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 'There was interest' Checketts confirms conversation with Phil Jackson
Posted: Sunday May 23, 1999 09:32 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- After issuing an emphatic denial, Dave Checketts, acting president of the New York Knicks, flip-flopped Sunday and admitted that he contacted former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson to gauge his interest in running the team. The bombshell revelation came during the fourth quarter of New York's 90-78 victory over the Atlanta Hawks for a 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 second round. "While I've never met or spoken to Phil and or [his agent] Todd Musburger, through an intermediary we did talk to Phil among other people at one point ... to see if there was any interest," Checketts said through a spokesman. "There was [interest], and we left it that and said we'll see you at the end of the season." Citing sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, The New York Times and New York Daily News said Checketts met with Jackson in mid-April to discuss the state of the team. Since then, team president Ernie Grunfeld has been demoted and the Knicks have been successful, eliminating Miami in the first round of the playoffs and now one victory away from the Eastern Conference finals. Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, whose job security has been in question throughout this tumultuous season, smiled and shook his head before the game Sunday when asked for his reaction to the Jackson reports. "I'm not talking about that," he said. "Every time I'm honest it comes back and bites me." Checketts, a practicing Mormon who does not attend Sunday games, was not at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 against the Hawks. Musburger could not be reached for comment. Both Checketts and Musburger were quoted in the Times story denying there was a meeting. Checketts spokesman, Barry Watkins, issued a blanket denial before tipoff: "There's nothing to it. There was no meeting." But during the fourth quarter, Watkins came to the arena floor with Checketts' new statement. Musburger has said in the past that as many as six teams are interested in speaking to Jackson about a coaching position. He has not disclosed the teams, although it is widely believed that the Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets are among them. The team's resurgence has fueled talk that Van Gundy's job is safe for another year, although Checketts has said he will wait until the season ends before making any personnel decisions. Van Gundy has one more year remaining on a three-year, $6 million contract. Speculation over the possible hiring of Jackson was commonplace this season while the Knicks were struggling, and center Patrick Ewing said he would demand a trade rather than play for Jackson. "It shocks me," Ewing said of the meeting between Checketts and Jackson, which the Times said also was attended by Musburger. "I've said it. I'm not playing for Phil Jackson. There's no way. They can trade me if they get Phil."
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