DAVE CHECKETTS DOES A FLIP-FLOP ON JACKSON REPORT

          The Knicks yesterday first denied and then confirmed a
     report in Sunday's N.Y. Times that MSG President Dave
     Checketts had been in contact with Phil Jackson regarding
     his interest in coaching the team next year.  NBC's Jim Gray
     reported during the second quarter of yesterday's Hawks-
     Knicks Game Three that a spokesperson for Checketts called
     the story "totally false."  But Gray returned in the fourth
     quarter to report that Checketts told him that he had
     "reached out through an intermediary" to gauge Jackson's
     interest ("NBA on NBC," 5/23).  In N.Y., Selena Roberts
     notes that MSG's "stance was altered" during the game (N.Y.
     TIMES, 5/24).  Also in N.Y., Frank Isola writes that
     Checketts "has some explaining to do" (DAILY NEWS, 5/24).
          UGLY RUMORS? In N.Y., Liz Smith: "Sporting rumors have
     it that there's to be a major bloodbath in Madison Square
     Garden management before summer" (N.Y. POST, 5/24).