Sharpton Presses Knicks for an Apology

Reverend Al Sharpton is calling for a boycott of the Knicks unless coach and General Manager Isiah Thomas issues a formal apology for testifying that it was alright for black men to refer to black women as bitches. Thomas' distinction became public last month after a deposition was released in the sexual harassment suit of Anucha Browne Sanders. The female executive was suing the Knicks organization after she was fired while accusing the team, and Thomas, of sexually harassing her. Thomas testified that it was okay for black men to refer to black women as bitches, while he considered it less acceptable for white men to do so. Sharpton objected:

"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.'"

The discrimination lawsuit is becoming a neverending headache for the Knicks organization. Sanders was awarded $11.6 million after suing the team when she was fired. Now Sharpton is threatening to boycott Madison Square Garden unless an apology is issued by Thomas. The Knicks have been terrible recently. Last season the team went 33-49, despite one of the highest payrolls in the league. The last time they reached the playoffs was in 2004 when they were swept in the first round by the Nets.

(Welcome to Madison Square Garden, by wallyg at flickr)

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By Dave Hogarty in News on October 6, 2007 2:40 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

Then why isn't he going after Snoop Dog or 50, or the record producers? I guess it's easier to kick a man while he's down - what a wimp Sharpton is...

guest

It might be a small chance, but Sharpton is a reverend with daughters who MIGHT really be offended by this. I am an atheist without kids and I think this kind of talk over and over is damaging to girls and women.

guest

Yeh, what a fine humanitarian Sharpton is - I think a desire to be King Pimp is more like it...

Albert Sharpton

Life's a bitch, you wish you were me.

nyishome

why?

why should Isiah be singled out for

bringing to light, what HAS BEEN a

growing problem, not just in the black

community but in ALL communities?

shouldnt we be thanking him? His trial

has helped bring to the surface what

many will not speak of.

Isiah being "forced" to apologize does

not solve the root of the problem.

Al Sharptons a joke, he stopped being

relevant a while ago.

if he really wants to make a difference

please stop holding press confrences

and just stick to helping local

communities.

EricaJoy

Uh oh! http://www.imsorryalsharpton.com/

kane

So we have to boycott the Knicks because Isiah Thomas is a pig? I would boycott them because they suck ass so much.

Peter

One thing you can be sure of is that the league itself won't take any action against the Knicks. That's because the other teams just adore them. While in part it's because the Knicks provide an easy opponent, it's mostly because the team's obscenely bloated payroll forces it to pay tens of millions of dollars each season in "luxury tax," money that goes to other teams.

guest

Is Sharpton personally going to boycott MSG? How much money does he personally pump into the place? Or is he speaking on behalf of all black people? Cause then all the players are going to need something to do.