Video: Stan Van Gundy warmly embraces the ‘kiss of death’

It's another boring sports clich�, but it also usually ends up being true. Any time the owner of a sports team feels a need to go on record about someone's employment, it usually means they're going to be unemployed at some point in the upcoming offseason.

And in the midst of a tough first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks, the disappointing Orlando Magic are facing a 3-2 deficit as they try to even up the series in Atlanta on Thursday night. When pressed about coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith's future earlier in the week, Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide said that the Magic are "happy with Otis and Stan," pointing out that "neither are in jeopardy."

Thanks a lot, guy, says Stan Van Gundy:

(For those that aren't up on their Javascript, here's SVG's quote.)

"Well, I can laughingly say those votes of confidence are usually the kiss of death in this game, you know?" Van Gundy said, smiling. "I don't know if that's good or bad, but knowing Bob and taking him at face value, having worked in this organization, obviously you like it when your bosses are happy with what you're doing."

There have been rumors surrounding both Van Gundy and Smith all year. The GM has made a litany of curious moves since inheriting Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson from the previous regime, with several more curious (to say the very least) moves to follow made to make up for the initial, uh, curious moves. And though Van Gundy is one of the best coaches in the NBA, there have been whispers regarding his relationship with Dwight Howard, and the lengths the Magic will go to appease their superstar center as he readies for 2012 free agency.

Maybe Vander Weide and Van Gundy will buck the trend. Or maybe the same things in sports will continue to happen over and over again until we realize that life is a circus, and this is all a ride.

Wes Unseld Bill Walton Jerry West Lenny Wilkens James Worthy