Yoshitoshi's World

George W. Bush named new Orlando Magic coach
Magic Fan 77 - Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 7, 2007, 1:45 PM EDT

The Orlando Magic announced that they have signed President George W. Bush to coach the team after reaching a compensation agreement with U.S. Government early today.

Bush replaces Billy Donovan, who was officially released by the Magic from a contract he signed with the team last Friday. The Magic have scheduled a news conference for 5 p.m. today to introduce Bush.

Bush was the Magic's runner-up choice to Donovan before Donovan pulled out of his five-year $27.5 million deal with the Magic over the weekend. Terms of Bush’s deal were not disclosed by the Magic.

"W enjoyed tremendous success during his tenure with the US," future former Magic General Manager Otis Smith said in a press release. "He has a great basketball mind, tremendous respect around the league and will get the most out of our players. W was sought-after by many teams this summer and we feel very proud to welcome him to the Magic family."

W and his wife, Laura, had flown to California on Wednesday to visit with the Sacramento Kings, who also were wooing him, and look at the city while he considered an offer from the Kings.Meanwhile, back in Orlando, the Magic were furiously trying to free Bush from the last year of his term as President of the United States.

It was not known what kind of compensation package the Magic paid to the US, but it was believed to be in the form of a draft pick or picks to help aid the war in Iraq.The US had not planned to ask the Kings for compensation if they had signed W.

US Vice President Dick Cheney wanted the Magic to compensate the US because “we really don’t like Orlando.”

W becomes the ninth coach in Magic history and is expected to be introduced this afternoon.

Donovan had been lured away from the University of Florida to replace Brian Hill, whom the Magic had fired after a 40-42 season. But the end to one of the strangest, most tumultuous and certainly the briefest coaching eras came to an end less than 24 hours after it began when Donovan had a change of heart and asked the Magic to be released from his contract.

Fascinating soap-opera stuff, to be sure.

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Ok on a serious note... Stan Van Gundy has been signed as our new coach... at least we have someone now... but I would say the compensation that we need to send to the Heat should come out of Billy The Kidding's pocket! We barely have draft picks this year and now probably have to send them to the Heat! THANK YOU BILLY!!!!

Oh Yeah... SVG welcome to the Tragic Kingdom, I hope you are up for some scary and fascinating roller coasters... At least know that you have one of the best young players on the league: Dwight Howard... that should at least make you somewhat happy =)