With OJ and Jena in the news, the whole MSG vs Anucha Browne Sanders sexual harassment case/soap opera has mercifully flown under the radar. But that didn't stop this gem from surfacing the other day.
African-Americans Tuesday criticized New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas for saying it was less offensive for black men than for white men to call black women "bitches."I don't exactly know if this comment "prompted the new resurgence of an old debate". I mean, I was at the barbershop this weekend, and all anybody was talking about was the Redskins (who totally suck, BTW). I love how "the media" can just manufacture an epidemic by asking the two or three "black experts" they have on speed dial for their opinions.
"A white man calling a black woman 'bitch,' that is wrong with me. I'm not accepting that. That's a problem for me," Thomas said in a videotaped deposition shown during a trial brought against the team by a former marketing executive who claims she was harassed by Thomas and wrongfully terminated.
Asked if he was bothered by a black man calling a black female "bitch", Thomas said: "Not as much. I’m sorry to say, I do make a distinction."
That comment prompted the new resurgence of an old debate over who, if anyone, could use derogatory epithets, and when, if ever, it was acceptable to use them.
"The National Action Network and I are unequivocally against a person of any race, color or creed calling a person a 'nigga' 'bitch' or 'ho,' and further, that no person regardless of his or her race, has the right to make misogynistic or sexist remarks against another person," the Rev. Al Sharpton told ABC NEWS.com in an e-mail.
The taped deposition was played by lawyers for Anucha Brown Sanders, a former vice president of marketing for the Knicks, who accuses Thomas of calling her "bitch," "f***ing bitch" and "ho." Sanders claimed she was fired when she complained about Thomas' comments and sexual advances. She is seeking $10 million and wants her job back.
Still, how the heck does Isaiah explain this? He's effectively saying that it's okay for a brotha to call a black woman a bitch, but if a white guy does it, he's catching a beatdown. You could substitute the word "nigga" here, and probably apply similar logic to how many black folks (not all) feel about the word.
BTW, I'm don't really use the words bitch and ho, but I do occasionally float around the "N-Word". Contrary to what many of you might think, I actually don't curse much at all in my non-blog life, but I consider the word "nigga" to be more or less an expletive. One thing I don't consider it is a term of endearment. Period. Folks who claim they are "taking the stigma from the word" by claiming it as a such are delusional. I am sure 90% of the time, these very folks use the word to describe a foul, ignorant person of their behavior. But I digress.
Either way, Freaky Zeke is in some real trouble. Chances are, this whole harassment case will end up getting settled out of court, as it should have been in the first place. But Isaiah's reputation, which was already not exactly crystal clean (poor coaching, ruined the CBA, iffy decisions as an exec, freezing out MJ, the bad mouthing of Larry Bird) is definitely shot beyond repair now. Assuming he gets the chance to coach this season (expert opinion is that he'll be fired is the Knicks lose this case), the Knicks sorry roster will guarantee this year is his swan song anyway.
In related Knicks news, point guard Stephon Marbury's summer from hell just keeps getting worse. After some truly odd public behavior, his testimony during the trial just further erodes his recently rehabbed reputation.
The former intern who had a sordid tryst in a truck with Knicks guard Stephon Marbury could testify as early as tomorrow in the explosive sex-harassment suit against the star's coach, Isiah Thomas.Decker isn't exactly all that great looking either. Or black.
Kathleen Decker, 24, is expected to be called by defense lawyers in a $10 million federal civil complaint pressed by former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders against team president and coach Thomas and Madison Square Garden.
Marbury has already reluctantly admitted that he had sex with Decker in his pickup truck after the team went on a group strip-club outing in April 2005
Happy Trails to the Angelic Marbury. We hardly knew ye'. And now that Big Ben Wallace and Venus Williams are selling cheap shoes of their own, we don't need you either.
Man, would training camp hurry up and open? Please!!!
Remarks by Isiah Thomas Reignite Debate over Racist, Sexist Language [ABC News]
Intern to Testify In Isaiah Trial [NYPost]
