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Knicks' Thomas Says He Won't Be Used 'as a Pawn'
New York President Angrily Responds to Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Isiah Thomas reacted with indignation Wednesday over a former team executive's federal sexual harassment lawsuit, which accuses the New York Knicks president of unwanted advances, discrimination and "demeaning and repulsive behavior."
Thomas said he never harassed Anucha Browne Sanders, the Knicks' former senior vice president of marketing and business operations, nor did he discriminate against her or participate in her firing.
"She did not even work for me," he said, reading from a written statement at a news conference Wednesday. "I will not allow her or anybody, man or woman, to use me as a pawn for their financial gain."
Thomas said he spoke out despite his lawyers' advice to keep mum because "it is not their name, it's not their family, it's not their career and it's not their reputation that's being hurt."
Browne Sanders said she sued Thomas and Madison Square Garden "because I had no choice."
"My pleas and complaints about Mr. Thomas's illegal and offensive actions fell on deaf ears," she said Wednesday at a news conference at her lawyer's office. "He refused to stop his demeaning and repulsive behavior and the Garden refused to intercede."
The 43-year-old, a former Northwestern basketball star who described herself as the Knicks' second-highest ranking executive, is seeking reinstatement to her job and unspecified damages. She said she was fired last Thursday "for telling the truth" while going through internal channels to stop the harassment.
Thomas and Madison Square Garden are listed as the defendants in the lawsuit, which charges them with sex discrimination and retaliation. Madison Square Garden said she was fired because she "failed to fulfill professional responsibilities."
According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court, Thomas refused to stop making unwanted sexual advances toward her, used offensive language and turned others in the organization against her.
Browne Sanders said when she sought assistance from her supervisor, Steve Mills, the president of Madison Square Garden Sports, he did nothing.
"I am appalled by Anucha Browne Sanders' outrageous allegations," Mills said. "And I was stunned to learn that while she was still working for Madison Square Garden, she demanded $6.5 million to leave quietly."
Lawyers for Thomas, Peter Parcher and Sue Ellen Eisenberg, called the lawsuit an attempt to make money and accused her of demanding $6 million upon her departure, more than 20 times her salary.
Asked about the suggestion that she had demanded the money, one of her lawyers, Kevin Mintzer said: "How do you put a price on Ms. Browne Sanders' career? She was the second-highest individual in the Knicks organizations, and one of the most senior African-American women in all of professional sports. I don't know how you put a price on that."
When Browne Sanders sought legal counsel last November, MSG launched its own investigation but told her to not come to work for three weeks. She was fired last Thursday when MSG said her claims couldn't be substantiated.
"They weren't sincerely interested in finding out what happened, they just wanted to punish her," Mintzer said.
He said a settlement is always a possibility, but if none is reached, depositions will begin with the intent to go to trial.
Players were quick to support Thomas at a Wednesday morning shootaround.
"I know Isiah and I know he's an honorable man," Stephon Marbury said. "I know that he's a guy filled with a lot of character, so I think everyone here is on his side."
The lawsuit also alleges that Thomas told Browne Sanders he was pushing for more Sunday home games at noon so he could steer opposing players to clubs where he had connections on Saturday nights, hoping they would be sluggish the next day.
"These fabricated and outrageous charges come from an individual whom MSG fired because of an inability to fulfill professional responsibilities and who is now seeking a financial windfall," Madison Square Garden attorney Ron Green said in a statement.
The Knicks would not comment further.
"I've known him since I tried to recruit him in high school and he's a phenomenal human being," coach Larry Brown said of Thomas. "And the Knicks have always treated me well, so I guess I'll let it play itself out."
Browne Sanders said the problems began shortly after Thomas joined the Knicks in December 2003. In court documents, Browne Sanders said Thomas often berated her and made crude comments about her to Knicks officials, telling them not to listen to any of her directions. Marbury also is accused of acting in a hostile way toward her as a result.
Browne Sanders said Thomas' behavior soon became sexually charged, saying he told her he was "very attracted" to her and "in love" with her and tried to kiss her. She charges that last month, he hugged and tried to kiss her, and when she pulled away, he said, "What, I can't get any love from you today?"
Browne Sanders graduated from Northwestern as the Big Ten's women's career scoring leader and was a two-time conference player of the year. She was the school's athlete of the decade for the 1980s.
According to the team's media guide, Browne Sanders is married with three children, and resides in New Jersey.
