KNICK NOTES
SAN ANTONIO – When owner James Dolan fired Dave Checketts as Garden president after the 2000-2001 season, Latrell Sprewell knew he had lost a trusted ally.
Sprewell had no relationship with GM Scott Layden and mostly spoke with Checketts, who brought him to New York in 1998. Now Sprewell is livid at all the Knick brass for fining him $250,000 and telling him to stay away from the team.
Checketts seemed to support the Knick decision on going tough on Sprewell for not reporting his right-pinkie fracture, but you get the sense Checketts would not have alienated Spree. The former Knick boss said he doesn’t think the whole controversy will prevent Sprewell for giving it all he has for the organization once he’s back playing.
“He’s matured a lot,” said Checketts, who heads a group of investors searching to buy a team in one of the four major sports. “It’s silly for him to hold grudges. He’s a New York Knick and has always been proud to put on that uniform that says New York. He’ll focus on the fans and find a way to come back and play well.”
“He’s so competitive he wants to win so much. He blew it here in fulfilling responsibilities, but I think they’ll get him going again.”
Checketts said he feels for his buddy Layden in the wake of Antonio McDyess’ season-ending injury, but wouldn’t comment about the team’s crash since he left.
“It would be an easy time to kick them when they’re down, but I’m not going to do it,” Checketts said.
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Center Michael Doleac still isn’t ready to practice and rookie PG Frank Williams says his wrist still has pain and may not start contact drills until next week. It doesn’t look like either of Layden’s summer additions will play the preseason