My Temporary Last Lap as a Magic Fan

Orlando Magic, you stupid, stupid organization.




You fired the best coach in the history of the franchise, the most successful coach in the history of the franchise, and one of the smartest men in basketball---in favor of a player who odds are is going to leave you by the end of next season. You fired the one coach that made Jamier Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, and even Rashard Lewis look good, and the only coach that can boast that he beat the Celtics IN Boston on a Game 7.



You fired a coach that managed to keep a team deep in drama afloat all season to wind up in a respectable 6 seed without the team’s best player in the latter part of the season. You fired your best shot at a successful upcoming season. Who on earth is going to pick up the pieces now? Brian Shaw? Paul Silas? Who on earth could possibly spin this in a positive direction? How about keeping the man with a .641 winning percentage, and at one point four consecutive 50-win seasons?


You want to blame someone for the recent failures of the Magic? How about Mr. Otis Smith? He managed to trade off or let go of nearly every single player from that Magic squad that made the Finals and was just a couple mishaps away from truly having a shot of winning it all. At that point we were better than the more hyped squads like the Celtics and Cavaliers. And what happens? There goes Lee, Alston, Pietrus, Turkoglu, Lewis, Gortat, Bass and more. What do we get in return? Gilbert Arenas (ugh), Vince Carter (Double ugh), Glen Davis (Triple ugh), and I shall repeat this again………Gilbert Arenas.

(All this while still keeping Nelson)

You not only fired a good coach, but you also timed it very incorrectly. Why didn’t you wait and see if Howard was going to sign for more years in Orlando? Why didn’t you wait and see if Howard and Van Gundy were going to be able to bury the hatchet (Do recall the rumors about Jordan not liking Phil Jackson much—6 rings later they still probably don’t exchange Christmas cards)? The big question is, why now? Why do the firing now as opposed to waiting and seeing what pieces we can possibly pick up? Plenty of free agents are available to pick up. Why not wait and see whom we could possibly grab?


You fired without direction. You have handed the keys to the franchise to a driver that may not be riding for much longer---with Los Angeles and Brooklyn calling his name. And this is where I draw the line. I put up with the likes of Shaq, Penny, T-Mac, Steve Francis playing and then quiti—er, ditching us, I can survive Howard leaving. But to totally throw the coach that has made your organization one of the best in the NBA under the bus is inexplicable, inexplicably wrong, and just outright ridiculous in every possible way. In a case of history repeating itself, as what we saw with Brian Hill (twice), Doc Rivers, and now Van Gundy--the players sadly run the Orlando Magic--despite what might be best for the organization. Good luck finding a coach that can turn the Magic into a success when their current 2nd best player is Ryan Anderson............



You are setting us back several years by getting rid of Van Gundy, no matter which way you look at it. And once Howard leaves, we are just going the wrong direction even longer. As of now, the only time you will see me go to the Amway Center is to see them play the team that hires Van Gundy.





Because for as long as Howard remains part of the Magic, I won’t be.