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Posted By	Discussion Topic: Checketts is out as Garden Prez
TeenWeek what's a status?	posted on 05-15-2001 @ 7:32 AM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00	Maybe the Knicks and Rangers can actually start winning again. Good riddance. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. CHECKOUT TIME FOR DAVE By MARC BERMAN, KEVIN KERNAN and PHIL MUSHNICK May 15, 2001 -- Dave Checketts, the charismatic president of Madison Square Garden, stepped down yesterday, ending a 10-year run that bottomed out this spring with the Knicks getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 10 years and the Rangers failing to make the postseason for the fourth straight year. The announcement will be made by Cablevision CEO James Dolan at a news conference today at the Garden. "It's a mutual decision," a source close to Checketts said. "It's time to move on. It's time for new leadership." Part of the decision to let Checketts go, according to Garden sources, was that Dolan, the son of Cablevision owner Charles Dolan, wanted to become more involved with the daily operations. Sources also said another candidate to fulfill some of Checketts' responsibilities is Seth Abraham, 53, formerly the president of HBO hired by the Garden over the summer as senior VP. Checketts is expected to announce his future plans in a matter of "two weeks," sources said. "He's got some positive opportunities he'll be ready to announce in a short period." Checketts, 46, has been linked to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in his native Utah. He could be in line for a job as a top official. Checketts, a Mormon, also has been rumored as having political aspirations in his home state. Sources said discussion about Checketts' departure had gone on for "several weeks" with Cablevision brass. However, his exit comes during a time when the Knicks and Rangers crashed, tarnishing what had been a golden legacy. The Knicks own the second-highest payroll in the NBA at nearly $70 million while the Rangers had the NHL's highest at $61 million. The last time the Garden closed this early for basketball and hockey was the 1987-88 season when the Knicks lost to Boston in Round 1 and the Rangers did not qualify for the postseason. Sources said Knicks GM Scott Layden, whom Checketts hired in August, 1999, and Rangers president Glen Sather, hired last year, are not in jeopardy of getting axed. "He's hired good people over the years," a source close to Checketts said. "There's no effect on them." Checketts joined the Garden as Knicks president in March, 1991, bringing in Pat Riley as coach. Checketts presided over the Knicks' rise to prominence, capped by the team making The Finals in '94, where they lost to the Rockets in seven games. Checketts was elevated to Garden prez after that glorious season during which the Rangers also won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. While the Knicks made the Finals again in '99 (losing in five games to the Spurs), the season was wracked by controversy that included the firing of GM Ernie Grunfeld, who is now president of the Bucks, and the premature courting of Phil Jackson that embarrassed Garden officials. The Rangers' situation grew from bad to worse as the team remained an embarrassment despite numerous additions of overpaid veterans. Checketts also will be remembered for trading Mark Messier, bringing him back, and also trading Patrick Ewing to Seattle last summer, ending the 15-year "Big Fella" era in New York.
Raven	posted on 05-15-2001 @ 11:46 AM
Hanger-On Registered: Jan. 70	THANK GOD -- the last part of the NYR FUCK UP IS GONE !!!!!! Flock Formed!!!You Tried To Live And God Said NO

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