http://blog.sportscolumn.com/images/storyimages/brownesanders.jpg

A pic of Anucha Browne Sanders, the woman suing Isiah Thomas and the Knicks for $10m.

Trial started today.

Man if I worked with her I would play a game of grab-ass as well.

Fucking Zeke got himself in fun lil spat



Updated 1 hour ago



Knick President and coach Isiah Thomas can be a charmer with a crowd, but a former team executive suing him for alleged sexual harassment told jurors yesterday he's a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

"He was always starting sentences with the word 'bitch,' " statuesque ex-marketing veep Anucha Browne Sanders testified in Manhattan federal court.
"Bitch, I don't give a f- - - about the sponsors. Bitch, I don't give a f- - - about ticket sales. That's your job," Sanders quoted Thomas as telling her whenever she tried to involve players in promotional events for the failing team.

Sanders managed to maintain her cool in the courtroom, even as the seemingly unfazed Thomas bizarrely laughed while she talked.

Sanders, a senior vice president for the team from 2000 to 2006, acknowledged that in public, Thomas is "very pleasant and personable. He was the Isiah that we see."


Andrea Peyser is glad Isiah is finding something to laugh about in this trial. Because she doesn't find it funny in the least.


But behind the scenes, the hotheaded coach, who joined the team in 2003, flew into frequent rages, dropping f-bombs and targeting venom toward her, the team's only female vice president, she said.

He also allegedly took aim at whites.

Sanders said that when she asked Thomas at one point to hand-sign letters to season-ticket holders, he spat, "I don't give a f- - - about these white people."

She said that prompted her to remind the coach that 80 percent of the team's season-ticket holders are white.

A 6-foot-1, former college basketball star, Sanders stayed composed as she recounted the alleged verbal abuse and her repeated complaints to her bosses.

But she finally cracked when she said Thomas suddenly flipped his approach - professing his love and suggesting they go "off-site."

Thomas first pulled her aside at a Christmas party in 2004, and the two had joined in a basketball game called "horse," Sanders said.

That's when Thomas told her, "I figured out why we have problems. It's because we're so much alike. I'm in love with you. It's like the movie, 'Love and Basketball,' " Sanders said.

"I said, 'You're out of your mind,' " Sanders said. "I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could. I was just nervous."

Sometime later, Thomas called Sanders to a meeting in his office, purportedly to discuss staffing issues, closed the door and gave her a "big hug," she said.

"He said, 'You know I'm in love with you,' " Sanders recalled. "I said, 'Isiah, we just need to figure out a way to work together. Where else do you have an African-American president of the Garden, an African-American president of the team and an African-American vice president?'

"It is a tremendous message to minorities that this even exists," a teary-eyed Sanders recalled saying, clearing her throat as she struggled to repeat his response.

"I want to take you off-site for some private time," she said Thomas told her.

In opening statements yesterday, Thomas' lawyer Kathleen Bogas denied that the Knick honcho had ever acted inappropriately toward Sanders, either verbally or sexually. She called him "nothing other than a total gentleman."

Bogas said Sanders didn't like the changes that Thomas made when he took over the team and "decided to lash out ... played the sexual-harassment card."

So far it's just words versus laughs?


Sanders said that when she asked Thomas at one point to hand-sign letters to season-ticket holders, he spat, "I don't give a f- - - about these white people."

She said that prompted her to remind the coach that 80 percent of the team's season-ticket holders are white.
Was she under the impression that Isiah thought not many whites buy season tickets when he refused to sign letters for "these white people"? Weird.

Jury appears close to verdict against Knicks in Thomas harassment suit

By TOM HAYS, Associated Press Writer
October 2, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- A note from a jury in a $10 million sexual harassment lawsuit against New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden has signaled that the panel appears close to deciding a costly verdict against the storied franchise.

The judge asked jurors to keep deliberating on Tuesday before announcing their verdict. But the wording of a jury note on Monday -- and instructions on a verdict form it was using -- indicated it believed Thomas and the other defendants, Madison Square Garden and MSG Chairman James Dolan sexually harassed a former Knicks executive.

