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Former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas is back at Madison Square Garden, according to the New York Post. But this time, he’ll be coaching WNBA team New York Liberty. However, there’s big pink elephant in the room: He was the center of a damning $11.6 million sexual harassment suit back in 2007.
James Dolan, CEO of Madison Square Garden, is handing Thomas a second chance, even though they had to shell out millions on a sexual harassment case that Anucha Brown Sanders filed against the ex-Knicks coach.
According to Sanders, Thomas was a “foulmouthed bully” who called her a “b*tch” and a “ho.” On top of this, Sanders said she suffered unwanted sexual advances from Thomas.
“I made the decision to sue because when I finally pressed a sexual harassment and hostile work environment with management, they fired me,” Sanders told NPR in a 2007 interview.
The jury sided with Sanders, who lost her position as the Knicks’ VP for marketing and business operations, and awarded her $11.6 million in punitive damages, according to the New York Times.
“I want to say it as loud as I possibly can,” Mr. Thomas said after he lost the case. “I am innocent. I’m very innocent. I did not do the things that she accused me in the courtroom of doing.”
It’s been eight years since the suit and not only is Thomas back at the Garden, but he will be working among a lot more women in his corporate environment.
“[The Garden] hired Isiah Thomas as president of the WNBA New York Liberty. That’s “W” as in women’s basketball,” Slate said, emphasizing the dicey situation of hiring a known handsy big wig in a female-dominated setting.
But Dolan is overlooking Thomas’ past and is focusing on the two-time NBA champ’s credentials. After all, in his final season in 2007-2008, he led the Knicks to a 23-59 record.
“Now we’ve agreed that it is time for him to take a lead role with the team as president, and through his ownership interest. He’s an excellent judge of talent, and I’m confident that he will put all of his energy and experience into making the Liberty a perennially competitive and successful team,” Dolan said in a statement, according to the Post.
“I have no intentions of looking back,’’ Thomas said in a statement. “I live my life moving forward.’’
The WNBA president, Laurel Richie, isn’t making it sounds like quite the done deal with this statement: “The Madison Square Garden organization announced that Isiah Thomas has been named president of the New York Liberty and that he will take an ownership interest in the team, pending WNBA approval. New owners are approved by our WNBA Board of Governors, and this process has not yet begun.”
The New York Liberty will start their season on June 5 at the Garden against Atlanta.
