DICK VITALE SMOKES OUT DONOVAN (TWO MONTHS LATE): Dick Vitale has this on ESPN.com: “The big announcement came out of Gainesville — Billy Donovan is staying on as Florida basketball coach.

“Was I surprised by this development? Absolutely not. Why did I feel so positive about this situation? It is all about loyalty, my friends. Donovan loves Gainesville. He and his wife have worked dilligently to help build a new Catholic high school.

“The family lives in Gainesville and loves it there. Donovan also has a terrific relationship with athletic director Jeremy Foley, who gave him an opportunity at Florida. Donovan also likes the idea of a challenge. He will face one now that all five starters won’t be back.

“What a great moment for Foley to hear that Donovan was remaining a Gator!

As usual, like his football brethren Lee Corso, Vitale is right on target. Too bad it was posted on April 4.

• DODGER THOUGHTS discovers Tommy Lasorda is guilty of doing what A-Rod did (no, not that, the other thing):

• ORLANDO MAGIC FAN keeps their hopes in check with Billy Donovan coming to central Florida. Meanwhile, the Florida Gators blog SWAMP BALL is sad but not surprised to see Donovan go.• After working late Thursday night, the FUTON REPORT has LeBron’s Friday all planned out:

• BUGS & CRANKS finds that Barry Bonds has a friend in Charles Barkley.• Actual headline from the pages of the WACO TRIBUNE: “Former Goat to Lead SMU Tennis“.

• THE LEAKY BRAIN offers this public service to all the ladies out there: stay away from these men.• JUST NY JETS reports 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde is coming back for another season with the Patriots:

• Hope springs eternal in the Bronx, as GOTHAM BASEBALL gives 10 reasons why the New York Yankees will still win the World Series.• LION IN OIL relates the story of Cuba’s first female umpire. And instead of mean-spiritied verbal jabs, she gets marriage proposals:

• DEUCE OF DAVENPORT show once again how the Japanese make everything cooler and violent - including baseball.• WBRS SPORTS BLOG has fun with the NBA Trade Machine.

NOW JUST WHO WAS IT WHO SAID DONOVAN IS GOING PRO? So Billy Donovan is going to the NBA to coach the Orlando Magic? What, were the Atlanta Hawks unavailable?

Hmmm. I seem to remember someone who made a (widely ridiculed) suggestion some time ago that he would make a move to the pros after last season.

CLEMENS CORRECTING K’S FOR CURIOUS KENTUCKY ‘CATS: The Roger Clemens Comeback Tour Part Deux began in the Bluegrass State on Tuesday, as the $28 million answer to the Yankees’ pitching woes visited with the University of Kentucky baseball team:

As part of his workout, Clemens pitched and chatted with the Wildcats players and coaches. Since Billy Donovan wouldn’t come to campus, this had to do.

Clemens was also in town to see his son Koby, who plays for the minor league Lexington Legends:

(Koby Clemens is thrilled to meet his fans)
Dad could have instead flexed at Applebee’s Park, the Legends’ home field. But as John Clay of the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEDGER points out, it might have been awkward, since Lexington is an affiliate of the Roger-rejected Astros.

Besides, he’s been there and done that:

GAINESVILLE GOADS UNDESIRABLES ONTO GREYHOUNDS: The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that the local police (and Univ. of Florida officials?) have come up with a novel concept on how to control the undesirable (see UGA, FSU, UM fans) population in the Florida city:

Give them a one-way bus ticket out of town:

ESPN IGNORING REPORTER’S DONOVAN-TO-HEAT CLAIM?: While Kentucky fans continue their attempt to ruin Florida’s Final Four focus rumors of Billy Donovan’s imminent departure to Kentucky continue to percolate, Tom Friend of ESPN The Magazine announced on Jim Rome’s ESPN-TV show “Rome is Burning” yesterday that Donovan “is going to leave (Florida) and replace” Pat Riley as coach of the Miami Heat.

What’s equally intriguing is that an ESPN reporter on an ESPN network show claims the biggest basketball scoop of the season, yet the report is apparently being ignored by ESPN’s news operation.

IT’S TIME TO GIVE GATORS & NOAH A (INSERTABLE) HAND: Yesterday Florida won the SEC basketball tournament, priming the Gators for a run to their second straight national title and giving Joakim Noah a chance to celebrate with restraint and aplomb (via Lion in Oil):

That joyous, explosive interaction with CBS announcer Verne Lundquist and coach Billy Donovan gives us a clue as to the Florida player’s first major endorsement deal.

As a proud University of Georgia alumnus, I can only hope that when the Bulldogs some century day enjoy similar basketball success, they will display the same all-around class and dignity as Noah and the Gators have lo these past two glorious seasons.

And personally, the most valuable lesson the Gators have taught me is to assume Noah’s off-court comportment - since he has shown that that’s the way into the hearts of surely the most beautiful women Florida has to offer.