The note likely means that after two full days of deliberations, the jury in federal court in Manhattan has decided "against the Garden, against Thomas and against Dolan," said Jerry Reisman, an employment attorney with the Long Island firm Reisman, Peirez and Reisman.

Like many legal observers, Reisman said a verdict against MSG "would be demonstrative of its arrogance in not settling this matter" with Browne Sanders and risking the embarrassment of letting it go to trial.

The four women and three men on the panel said they reached a decision on eight of the nine questions on the verdict form. They were deadlocked on the other question, which asks whether Thomas should have to pay punitive damages.

The jury was instructed only to address the question on Thomas if it first found that he and Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the former executive. Similarly, it was told to answer other remaining questions only if it decided that the defendants retaliated against Anucha Browne Sanders by firing her from her $260,000-a-year job.

Browne Sanders' case presented the Garden as an "Animal House" in sneakers, a place where nepotism, sexism, crude remarks and crass language were part of the culture. (Sounds like ESPN)

The plaintiff, a married mother of three, spent four days on the witness stand laying out her case against the Garden and Thomas, who is married with two children.

Browne Sanders, 44, a former college basketball star at Northwestern, characterized Thomas as a foul-mouthed lout who initially berated her as a "bitch" and a "ho" before his anger gave way to ardor, with Thomas making unwanted advances and encouraging her to visit him "off site."

Thomas, hired in December 2003, followed her to the stand and denied all her allegations. Attorneys for Thomas and the Garden also portrayed Browne Sanders as incompetent and unable to adapt once the NBA great arrived as the Knicks' president.

"That's not about sexual harassment," MSG attorney Ronald Green said in his closing argument. "That's about team politics."

Thomas acknowledged trying to kiss Browne Sanders in December 2005, asking her "No love today?" when she recoiled. MSG President Steve Mills said he spoke with Thomas about the incident and the former Detroit Pistons point guard said it wouldn't happen again.

In her closing argument, Browne Sanders' attorney Anne Vladeck made note of Thomas' charismatic style and incandescent grin.

"There is no question Mr. Thomas can be charming and flash an engaging smile," she told the jury. "That does not give him the right to treat Browne Sanders like she is his woman."

Browne Sanders filed her lawsuit after she was fired in January 2006. Dolan, who testified before Thomas, said he dismissed the team's vice president for marketing and business operations after learning she was pressuring Garden subordinates to bolster her complaint.

Jury: Thomas, MSG sexually harassed top team executive
Associated Press

Updated: October 2, 2007, 11:46 AM ET

NEW YORK -- A jury ruled Tuesday that New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas sexually harassed a former top team executive, subjecting her to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but also ruled he does not have to pay punitive damages.

After an ugly, three-week trial, the ruling gives Thomas a partial victory in the $10 million lawsuit filed by Anucha Browne Sanders.

The jury did find that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman, and ruled that she is entitled to punitive damages from MSG.

U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch called it an "imminently reasonable" verdict and said the jury will be asked to return later Tuesday to hear brief arguments on punitive damages.

The harassment verdict was widely expected after the jury sent a note to the judge Monday indicating that it believed Thomas and the other defendants, Madison Square Garden and MSG chairman James Dolan, sexually harassed Browne Sanders.

LOL@Isiah

LB will be suing Anucha for sexual harassment next -- just you wait!

Holy Shit, LOL!!


Jury awards $11.6 million to former Knicks exec in sexual harassment case

By TOM HAYS, Associated Press Writer
October 2, 2007
AP - Oct 2, 1:20 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal jury decided Madison Square Garden and its chairman must pay $11.6 million in damages to former New York Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders in her sexual harassment lawsuit.

A verdict earlier Tuesday found that Knicks coach Isiah Thomas subjected Browne Sanders to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but that he did not have to pay punitive damages.

The jury did find, however, that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman and decided she was entitled to punitive damages.

The Garden said it would appeal.

Can't wait to see/read Stern's reaction...

