NPR: The Tale of Two Thomases

The Tale of Two Thomases

Clarence Thomas, (left), and Isiah Thomas, (right)

Getty Images

This morning, we learned a jury found New York Knicks' coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden -- the team's owners -- guilty of sexually harassing a former female executive.

Now we know the dollar figure: 11.6 million big ones. But the Garden -- not Thomas -- has to pay the punitive damages.

Here's how it works out, according to The Associated Press: "The jury found Madison Square Garden owes $6 million for allowing a hostile work environment to exist and $2.6 million for retaliation; MSG chairman James Dolan owes $3 million."

So what do you think?

-- Should Isiah Thomas be fired as coach of the Knicks?
-- Should he have to pay part of the $11.6 million?
-- What will this mean for the Knicks' future?

And on the other side of the Thomas family tree ... Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes Sunday night, in part, to promote his new book [Highlights here]. In it, he offers his recollections on the Anita Hill controversy, which surrounded his confirmation hearings.

Today, Hill reemerged to defend herself against Thomas' characterizations.

"I understand that he is very angry and wants to vindicate himself, but my testimony was truthful," she told ABC's Good Morning America.

-- Who is telling the truth in this case of he said / she said?
-- Thomas says he is vilified, in part, because he is black and people think he is "supposed to think a certain way." Agree?
-- Will you be buying Thomas' book?

Geoffrey Bennett

6:13 PM ET | 10- 2-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Anita Hill is clearly telling the truth. This new book is just one more attempt to besmirch a woman who stood up for her rights. (David Brock, author of the first smear book against Ms. Hill, confessed that he lied for the Republican cause.)

My question for Justice Thomas: "Are you vilifying her because black woman are 'supposed to act a certain way' allowing black men in power to harass and abuse them at work as some sort of show of solidarity?"

Ms. Hill kept silent about the harassment at the time. Would he have hired her to work with him at the EEOC if she had complained about his conduct at the Department of Ed?

Sent by Jael Jepthah | 12:50 AM ET | 10-03-2007

It is sad that we another african american in power be in the center of a high profile sex harassment case. While I am disappointed with the outcome. I hope that Mr. Thomas and the MSG Management take ownership and not continue to besmirch the character of the victim.

Sent by James Nesmith | 3:05 AM ET | 10-03-2007

A Tale of Two Thomases

Let's start with the first Thomas, Isiah Thomas: Should Isiah be fired? I wish this question was asked over a year ago and that would have got a resounding yes. My yes would have been due to an executive running a storied basketball franchise to the ground with senseless operation moves. But now it gets complicated because he was not the only one involved in the sexual harrasment dilemma, just a scapegoat.

The Knicks star player, Stephon Marbury was also an assailant. He used some colorful choice words on the former female executive not to talk of a questionable relationship with an intern. So do you suspend or abruptly trade him for his lack of character along with his head coach? Another thing, there is this little word called contract involved. So you see how the yes to the firing is not that easy to say.

If you ask me, the MSG along with its chairman deserve to get the brunt of the punishment for allowing such a hostile work environment. This is what the jury saw and the reason for the judgment. The MSG was been run like an old boys network; so was it any surprise Thomas and Marbury ran amok?

Isiah will only have to pay part of the judgment if there is a moral clause in his contract and/or if he has a semblance of decency that he was part of the blame. As for the future of the Knicks, well they've been in the rebuilding phase for the past three years, so another year or two in rebuilding will not hurt them; just the ticket holders.

Now to the next Thomas, Clarence Thomas. Gosh, where do I start? I watched the 60 Minutes interview (and I say interview lightly) and felt more confused about the man or persona called Clarence Thomas. One thing I do know from the 60 Minutes piece was here is a man who was (or perhaps is) very bitter.

Also, I don't believe one minute about his theory of a witchhunt during his confirmation hearings. He said it was because he was black. No it wasn't! Many whites have gone through the same thing. One notable person was Clinton. So I believe it's time after sixteen years to at least take some responsibility and not launch another attack on Anita Hill.

With all that been said, will I buy his book? Not right now - I've got too many new books in my sight I have yet to open. But after a few months I will pick it up; if only to get an understanding about him and perhaps have some empathy for him along the way.

Sent by Moji | 10:04 AM ET | 10-03-2007

Michael Vick, OJ, Isiah Thomas -- what's with this trifecta of rich black guys behaving badly?

Sent by Danielle Tanner | 10:59 AM ET | 10-03-2007

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