James Dolan Finally Addresses Anucha Browne Suit Against MSG, Defends Isiah Thomas

Knicks Owner James Dolan "finally spoke" about the '07 sexual harassment lawsuit involving former Knicks marketing exec Anucha Browne and then-team President Isiah Thomas, accusing Browne of "lying about" what happened, according to Stefan Bondy of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Dolan told HBO's "Real Sports," that he believes "a bunch of it she (made up)." When asked by host Bryant Gumbel why he fired Browne -- which "led to a wrongful termination suit on top of the sexual harassment levied against Thomas" -- Dolan indicated that she "was incompetent." Thomas also portrayed Browne's lawsuit "as fictitious, saying he never, as alleged, called her a 'b----' or a 'ho'" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/20). Browne, who now serves as NCAA VP/Women's Basketball Championships, responded to the comments made by Dolan and Thomas via email, writing, "Dolan and Thomas continue to act as if the jury’s verdict is open to debate. It is not. Had there been any question that the jury got it wrong, there was an opportunity to appeal. Having chosen not to, their attacks years later should be rejected as clearly delusional and a continuation of their contemptuous treatment of women.” In N.Y., Scott Cacciola notes in his interview with HBO, Dolan said that he had "turned down a settlement with Browne -- a decision that wound up costing the Garden millions after the jury ruled in her favor." Dolan: “The fighter in me came out. I’m like: You know what? I’m not going to settle because that’s an admission of guilt and we’re not guilty'" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/20).