Is that doubled because they are over the tax threshold?

$11.6m for that shit? Christ, Isiah can fondel my balls while using every curse word in the dictionary and I'll grin and bear it for that kind of cash.

Someone was saying Stern might not do anything cuz its a civil matter. But I would expect him to do something.

Is there precedent?

Nothing comes to mind.

It's looking to me like Zeke's going to be out fondling his own balls in a few weeks.

I was just reading an article that Zeke should be fired, but it said Dolan won't do it, but Stern should boot him out of the league.

It'll be interesting, sort of interesting, to follow.

Anucha should replace Isiah as coach.

he won't be punished by the nba- he did nothing criminal.

magic johnson reportedly is next in line to sue him. turns out he was never comfortable with those kisses isiah planted on him back in the 1988 finals.

wow 11.6 million. america as a judicial system is a joke. Hospital kills someone and they can't be sued for anything close to that. there needs to be a limit on this bullshit. the jury is retarded.

It's a little more than she was asking for in damages. Teams of lawyers are drunk off their ass over this verdict at this very moment, I betcha.

Keep in mind that Dolan up and fired her rather than letting the investigation proceed. That's the bigger deal, here, not so much about what Isiah said to her. The cover-up is worse than the crime.

The problem with punitive damages is, if there's a hard & low limit, then they can just become a cost of business for the mega-rich. The punishment fitting the crime is one thing -- the punishment fitting the criminal is something else.

wow 11.6 million. america as a judicial system is a joke. Hospital kills someone and they can't be sued for anything close to that. there needs to be a limit on this bullshit. the jury is retarded.

That's crazy! You think it would be better for a hospital, where everyone is working to improve the health of badly ill or injured people, to be punished more for making one of the thousands of mistakes that can easily happen in the course of their work, than someone who went out of their way to make someone else's life miserable?

Do you really want to live under a legal system that doesn't consider intent when it hands out punishments?

^yeah, and imagine how much your health care costs would go up with the added lawsuits. Most people wouldn't even be able to afford it.

That's crazy! You think it would be better for a hospital, where everyone is working to improve the health of badly ill or injured people, to be punished more for making one of the thousands of mistakes that can easily happen in the course of their work, than someone who went out of their way to make someone else's life miserable?

Do you really want to live under a legal system that doesn't consider intent when it hands out punishments?
Life costing incompetence is not an everyday mistake. Writing every case off and just one of them good ole mistakes isnt really keeping things correct, but whatever. The idea of "shit happens" would fit perfectly in them fucking you over next. Either way, make whatever case you want for the hospitals. You're missing the point. 11.6 million dollars is a ridiculous reward in a sexual harassment case. Its an utter joke imo. But thats just mines. Didnt know it warranted the derailing "poor hospitals" sarcastic response.



^yeah, and imagine how much your health care costs would go up with the added lawsuits. Most people wouldn't even be able to afford it.
Well Health care itself is a joke. But again thats away from my point.

What punishment would make sense such that it is an actual deterrent to the behavior? If not strictly monetary, what would you recommend? Remember, one man's life earnings is another man's slap on the wrist.

Something far less than 11.6 million. Maybe the sexual Harassment law is too vague. Because groping and calling someone a bitch is not worth 11.6 million dollars. If isiah bust her in her jaw with an uppercut, i doubt she'd get 11.6 million for it.

your missing the point. the theory behind the award is deterrency. the reason she filed a law suit against msg was because they had deep pockets, and their culpability would lead to a higher payout than what zeke would ever pay.

its not about making the victim "whole" again, its about making sure the tortfessor doesnt continue the same offense. this is all pretty standard stuff. if you go to a bar and get ruffed up by a bouncer, you dont sue the bouncer, you sue the bar for hiring the guy in the first place.

everyone complains about our system of law, but its usually out of ignorance. id say our law system is pretttty, prettty good.

Yea you're right. Taking you off ignore was a bad move.

everyone complains about our system of law, but its usually out of arrogance. id say our law system is pretttty, prettty good.
tell that silly garbage to Jena 6. Either way, i think this igg may need to be permanent. It was good to see ya again. Bye.

