Former MSG and MSG Network President Bob Gutkowski has been wanting to tell his story for many years, a book that his late son Christian had wanted him to finish. Bob with the help of journalist Wallace Matthews has released Gut Punch. The book covers Gutkowski's career from being a page at NBC to becoming head of Madison Square Garden when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994 and the Knicks nearly pulled off an NBA title.
Bob joined SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about his book and amazing career that reached a high point when he hoisted the Stanley Cup at MSG in '94.
"I became President in 1991 and we almost one that year but we lost to a lucky Pittsburgh Penguins team I thought (laughing). At that point I thought I was going to win the Cup six months into my journey but we didn't win. It took a couple of years later. For a kid growing up in New York and a Rangers fan from day one who skated the streets of Long Island as Andy Bathgate, it was incredible to think that I was involved and participated in the incredible group that won The Stanley Cup. My name is on it so my grandchildren will get to see it and that I'm very proud of."
Gutkowski admits in Gut Punch that all might not have happened if he didn't orchestrate a meeting between GM Neil Smith and Head Coach Mike Keenan who did not have a great working relationship that season.
"It will always be my belief that (closed-door) meeting was integral with us getting the Cup. It got to a point where neither Coach (Keenan) or General Manager (Smith) were talking to each other. This was in March. It had started in late January when I became very aware of it. I felt I had to put them in a room. The Garden was being sold at the time, so everybody was sort of nervous and uncomfortable. It was a difficult situation. But I think putting those guys face to face was going to be important if we were ever going to have a chance to win the Cup."
After a lengthy meeting, both Smith and Keenan worked together at the trade deadline to improve the team.
Gutkowski had many innovate ideas, including ones that eventually led to the creation of the YES Network and Live Nation.
Bob says he gave the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner the idea of creating a Yankees television network. He also said Steinbrenner had given his word that if he ever went through with that network idea that Bob would be compensated for it. That never happened.
"Every time I saw George he always said he was a man of his word. What happened is he wound up getting ill. His illness was much more than they were representing and I just wanted to go back and meet with him. It's in the book and it details it pretty well."
Veteran sports executive Mike Trager recently came out for the first time and said the Yankees network was Bob's idea. Gutkowski has never been compensated by the Yankees.
While President of MSG Network, Gutkowski negotiated the landmark 12 year, $486 million deal to telecast Yankees baseball and the network grew to become the largest and most profitable regional sports network in the country.
Gut Punch could also be considered a television sports broadcasting history book, filled with Bob's encounters with some of the biggest names in the industry like Chet Simmons and Mike Trager.
Bob admits it wasn't easy for his family since he was always so busy at work, but his wife Laura and his children have always been supportive of his career and accomplishments.
"Mine was difficult road in that I was gone a lot. I was on the road a lot. I had a high pressure situation but my wife a tremendous supporter and a great corporate wife. My kids were just sports fans. They loved it. My daughter Tara worked for the NBA for 23 years. It was an incredible way for her and I to relate to each other through sport. Christian and Matthew were more artistically and musically bent but we had a very close-knit family. Winning the Cup and being on the ice together was a great family experience."
Bob now does consulting work and is the founder of RMG Sports Ventures.
You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Bob Gutkowksi here.
