James Dolan, president of Cablevision -- which now owns Newsday -- told him to fire one of the two, according to Checketts.

"I said they don't need to be fired," Checketts said. "I know they're not getting along. But Phil Jackson, the coach in Chicago, and Jerry Krause, the general manager in Chicago, never spoke to each other. Never had a word with each other for six years and they won six NBA titles. So don't tell me they have to work together. They don't. Ernie has to pick players, Jeff has to coach. That's the way it is. I'll do the rest. I'll referee.

"But ownership stayed on me that I had to pick one or the other. I was put in a very difficult position."

Dolan declined to comment for this story, but a person close to Madison Square Garden disputed Checketts' version, saying, "Nine years later people will conveniently change the facts in a clear attempt to remain relevant."

However it happened, the result was that Checketts fired Grunfeld instead of Van Gundy, a decision he said he made mostly because he feared players would give up without Van Gundy. "The players were fully behind the coach, fully supportive of the coach," he said, "so I had to fire one of my best friends. When I gave him the news, it so shocked him. He burst into tears. This was the only job he ever wanted. It was extraordinarily difficult to fire one of my best friends."

Recalling that day, Checketts was so bothered by the situation that he said he delivered the news to the players himself. "I said, 'Look, I've now fired Ernie Grunfeld. He's one of the all-time great Knicks and a terrific guy. He brought you all here. And he's now been reassigned. What are you going to do about it?"

Posted by Pharzeone:

Checketts can say all he want about the situation but his hands are just as dirty. Grunfeld wanted to fire Van Gundy, who was hiding behind Ewing. The Dolans were tired of the "Team Turmoil" headlines in the newspapers. Checketts met with Jackson in a hotel. Too many witnesses. Van Gundy's pal Francesa did a whole show about the meeting. That's when my opinion of Van Gundy went south on that day. The guy whined and weaseled for his job. Van Gundy had Ewing and Houston on his side. Ernie and Ewing were at odds of some sorts. Checketts fired the guy who he could get away with and save face with the press. Checketts tried to pull that stuff about Dolan's input but Francesa and Ruso shot him down rather quickly.

[Edited by - pharzeone on 10-22-2008 01:52 AM]

Posted by Pharzeone:

Checketts can say all he want about the situation but his hands are just as dirty. Grunfeld wanted to fire Van Gundy, who was hiding behind Ewing. The Dolans were tired of the "Team Turmoil" headlines in the newspapers. Checketts met with Jackson in a hotel. Too many witnesses. Van Gundy's pal Francesa did a whole show about the meeting. That's when my opinion of Van Gundy went south on that day. The guy whined and weaseled for his job. Van Gundy had Ewing and Houston on his side. Ernie and Ewing were at odds of some sorts. Checketts fired the guy who he could get away with and save face with the press. Checketts tried to pull that stuff about Dolan's input but Francesa and Ruso shot him down rather quickly.

[Edited by - pharzeone on 10-22-2008 01:52 AM]