Again if Zeke punched her he'd be paying less money. He shoulda done that.

if you want to discuss the jena 6, it should probably be moved the politics forum.

ill touch on it quickly though. i havent been following it enough, but if it is as egregious of a miscariage of justice as it appears, then these sentences will no doubt be overwritten by a court of appeals. hence, justice wins again.

Again if Zeke punched her he'd be paying less money. He shoulda done that.
Zeke isn't paying any of that punitive money, not directly. It's Dolan's organization that's paying $11.6 milliion. Again, the bigger crime was the stupid attempt by Dolan to bury the issue.

If Dolan only had to pay, say, $1.16 million or $116,000, he might consider it a price of doing business, do the same thing again and, by example, encourage others to. The idea behind the huge judgements is to stop the behavior. The fact that we're talking about it means it's having some of the desired effect, in a way that might not be the case otherwise.

A different question is -- who should get that money? Would you feel better if that punitive money were earmarked for some non-profit organization that deals with workplace discrimination, or would that be perceived as the judge and guv'mint playing favorites again?

On more of a basketball note, should Stern impose a penalty and, if so, of what nature?

On more of a basketball note, should Stern impose a penalty and, if so, of what nature?

Didn't the NBA already announce that they were not going to take action?

If they did, maybe they could make them pay some luxury t...nevermind.

There's no announcements that I'm aware of:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/phil_taylor/10/03/isiah/

I saw on the ESPN thing (translation: the words that go flying by on the bottom of the screen) that the NBA would not do anything to the Knicks or Zeke, cuz its civil not criminal.

That seems pretty stupid, imo. I mean you have a sexual harrasment judgement that goes against a team. Why wouldn't the comish want to address that? To me its worse than a guy getting a dui or something.

The statment said that the bylaws didn't cover punishment for civil matters, but it seems there would be some vebage that would cover 'conduct detrimental to a team or league' type of thing.

BTW...here are some of the lines Zeke used that we didn't hear about in court.

"I'll show you a well-hung jury."

"Why don't you let me appeal you out of that pants suit?"

"Let me foam-finger you."

"Hey, at least I'm not Reggie Miller."

"I'll screw you like I screwed the Knicks' payroll."

"I'd be happy to assist you out of your dress and onto my penis."

"Damn! And I thought Allan Houston was the biggest bust in Knicks history."

"Gatorade isn't the only thing that quenches thirst. Take my balls, for instance."

"There's a four-year, $30-million contract for you…in my pants!"

"Wanna have sex, fellow MSG employee?"

"The Knicks suck, and you should, too"

"I'm innocent until proven sexy!"

"Bitch, I might not give a fuck about the long-suffering Knick fans, but I give a fuck about you."

"If you finish that paperwork, I'll show you my new finger-roll technique. Bring lube."

"But, seriously, how bad do you want to be a halftime dancer?"

"We should take a trip together. I already booked this place in Colorado that Kobe won't shut up about."

"All the other guys used to wear cups when I was playing, I had to wear a bowl."

"If you have sex with me, I will give you money."

"I'm way better at finding the clit than at finding a decent center."

"Check out my pin, I care about autism. Now check out my dick."

"Our new game plan: penetration, penetration, penetration."

"I ain't no one-Manute man."

"Short shorts provide easy access…to orgasms."

"Wanna make a quick $11.6 million?"

A different question is -- who should get that money? Would you feel better if that punitive money were earmarked for some non-profit organization that deals with workplace discrimination, or would that be perceived as the judge and guv'mint playing favorites again?
Easily the most sensible reply in this thread. I could agree with this. My worry is for people abusing the law and being able to sue for a personal big pay day.

BTW...here are some of the lines Zeke used that we didn't hear about in court.

"I'll show you a well-hung jury."

"Why don't you let me appeal you out of that pants suit?"

"Let me foam-finger you."

"Hey, at least I'm not Reggie Miller."

"I'll screw you like I screwed the Knicks' payroll."

