The Mavericks issued a statement yesterday saying that
the investigation into sexual misconduct charges against
team President Terdema Ussery "has been completed. The
organization has addressed the situation. Terdema Ussery is
president of the team, and will continue his efforts to
build a championship organization." In Ft. Worth, columnist
Randy Galloway writes, "Who knows, Ussery may be innocent,
and can be assumed as such until proved otherwise. But the
stonewalling of this situation, starting with owner Ross
Perot Jr., had led to an assumption of guilt, at least to
some degree. ... More importantly, if Ussery has been found
innocent, then where is the public announcement?" Galloway:
"So was he cleared of the charges, or what? Ussery, surely,
has that answer by now. But he was not saying yesterday."
Ussery: "The team has addressed it, and I will not elaborate
beyond that." Galloway: "[W]hen your professional
reputation goes on the line, don't you have to publicly
defend yourself, regardless? Provided, of course, there is
innocence." Galloway adds that the "biggest disappointment
... centers on Perot, who most of us in the local media have
regarded as a man of honor" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/28).
