Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 16, 1995 TAG: 9506160060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
To Pat Riley, it wasn't money. It was power.
When the New York Knicks balked at his bid to become a part-owner, the coach abruptly resigned Thursday, walking away with a year left on his contract and turning down a five-year, $15 million extension.
``I emphasize that the decision to leave the Knicks had absolutely nothing to do with money,'' Riley said. ``The financial package which we had been discussing was extremely generous. Regrettably, there were serious differences and questions about authority and final decision-making.
``I do not believe that any team can realize its potential when its head coach, the person most intimately involved with the players, cannot make final, critical decisions on matters bearing directly and intensely on the team, its performance and its future.''
Those decisions with the Knicks have been made by president Dave Checketts and general manager Ernie Grunfeld.
When Checketts became head of Madison Square Garden earlier this year, Grunfeld took over the front office. Through it all, Riley remained the coach.
With Riley's five-year contract expiring next year, the Knicks offered the extension in midseason. It had been on Riley's desk, unsigned, since. And last month, Checketts said he would press the coach for a decision.
He gave him one Thursday.
``For the last two years, I had consistently and repeatedly expressed to Knick management my desire and need to be charged with ultimate responsibility for all significant aspects of the ballclub,'' Riley said. ``During this time, I had tried my best to reach an agreement with management on these issues.''
Checketts took issue with Riley's reason for resigning.
``Pat was involved and in agreement with all critical decisions made during his four years with the Knicks,'' Checketts said at an afternoon news conference. ``In fact, he had significant input into every phase of our operation and veto power over every player transaction.
``He had complete control and autonomy over our basketball operation. It's unfair to portray this as some sort of power struggle. I'm not going to apologize for having someone run the organization, and I chose to do that.''
Checketts also said Riley wanted something he could not provide - part ownership. Madison Square Garden, which owns the Knicks and New York Rangers, was bought by ITT Corp. and Cablevision Systems Inc. just over three months ago.
``During the past two years, there has been an uncertainty over whether or not Pat Riley wanted to remain with the Knicks,'' Checketts said. ``We had offered him a financial package that was unprecedented in any sport. However, we never came close to his financial demands.''
by CNB