"I'd be happy to assist you out of your dress and onto my penis."

"Damn! And I thought Allan Houston was the biggest bust in Knicks history."

"Gatorade isn't the only thing that quenches thirst. Take my balls, for instance."

"There's a four-year, $30-million contract for you…in my pants!"

"Wanna have sex, fellow MSG employee?"

"The Knicks suck, and you should, too"

"I'm innocent until proven sexy!"

"Bitch, I might not give a fuck about the long-suffering Knick fans, but I give a fuck about you."

"If you finish that paperwork, I'll show you my new finger-roll technique. Bring lube."

"But, seriously, how bad do you want to be a halftime dancer?"

"We should take a trip together. I already booked this place in Colorado that Kobe won't shut up about."

"All the other guys used to wear cups when I was playing, I had to wear a bowl."

"If you have sex with me, I will give you money."

"I'm way better at finding the clit than at finding a decent center."

"Check out my pin, I care about autism. Now check out my dick."

"Our new game plan: penetration, penetration, penetration."

"I ain't no one-Manute man."

"Short shorts provide easy access…to orgasms."

"Wanna make a quick $11.6 million?"

"Hey baby. Look up. Look waaaaaay up."

Easily the most sensible reply in this thread. I could agree with this. My worry is for people abusing the law and being able to sue for a personal big pay day.

how would YOU know whats sensible? i question your judgment.

anyway, why is giving the money to some third party better than giving it to the victim? who decides what third party gets it? are we really worried about the itty bitty common folk bullying the deep pocket billionairs around in court?

this award is just a slap on the wrist to james dolan. zeke does worse damage on damn near every basketball decision he makes.

anyway, why is giving the money to some third party better than giving it to the victim?
Note there's already a third party -- the lawyers. You're empowering the lawyers pretty dramatically, as they tend to take 1/3rd of that judgement if not more. Give them even a slim window at a big payday, and some would argue they'll swing for the fences and drag the legal system into quagmires.

Keep in mind I'm speaking of -punitive- damages here. No one's talking about not paying the victim what they deserve. But punitive damages by definition go above and beyond what the victim deserves. The idea behind assessing them is to punish and deter the bad guy.


who decides what third party gets it? are we really worried about the itty bitty common folk bullying the deep pocket billionairs around in court?
If the goal is to prevent the Knicks and others from following the Knicks example of sexual harassment and obfuscation, would that goal be best achieved by giving a bunch of money to:

1) the victim and their lawyers, who may or may not have any particular interest in being a poster child on such matters
2) an organization whose demonstrated function is to discourage sexual harassment and bad incident handling practices
3) someone else?

yea, i caught that you were referring to punitive damages.

i disagree about lawyers though. yea, theyre going to try to get their clients the best outcome possible, but thats part of the rules to professional ethics of lawyers. this is of course limitted by juries, judges, and appeals.

as for taking a 1/3, its part of capitalism. not exactly free market because i think those same rules cap it.

i can see why their is uneasiniess about also giving the victim the punitive award. i think actually the most logical move would be for the state to take the money, much like they take it when you get a speeding ticket. but i think that would be infringing on what civil courts were set up to do, and would probably also cause about 1/2 the country (left and right) to freek out in a big way.

yea, i caught that you were referring to punitive damages.

i disagree about lawyers though. yea, theyre going to try to get their clients the best outcome possible, but thats part of the rules to professional ethics of lawyers. this is of course limitted by juries, judges, and appeals.
Right, and that's covered by normal damages being awarded which include legal fees. I'm talking about punitive damages, though, where you can have potential damages that are sky high if a rich target is involved, causing them to feed attorneys to an otherwise-unreasonable degree as a risk mitigation strategy. The lawyers win at everyone's expense, particularly if you care about stuff like "due process".


