(by Leigh Dethman desnews.com 6-8-06)
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
A once calm, cool and friendly Dave Checketts isn't turning the other cheek any more.
Tight-lipped for weeks while enduring public criticism from the Salt Lake County Council, the Real Salt Lake owner fought back Wednesday, calling the council's behavior "bush league" and "unprofessional."
The comments came after a press conference announcing the team's plans to host a premium exhibition match with Real Madrid at Rice Eccles Stadium in August.
"Dave must be feeling some pressure because it's not like him to sound that sophomoric," Councilman Jim Bradley said of Checketts' criticism. "I think we've been very professional and anything but bush league."
Real Salt Lake officials debated moving the match to Provo at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium, an idea that prompted heavy criticism from the Salt Lake County Council. Some called it a "joke," and a "slap in the face." Councilman Joe Hatch went as far as calling the team "a bunch of chowderheads."
The council didn't want to see the game — and millions of dollars in economic benefits — move to Utah County. Last summer's World Cup qualifier at the University of Utah generated $7 million for the local economy, Real officials say.
Asked if the criticism played any part in his decision, Checketts said, "Absolutely none; we didn't pay any attention to it. I thought it was unprofessional and uncalled for. The kind of relationship we've maintained with them, I was surprised frankly they decided to comment on the matter, because this isn't a political decision today, it wasn't then. I thought it was bush league on their part. This was all about grass and seats; that's all it was."
Just over a month ago, Checketts deflected questions asking whether the team's relationship with the county was too sour to mend, saying all he wants to do is build a soccer stadium in his hometown.
Those comments came days after Mayor Peter Corroon denied the team $35 million to partially fund a soccer stadium in Sandy. He said the costs were too high, and the county would have ended up paying $87.5 million over time to give Real Salt Lake $35 million now.
The team still wants the county to pitch in the $35 million, and Sandy city officials are busy working with the county to try to find a way to make it work, Hatch said.
Nevertheless, several County Council members said they were happy Real decided to keep the exhibition match on the team's home turf.
"If for their own political agenda, it helps them to call me a nasty name, so be it," Hatch said Wednesday. "I have thick skin.
"If I can't call somebody a chowderhead and smile about it, I certainly have to have thick enough skin when they fire back at me," added Hatch, who had publicly questioned the possible Provo match.
"I think there is some behavior on both sides that is not the finest hour of both government and the private sector."
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