Time, as the saying goes, changes everything.

A mere two weeks ago, 60-year-old Robert Hoffman never would have given up the basketball his son gave him for his 55th birthday — it was autographed by then-Kansas University coach Roy Williams and Williams’ coaching mentor Dean Smith.

But after Williams’ Smith-influenced decision to bolt for North Carolina last week, Hoffman said he couldn’t care less about his once-prized ball.

“I’m a little put out with both of them — more Dean than Roy,” said Hoffman, a basketball season ticket holder for more than 40 years.

“Dean’s an alum,” he said. “He shouldn’t have had a hand in snatching Roy away like that. I like Roy, I wish him well — I just don’t like the way the whole thing was handled.”

Next week, Hoffman’s son, Brian, plans to put the ball on eBay, the online auction service.

“I figure if my dad doesn’t want it, we ought to strike while the iron is hot,” said Brian Hoffman, who owns The Sports Dome, a sports memorabilia store at 942 Mass.

For the past week, the ball, enclosed in a Plexiglas case, has been on display at The Sports Dome.

“It’s quite the conversation piece,” Brian Hoffman said. “It’s been amazing, most people look at it and say, ‘There’s no way I’d want that thing.'”

The younger Hoffman said he expected the ball to sell for between $300 and $400.

Brian Hoffman, shown Tuesday at his store, The Sports Dome, 942 Mass., gave his father a one-of-a-kind basketball autographed by Roy Williams and Dean Smith. The Hoffmans were miffed with the way Smith influenced Williams' decision to leave Kansas University, so they're putting the ball for sale on eBay.

“I could be way over on that,” he said. “But you never know, there are a lot of North Carolina fans out there.”

Brian Hoffman said Smith and Williams signed the ball during and after an open practice a day or two before the Feb. 8, 1998, “100 Years of Kansas Basketball” celebration and game at Allen Fieldhouse.

Like his father, Brian Hoffman said he was miffed at the way Williams’ exit was handled. But he’s over it now.

¢ 6News video: Once prized possesion to go on auction block¢ Roy’s Gone – Williams leaves for North Carolina¢ Self-Analysis – Bill Self named 8th Kansas coach¢ eBay – Roy Williams items

“I tell people, ‘There’s no use bashing the guy; let’s focus on the positive,'” he said.

Not everyone, he learned, is so quick to forgive.

“Boy, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, it’s how fast things change,” Brian Hoffman said. “You can do great things for your team, your university and your community for 15 years — and then in 15 minutes, you can wipe it all out. People turn on you. It’s been an incredible thing to watch.”