Thomas asked cheerleaders to flirt with refs

[All_Heart]

Report: Woman claims Thomas asked cheerleader to flirt with refs

Assocaited Press

Updated: June 30, 2007, 11:47 AM

NEW YORK -- The former New York Knicks executive who is suing coach Isiah Thomas for sexual harassment alleged in court papers that Thomas urged a cheerleader to flirt with referees and guard Stephon Marbury cursed at her, according to newspaper reports Saturday.

Anucha Browne Sanders, a former senior vice president of marketing and business operations, filed documents to answer the Knicks' attempt to have her lawsuit dismissed.

In the papers, which were unsealed Friday, Browne Sanders alleges cheerleader Petra Pope told her Thomas encouraged Pope to flirt with officials before a game against the Nets in 2004, the Daily News reported.

"What she told me was that Isiah asked her to go into the referees' locker room and make them happy," Browne Sanders testified.

Sanders said Marbury directed an obscenity at her after she complained about the player's cousin -- who was also employed by the team -- had made graphic sexual comments to her staff.

Marbury, in a January deposition, acknowledged calling Browne Sanders a derogatory name, according to the New York Post.

Sanders also claimed a member of her staff admitted to consensual drunken sex with Marbury after a night at a "gentlemen's club" and said "she did not believe she could say no because of who Marbury is."

Sanders said her decision to inform officials about the encounter led to her being fired, according to the New York Post.

Thomas and Madison Square Garden are listed as the defendants in the lawsuit, which charges them with sex discrimination and retaliation. Marbury is not a defendant in the lawsuit.

Browne Sanders filed the lawsuit last year, claiming she was fired "for telling the truth" while going through internal channels to stop the harassment. She has accused Thomas of telling her he was "very attracted" to her and "in love" with her and tried to kiss her.

The 44-year-old former Northwestern basketball star is seeking reinstatement to her job and unspecified damages.

Madison Square Garden said she was fired because she "failed to fulfill professional responsibilities." MSG said in a statement Saturday that the lawsuit was "riddled with fabrications."

In seeking a dismissal of the lawsuit, Thomas said Browne Sanders brought the action to harm him and secure a financial payout from him and Madison Square Garden.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by All_Heart

"What she told me was that Isiah asked her to go into the referees' locker room and make them happy," Browne Sanders testified.

This seems highly suspect. Having the cheerleaders bat their eyes at the refs out on the court - maybe. Cheerleaders having access to the refs' locker room? Doubtful.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

This seems highly suspect. Having the cheerleaders bat their eyes at the refs out on the court - maybe. Cheerleaders having access to the refs' locker room? Doubtful.

Knock, knock, knock. If you do that, usually the person on the other side will open the door.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Knock, knock, knock. If you do that, usually the person on the other side will open the door.

I've heard that access to the NBA officials' locker room is heavily restricted. NO VISITORS is posted on the door.

I doubt that such a comment, if made, was serious.

[Mark Padgett]

Report: Woman claims Thomas asked cheerleader to flirt with refs

Do you think this would work in the WNBA?

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Report: Woman claims Thomas asked cheerleader to flirt with refs

Do you think this would work in the WNBA?

No. But not for the reasons that you probably intended.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Do you think this would work in the WNBA?

Actually, a good number of WNBA refs are men. (Including one from my local board - he'd be pretty pissed if he knew you assumed he was a woman!)

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I've heard that access to the NBA officials' locker room is heavily restricted. NO VISITORS is posted on the door.

I doubt that such a comment, if made, was serious.

Are you lawyer or a publicist for Isiah?

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

Are you lawyer or a publicist for Isiah?

Obviously not. My point is that since Isaiah has been a player, coach and executive in the NBA, he is well aware that cheerleaders would not be allowed access to the officials' dressing area. Therefore, if the comment was indeed made, it was made with the knowledge that the cheerleader could not carry it out.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I've heard that access to the NBA officials' locker room is heavily restricted. NO VISITORS is posted on the door.

I doubt that such a comment, if made, was serious.

The whole behind the scenes area is under serious security. We had some HS games in coordination with the local NBDL team. They follow NBA security policies to the letter and it was very, very strict.