive athletic director, a rabid fanbase, and he'll soon have a fat new paycheck. I think it's possible that he could leave for the NBA someday. But any other college job? Hell no. As I said in my last post, leaving UF for UK would have been a downgrade.

Kentucky fans actually thought that UK had a bigger checkbook than UF -- HA!

From 2005, the most recent data available, here are some figures to chew on:

Total athletic donations:
UF: $26.9 million, 3rd nationally
UK: $8.1 million, 37th

Total sports revenue:
Florida $77.7 million
Kentucky $54.5 million

Ah, you fools. Living here in Birmingham, I used to think that Alabama fans were the most delusional in all of college sports, the fans who refused to acknowledge their greatest glory days were behind them, their greatest coach dead. Now, I think UK fans are giving 'Bama fans a run for that title of "most delusional," the only title either one of them is particularly close to.

Today, just like every day, and particularly every day for the last twelve months, it is truly great to be a Florida Gator.