Losing Isaiah - Why the Knicks Should Cut Their Losses Now

"Appearances are not held to be a clue to the truth. But we seem to have no other."
~Ivy Compton-Burnett


I do not know whether Isaiah Thomas sexually harassed Anucha Browne Sanders, but it sure looks that way. In everything that has been revealed throughout this sordid trial, down to Thomas' self-damaging deposition on the black man's authority to use the B word when referring to black women, leads me to think that he could be guilty, in addition to grossly conceited and inappropriate.

The jury's conviction suggests the same. And the Knicks should take action now. Avoiding continuous alignment with a now malevolent character who all the while irrelevantly hasn't been winning basketball games, causes them a whole lot of drama -- the kind that they could do without. If ever there was proof that not all publicity is good publicity this is it.

Chairman James Dolan appears guilty as well. More so of sexism and bad judgment in his decision to fire Anucha Browne Sanders when really the head coach should have been severely reprimanded.

But the problem for the Knicks, in NYC - this big diverse apple of the world - is that there are too many scenarios in how this could cost them a whole lot more than punitive damages in long run.

If the Knicks keep Isaiah they risk alienating their talent pool potential employees -especially women of diverse background. This sends a message that from the top down, women are demeaned, devalued and mistreated at MSG and if they continue to dig their heels and cry not guilty, without making some serious attempts to eradicate sexual harassment and discrimination from their workplace, they're only hurting themselves.

Second, if Isaiah stays on as head coach, other players, male executives at the Garden and throughout the NBA will see this as merely an unfortunate incident. Not a warning that they cannot and will not be allowed to treat the female coworkers they interact with in a derogatory way.