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Friday, May 25, 2001
Checketts resigns as Garden president, CEO
Associated Press
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NEW YORK -- The owners of Madison Square Garden are looking
for a successor to Dave Checketts as president and chief executive
officer after another disappointing season for the landmark arena's
main teams.
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ESPN.com's Take:
Mitch Lawrence
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In Dolan's bio in the Knicks' media guide, he's described as an "ardent
fan" of the Knicks, Rangers and WNBA Liberty. And he does sit in
front-row seats at the Garden during Knicks games, although in relative
obscurity, compared to such fixtures as Woody Allen, Spike Lee, Sean
Combs, and the occasional celeb, like Paul McCartney and Keith Richards.
Already, people within the Knicks are thinking that the younger Dolan
got rid of Checketts so he can become the New York version of Mark
Cuban.
Heaven help us.
More from Mitch Lawrence
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Cablevision announced Checketts' resignation Tuesday, calling it
a mutual decision.
Checketts leaves after the New York Rangers, carrying the
highest payroll in the NHL, missed the playoffs for the fourth
straight year, and the New York Knicks were eliminated in the first
round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1991.
In a prepared statement, James L. Dolan, chairman of the Garden
and president and chief executive officer of Cablevision, thanked
Checketts for his work.
"All of us at Cablevision and MSG owe Dave Checketts a debt of
gratitude for 10 years of service," the statement said. "Dave can
leave MSG with great pride in his considerable accomplishments,
both at the Garden and Radio City Music Hall. We are optimistic
that new leadership at MSG will build on the efforts, successes and
innovations of Dave's tenure."
Checketts came to the Garden in March 1991 as president of the
New York Knicks. He previously was vice president for development
of the NBA and for six years was president of the Utah Jazz.
He became the Garden's interim president Sept. 20, 1994, and was
given the full-time job the following March 13.
"I succeeded in turning a building into a business," the
Cablevision statement quoted Checketts as saying. "Now the time
has come for me to pursue some very exciting opportunities which I
will be in position to talk about in the very near future.
"I have had 10 great years with the Knicks and MSG and I'll
never forget them. The Garden and Radio City Music Hall have been
alive and vibrant with exciting events and some of the world's
greatest sporting attractions, and I have been very fortunate to
have watched over the greatest show on earth here in New York
City."
Calls to Checketts' home were not returned on Tuesday.
Dolan said he would oversee Garden activities on an interim
basis, assisted by vice chairman Robert Lemle and other senior
company executives, and that Checketts would continue his
relationship with the Garden in a consulting role.
Checketts' term in the Garden was marked by a string of 391
consecutive sellouts by the Knicks and the successful renovation of
Radio City Music Hall, another Cablevision property.
But there was also turmoil. He clashed with Knicks coach Pat
Riley, who abruptly resigned in 1995 to join the Miami Heat. The
following season, he turned the Knicks over to coach Don Nelson,
then fired him in midseason and gave the job to assistant Jeff Van
Gundy. Checketts also fired Knicks GM Ernie Grunfeld in 1999 and
Rangers GM Neil Smith last year.
After Grunfeld's dismissal, the Knicks seemed poised to fire Van
Gundy, as well. In an embarrassing press conference during the 1999
playoffs, Checketts was forced to admit meeting with and offering
the coach's job to Phil Jackson after first denying any such
meeting.
Van Gundy said Tuesday, "Dave Checketts believed in me and gave
me my first opportunity to become a head coach. I'm grateful for
his support and we will continue to have a great relationship. He
did an excellent job and the Knicks had great success during his
tenure. I wish him nothing but the best of luck."
Last summer, Checketts brought in Glen Sather -- the architect of
the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty in the 1980s -- to replace Smith as
Rangers GM. Sather's first season in New York, which coincided with
Mark Messier's return as captain, turned out badly like Smith's
final three years.
"I have great respect and affection for Dave, who along with
Mr. Dolan gave me the opportunity to come to New York," Sather
said. "It has been a privilege to be associated with Dave and the
Garden, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors."
During Checketts' watch, the Garden also successfully launched
the WNBA's New York Liberty.
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