Checketts prefers downtown
A few final notes on Dave Checketts’ visit to his hometown, Salt Lake (Bountiful) this week….
Checketts said he would have preferred to have Rio Tinto Stadium in the downtown area, rather than Sandy. “It just brings so many people downtown; it’s a gathering place,” he said.
He went on to say RTS “is not where I thought it should be, but it’s in a great spot, where it worked out better for all involved.”
The youngest president of a pro sports franchise when he was with the Jazz (28), Checketts still pays homage to former coach and president Frank Layden.
“The favorite person I ever worked with in sports was Frank Layden,” he said. “I could never have done what I did in New York without Frank’s help.”
* * *
In an unrelated note, Checketts was asked if he was a fan of certain players in Major League Soccer.
“I can’t say I’m a fan, but I want Real Salt Lake to win,” he said.
Which makes sense, when you think about it. Since he has to negotiate with players for salaries, etc. he wouldn’t want to go into negotiations seeking autographs. So he loves the team, but he’s not technically a fan.
* * *
While looking up former columns I’d done on Checketts, I ran across this one from five years ago, where Checketts addressed his differences with Larry H. MIller (he does so again in my column today).
Checketts said this week that he was friendly with Miller, despite their disagreements. He said he talked with the Miller family after Larry’s death and things were good.
At the same time, it’s interesting to me how much competition there was between the two former colleagues.
Checketts says he can’t see himself ever owning the team, or see the Millers selling the team.
Rockmonsterblog