Source: AP
Isiah Thomas reacted with indignation Wednesday over a former team executive's federal sexual harassment lawsuit, which accuses the New York Knicks president of unwanted advances, discrimination and "demeaning and repulsive behavior."
Thomas said he never harassed Anucha Browne Sanders, the Knicks' former senior vice president of marketing and business operations, nor did he discriminate against her or participate in her firing.
"She did not even work for me," he said, reading from a written statement at a news conference Wednesday. "I will not allow her or anybody, man or woman, to use me as a pawn for their financial gain."
Thomas said he spoke out despite his lawyers' advice to keep mum because "it is not their name, it's not their family, it's not their career and it's not their reputation that's being hurt."
Browne Sanders said she sued Thomas and Madison Square Garden "because I had no choice."
"My pleas and complaints about Mr. Thomas's illegal and offensive actions fell on deaf ears," she said Wednesday at a news conference at her lawyer's office. "He refused to stop his demeaning and repulsive behavior and the Garden refused to intercede."
The 43-year-old, a former Northwestern basketball star who described herself as the Knicks' second-highest ranking executive, is seeking reinstatement to her job and unspecified damages. She said she was fired last Thursday "for telling the truth" while going through internal channels to stop the harassment.
Thomas and Madison Square Garden are listed as the defendants in the lawsuit, which charges them with sex discrimination and retaliation. Madison Square Garden said she was fired because she "failed to fulfill professional responsibilities."
According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court, Thomas refused to stop making unwanted sexual advances toward her, used offensive language and turned others in the organization against her.
Browne Sanders said when she sought assistance from her supervisor, Steve Mills, the president of Madison Square Garden Sports, he did nothing.
"I am appalled by Anucha Browne Sanders' outrageous allegations," Mills said. "And I was stunned to learn that while she was still working for Madison Square Garden, she demanded $6.5 million to leave quietly."
Lawyers for Thomas, Peter Parcher and Sue Ellen Eisenberg, called the lawsuit an attempt to make money and accused her of demanding $6 million upon her departure, more than 20 times her salary.
Asked about the suggestion that she had demanded the money, one of her lawyers, Kevin Mintzer said: "How do you put a price on Ms. Browne Sanders' career? She was the second-highest individual in the Knicks organizations, and one of the most senior African-American women in all of professional sports. I don't know how you put a price on that."
When Browne Sanders sought legal counsel last November, MSG launched its own investigation but told her to not come to work for three weeks. She was fired last Thursday when MSG said her claims couldn't be substantiated.
"They weren't sincerely interested in finding out what happened, they just wanted to punish her," Mintzer said.
He said a settlement is always a possibility, but if none is reached, depositions will begin with the intent to go to trial.
Players were quick to support Thomas at a Wednesday morning shootaround.
"I know Isiah and I know he's an honorable man," Stephon Marbury said. "I know that he's a guy filled with a lot of character, so I think everyone here is on his side."
The lawsuit also alleges that Thomas told Browne Sanders he was pushing for more Sunday home games at noon so he could steer opposing players to clubs where he had connections on Saturday nights, hoping they would be sluggish the next day.
"These fabricated and outrageous charges come from an individual whom MSG fired because of an inability to fulfill professional responsibilities and who is now seeking a financial windfall," Madison Square Garden attorney Ron Green said in a statement.
The Knicks would not comment further.
"I've known him since I tried to recruit him in high school and he's a phenomenal human being," coach Larry Brown said of Thomas. "And the Knicks have always treated me well, so I guess I'll let it play itself out."
Browne Sanders said the problems began shortly after Thomas joined the Knicks in December 2003. In court documents, Browne Sanders said Thomas often berated her and made crude comments about her to Knicks officials, telling them not to listen to any of her directions. Marbury also is accused of acting in a hostile way toward her as a result.
Browne Sanders said Thomas' behavior soon became sexually charged, saying he told her he was "very attracted" to her and "in love" with her and tried to kiss her. She charges that last month, he hugged and tried to kiss her, and when she pulled away, he said, "What, I can't get any love from you today?"
Browne Sanders graduated from Northwestern as the Big Ten's women's career scoring leader and was a two-time conference player of the year. She was the school's athlete of the decade for the 1980s.
According to the team's media guide, Browne Sanders is married with three children, and resides in New Jersey.
Source: AP