WNBPA Dir of Operations Evie Goldstein on Thursday issued a statement that "makes it clear that the controversial choice" for the Liberty to name Isiah Thomas President and co-Owner "will be carefully scrutinized in the weeks and months to come," according to Dan Devine of YAHOO SPORTS. Goldstein in her statement wrote, "We feel it is important to convey the message that WNBA players will not tolerate a hostile work environment, and that no one should have to endure unwanted sexual advances and harassment in the workplace. The verdict finding there to be a hostile work environment at MSG was issued eight years ago, however. We recognize that people can learn, grow and evolve in that time frame." She added the league will "have recurring meetings with the Liberty players throughout the season to provide a forum for any issues, complaints or concerns regarding the working environment at MSG." Devine noted the union's statement in one sense "extends an olive branch" and "might even be viewed as a charitable amount of leeway, given MSG's remarkably huffy response to the negative reaction that greeted news of Thomas' hire." But it also "emphasizes that WNBPA officials will be keeping a very close eye on Thomas' return to the Garden," and one would "have to imagine that they'd be quick to escalate and perhaps publicize any complaints that arise in their regular meetings with Liberty players and personnel" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/14).
GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR...: ESPNW's Mechelle Voepel wrote under the header, "Why The Isiah Thomas Hire Is Worse Than You Think." Had Thomas and MSG Chair James Dolan "offered even the slightest degree of mea culpa, this would still be stomach-turning," but it is "all the more odious because of the smirking, smug, absolute denial that Thomas ever did anything wrong, despite the jury's verdict and MSG's multimillion dollar payout." Thomas "must be approved" by the WNBA's BOG in order to be a co-Owner, and if that does not happen, what if Dolan "threatens to pull the plug on the Liberty?" League sources "have expressed concern about that." This "could turn into a kind of extortion," as it "appears the Liberty are a pawn in something that shouldn't even involve them or the WNBA." That is the "'game' of getting Thomas officially back into the fold at MSG" (ESPNW.com, 5/14).
