Sharpton Confronts Sexist Star
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:51 am
BOO BIRD REV. AL
By AUSTIN FENNER
October 6, 2007 -- The Rev. Al Sharpton is threatening a boycott of the Knicks unless coach Isiah Thomas apologizes to all women for suggesting he has no problem with calling a black woman a "bitch."
"We are calling on him to apologize because of what came out during the deposition . . . when he said it was all right for black men to call black women 'bitches,' " said Sharpton.
"It is inexcusable for any man of any race to call black women or any women 'bitch.' "
Sharpton said his National Action Network would organize picket lines around Madison Square Garden during Knicks home games, unless Thomas says he's sorry.
The under-fire coach's inflammatory remarks came to light last month when a damaging videotaped deposition surfaced during the federal sexual harassment trial against Thomas and MSG.
A jury awarded former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders $11.6 million for the harassment she suffered. The Garden fired Sanders from her job as the team's vice president of marketing after she complained about the shabby treatment. She had accused him of mouthing the insults "ho" and "bitch."
On the videotape, Thomas clumsily attempted to clarify his position on insulting a woman.
"A white man calling a black female 'bitch,' that is wrong with me. I am not accepting that. That's a problem for me," said Thomas.
When he was asked by an opposition lawyer if he'd have a problem with a black man calling a black women "bitch," Thomas responded, "Not as much."
Sharpton, who calls himself a casual Knick fan, didn't set a deadline for Thomas to apologize.
Representatives for Madison Square Garden did not respond to calls for a comment.
After Thomas' videotaped remarks aired in public, he responded from the witness stand and outside the courthouse trying to explain his own statements.
"Let's not mischaracterize what I said. What I said is, it is always wrong for any man to call a woman a bitch. I didn't do that, and I would never do it," Thomas said last month.
Sharpton said Thomas' remarks could set a "dangerous social pattern" if he's not challenged because of Thomas' status as a role model.
The Hall of Famer cemented his legacy as the captain of the Detroit Pistons, who won back-to-back world championship titles in 1989 and 1990.
Thomas and the Garden suffered a public relations nightmare from the Manhattan federal court verdict.
Thomas, who proclaimed he's "innocent" of the sexual harassment charges, plans to appeal along with the Garden.
Sharpton's organization launched an initiative to promote "decency" after radio talk show host Don Imus slammed the Rutgers University women's basketball team by tagging them as "nappy-headed hos" on his show.
Sharpton declined to discuss what he thought about Sanders' lawsuit against Thomas.
"Since it went public, he has to deal with it," said Sharpton. "I hope he has the decency to deal with it."
austin.fenner@nypost.com
By AUSTIN FENNER
October 6, 2007 -- The Rev. Al Sharpton is threatening a boycott of the Knicks unless coach Isiah Thomas apologizes to all women for suggesting he has no problem with calling a black woman a "bitch."
"We are calling on him to apologize because of what came out during the deposition . . . when he said it was all right for black men to call black women 'bitches,' " said Sharpton.
"It is inexcusable for any man of any race to call black women or any women 'bitch.' "
Sharpton said his National Action Network would organize picket lines around Madison Square Garden during Knicks home games, unless Thomas says he's sorry.
The under-fire coach's inflammatory remarks came to light last month when a damaging videotaped deposition surfaced during the federal sexual harassment trial against Thomas and MSG.
A jury awarded former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders $11.6 million for the harassment she suffered. The Garden fired Sanders from her job as the team's vice president of marketing after she complained about the shabby treatment. She had accused him of mouthing the insults "ho" and "bitch."
On the videotape, Thomas clumsily attempted to clarify his position on insulting a woman.
"A white man calling a black female 'bitch,' that is wrong with me. I am not accepting that. That's a problem for me," said Thomas.
When he was asked by an opposition lawyer if he'd have a problem with a black man calling a black women "bitch," Thomas responded, "Not as much."
Sharpton, who calls himself a casual Knick fan, didn't set a deadline for Thomas to apologize.
Representatives for Madison Square Garden did not respond to calls for a comment.
After Thomas' videotaped remarks aired in public, he responded from the witness stand and outside the courthouse trying to explain his own statements.
"Let's not mischaracterize what I said. What I said is, it is always wrong for any man to call a woman a bitch. I didn't do that, and I would never do it," Thomas said last month.
Sharpton said Thomas' remarks could set a "dangerous social pattern" if he's not challenged because of Thomas' status as a role model.
The Hall of Famer cemented his legacy as the captain of the Detroit Pistons, who won back-to-back world championship titles in 1989 and 1990.
Thomas and the Garden suffered a public relations nightmare from the Manhattan federal court verdict.
Thomas, who proclaimed he's "innocent" of the sexual harassment charges, plans to appeal along with the Garden.
Sharpton's organization launched an initiative to promote "decency" after radio talk show host Don Imus slammed the Rutgers University women's basketball team by tagging them as "nappy-headed hos" on his show.
Sharpton declined to discuss what he thought about Sanders' lawsuit against Thomas.
"Since it went public, he has to deal with it," said Sharpton. "I hope he has the decency to deal with it."
austin.fenner@nypost.com