i can see why their is uneasiniess about also giving the victim the punitive award. i think actually the most logical move would be for the state to take the money, much like they take it when you get a speeding ticket. but i think that would be infringing on what civil courts were set up to do, and would probably also cause about 1/2 the country (left and right) to freek out in a big way.
The clash between punitive damages and "one man's loss is another man's gain" is hard to overcome. I'd just like to arrive at a better handle on how to punish in a way that actually deters the relevant behavior, really fixes the problems. Thus far, I've rarely seen punitive damages really "get" someone, unless it was some stupid amount of money and then the big payday gets talked about more than the problem. I suppose that's something, but it's not all that satisfying really.

how would YOU know whats sensible? i question your judgment.

anyway, why is giving the money to some third party better than giving it to the victim? who decides what third party gets it? are we really worried about the itty bitty common folk bullying the deep pocket billionairs around in court?

this award is just a slap on the wrist to james dolan. zeke does worse damage on damn near every basketball decision he makes.

Aaaaahahahaha! No shit. Isiah Thomas can lose 11.6 million dollars in no time just by being the president of basketball operations, why should MSG give a shit? They've been paying for his horrible decision-making since day one.

I wonder how LB feels about the verdict?


Anucha is a really, really neat lady.

She just vants to play

Stern addresses issues that affect league

By Ian Whittell
Special to ESPN.com

LONDON -- NBA commissioner David Stern stressed Wednesday that he has not ruled out the possibility of taking punitive action against the New York Knicks or coach Isiah Thomas in the wake of the civil action that reached its conclusion last week.

Stern also revealed that the league will not be firing any more of its referees after interviewing all 60 on staff in an attempt to unearth further conduct violations following the Tim Donaghy betting scandal.

NBA commissioner David Stern addressed a number of issues concerning the league. Among them:

• On the impasse between the city of Seattle and the Sonics regarding a new arena: "All bad, OK? There doesn't seem to be a lot of movement on a new building. We always hope that there will be [progress between] the two sides. The team has started an arbitration and the city has started a litigation. Welcome again to NBA 101, which is about lawyers. I don't want to knock lawyers, having been one myself. But it's not at all pleasant [in Seattle]. Hopefully, good things will happen once we throw the ball up in the regular season and take people's minds off the sidebars."

• On the status of another new synthetic basketball: "All I know is there has been a negotiating process involving many players, whittling down to two or three different prototypes tested by players with involvement with the players' union, but there is nothing for the coming season. We will have something completed in the course of this season. Sales of the new [synthetic] ball at retail are very firm and good. Spalding is offering last year's ball at retail and sales are terrific. But we are playing with leather this year."

• On the prospect of bringing the NBA All-Star Game to London: It has "crossed our mind," and he said preliminary discussions are already underway to have more NBA exhibition games in the British capital next season.

Speaking in London before the Boston Celtics played the Minnesota Timberwolves at the O2 Arena as part of the NBA's Europe Live tour, Stern reacted angrily to media reports that he is planning no action against the Knicks, team owner James Dolan or Thomas himself.

"Unfortunately, once again the New York Times headline writer said something that didn't appear in the text of my remarks, and the remarks themselves were badly mangled," Stern said.

"… What I said then was it was still under consideration, that there were many issues having to do with understanding the transcripts, understanding what exactly the jury did and what role a further appeal should play in considering this. And further, I said that I wanted to discuss this with the [NBA] board of governors.

"The headline said 'Stern not taking any action,' but the article will be searched in vain to find me saying that. Now that has been picked up as a fact because it appeared in a New York Times headline."

The three-week civil trial ended last week, with a jury finding that former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders endured crude insults and unwanted advances from Thomas and ordering the Knicks to pay her $11.6 million.

The jury, though, determined that only MSG chairman James Dolan should pay for harassing and firing Browne Sanders from her $260,000 a year job out of spite. Stern was widely criticized in the immediate aftermath of the decision for not taking swifter action.

The Knicks' case came at the end of a difficult summer for Stern and his league. Much of the negativity stemmed from Donaghy's admission in federal court that he committed felonies when the veteran referee allegedly placed bets on games and sold inside information on games to professional gamblers.

Per SNL news rerun... 'She would have gotten more if she was a washed up shooting guard with bad knees.' lol