http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/saraceno/2007-10-02-stern-knicks_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip


Stern must send strong message after Thomas verdict

By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY
Not that David Stern needs advice on the subject of rich men acting poorly, but now we'll see whether the NBA commissioner has taken notes from his Manhattan-based NFL counterpart regarding league employees who trample on issues of impropriety or legality.
It is my hope Stern has not done so, at least in the case of the kid-gloves treatment of Bill Belichick, who somehow dodged Roger Goodell's usually heavy-handed, but highly appropriate, punitive approach.

In the sexual-harassment case that resulted in Tuesday's guilty civil verdicts for Madison Square Garden, MSG chairman James Dolan and New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, the alleged transgressions are worse than stealing another team's signals. Or a ref supplying inside information to wise-guy bettors.

This isn't about cheating. Or gambling.

It is about upholding federal law and sending a memo to every NBA team: Sexual harassment will not be tolerated in the league. The strongest way possible to send that message would be for Stern to suspend Thomas and Dolan, who presides over an organization that the jury believed fosters a hostile work environment for women. It is not going to happen because the league says its policies don't cover civil verdicts. Stern, with irrevocable man-card in wallet, offered no comment Tuesday. Some (male) analysts rolled their eyes at the verdict. One, former Georgetown University coach John Thompson, said on his radio show, "Now you come up to somebody and you say to that person, 'Hey, you look nice,' you better be careful."

That's not what happened. Why confuse the facts?

Predictably, Thomas, a husband and a father, immediately denounced the verdict: "I am innocent — I'm very innocent," he said.

Very innocent? Thomas claimed he was not guilty last winter after a brawl between the Knicks and Denver. Stern suspended seven players; Thomas, who many think instigated the melee, walked. This time, he boarded a plane and left for training camp.

The sordid mess has stained the league and the Knicks. A former attorney, Stern is well-versed in law. This was not a criminal case. A civil verdict requires a mere preponderance of the evidence to convict, so Stern's out is that the league doesn't touch such cases.

Thomas was found guilty of making unwanted advances and spewing invectives at Anucha Browne Sanders, a former Knicks executive who won an $11.6 million judgment. Thomas was not held liable for damages; MSG was. According to testimony, he:

• Berated the woman, calling her a bitch and a "ho."

• Propositioned her, hugged her, told her he was in love and, according to Thomas, tried to kiss her.

• Made a distinction between a white man calling a black woman the b-word and a black man doing it.

• Told Browne Sanders in explicit racial terms that he didn't care about white season ticketholders.

The Hall of Fame guard's greatest gift in life might be his ability to flash a disarming smile and beguile his way into positions of authority for which Thomas rarely seems to deliver commensurate return. But he is not alone in this, not by a long three-pointer, which is why the jury decided he wasn't liable for punitive damages.

The Knicks' Stephon Marbury, who also called the plaintiff a bitch, testified that he "laughed" when told of the suit. I wonder if Dolan thinks the $3 million judgment against him is funny.

Marbury is the same dude who had sex with a young Knicks intern in his vehicle. Yeah, real funny.

If I'm a Knicks season ticketholder and I'm a woman, I'm not very happy — and I'm boycotting. If I'm a sponsor, I'm not thrilled: More bad pub for the sleazy, misogynistic and highly dysfunctional Knicks. Unfortunately, Thomas isn't going anywhere soon because he has hypnotized Dolan into believing he is the best man for the job. It is yet another example of how Dolan has turned the Knicks into The Jerry Springer Show.

He stubbornly refused to settle the case. Instead, he was like a guy playing blackjack with a pair of 10s showing — and asking for another card.

Dolan foolishly gambled and lost.

Stern was a law-and-order league CEO long before the NFL appointed Goodell. Like Goodell, he is judge and jury. Over the years, he has lived up to his surname. Ron Artest got 73 games for rumbling with fans. Latrell Sprewell was docked 68 games for choking his coach. Vernon Maxwell received a 10-game suspension for punching a heckler. Former Kings coach Eric Musselman was suspended for two games for DUI.

I guess we now know what sexual harassment in the NBA workplace is worth.

This writer stole my words yesterday.

Ok, he then agrees with me.


I don't know how Isiah does not get relieved of his Presidential duties?

I can see him as coach, but not in a management position!

Posted by OasisBU:

It looks like Stern is going to do nothing with this....interesting

nba policy is to not interfere in civil matters.