For The Record

A Change of Heart

WHEN BILLY DONOVAN was introduced as the new head coach of the Orlando Magic last Friday, he said that his decision to leave Florida was not an easy one. He described a seesaw internal monologue. "What did I want?" he said. "What was really in my heart? Did I really want another challenge, or did I just want to say, You know what, just stay at Florida—it's easy." The questions apparently never went away. Two days later word spread that Donovan, who had agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract, was having second thoughts and had asked Orlando to let him back out of the deal. (As of Monday his status had not been resolved, but the Orlando Sentinel reported that he would return to Florida.)

The flip-flop was surprising in part because the Magic had seemed like a relatively good fit for Donovan. While Orlando hasn't been past the first round of the playoffs in 11 years and college coaches have a terrible track record when making the jump to the pros—see Donovan's mentor, Rick Pitino, Mike Montgomery, John Calipari and Tim Floyd—Pitino advised Donovan that Orlando was an ideal situation because the Magic already had a franchise player, Dwight Howard, in place.

But at Florida the 42-year-old Donovan, who is coming off back-to-back national championships, has a chance to become one of those rare coaches, like Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski—larger-than-life figures who become synonymous with their dominant programs. Donovan, discussing that possibility last Friday, said, "I really thought about that ... but the other thing that could happen is it could just level itself out."

The irony may be that Donovan's NBA dalliance will make such a leveling out more likely if he returns to Gainesville. The episode makes clear that Donovan is at least open to leaving. In the coming recruiting battles, though, Donovan has given his rivals a powerful talking point: How do you know that Donovan won't bolt if, say, the Knicks or the Celtics come calling? Staying at Florida—a little less easy than it used to be.

Granted
By the NCAA, Duke's request that its men's lacrosse players be given an extra year of eligibility. The Blue Devils' 2006 season was cut short after eight games amid allegations that an exotic dancer was raped at a team party. The three players who were charged by Durham County district attorney Mike Nifong were later exonerated by the state attorney general, who called them victims of a "tragic rush to accuse." Blue Devils coach John Danowski did not immediately know how many players would take advantage of the ruling. Duke was beaten by Johns Hopkins in the NCAA title game on May 28.

Granted
To NiShea Gilbert, the estranged wife of Elijah Dukes, a protective order that prohibits the Devil Rays outfielder from contacting her for one year. Last week Gilbert alleged that she received a message on her cellphone from Dukes that threatened to kill her and their children. Dukes (above), 22, also allegedly sent her a text message that included a picture of a gun. Dukes, who was benched for two games by the Devil Rays, apologized to his family and the team for the "distraction." He will be required to undergo a psychological evaluation before he is allowed to see his two children.

Died
At age 68 of multiple sclerosis, Dave Balon, who won two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens. A rugged forward, Balon assisted on Henri Richard's overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1966 finals, which clinched the Cup for the Habs. Balon (below) also twice led the Rangers in goals. "Davey was one of the most versatile players I ever coached," said former Rangers coach Emile Francis. "He was one of the best defensive forwards in the league, great in the corners and excellent on the power play."

Died
At age 84, Mark Harris, whose love of baseball led him to produce a quartet of fine baseball novels. His most popular, Bang the Drum Slowly, is about a pitcher and his catcher, who is dying of Hodgkin's disease. The novel, made into a 1956 TV special starring Paul Newman and a better-known 1973 movie with Robert De Niro and Michael Moriarty, was No. 14 on SI's list of the best sports books, in 2002. Harris, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, will be cremated, and some of his ashes will be scattered on the field in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., where he played sandlot baseball.

Died
Of complications from cancer at age 72, former Navy basketball coach Dave Smalley. Smalley, who lettered in baseball and basketball as a midshipman, coached the men's team from 1966 through '76. He then oversaw the formation of the women's program and coached it for its first 12 seasons, finishing with a winning record in 10 of them. Navy's basketball court was named for Smalley in 2006.