WNBA Liberty President and co-Owner Isiah Thomas said that he expected his hiring to be "met with furor because of the sexual harassment trial" in which MSG was ordered to pay more than $11M in damages, according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. But Thomas has told friends for years that he "never found the ruling an indictment of himself." Thomas said he considers himself “an activist for equality." MSG Chair James Dolan and Thomas "met with Liberty players Saturday before the opening day of practice." Thomas: "It was necessary to meet, discuss and have an open forum to let them ask questions and give our side." Thomas, who "received a round of applause from the assembled Liberty players when he finished speaking, made impassioned pleas to the large media throng to return to cover his squad." Dolan hired Thomas "partially in the hope his name will sell tickets, as the club has suffered declining attendance in recent years and is losing money." Thomas drew a giant crowd Thursday for the team's media day, but "needs to draw fans" to MSG. Liberty C Tina Charles said that it is "not Thomas’ role, though, to sell tickets" (N.Y. POST, 5/22). ESPN N.Y.'s Ian Begley noted Thomas hopes that people "keep an open mind about his new role." Thomas said that he hopes to "bring attention to the WNBA, which has struggled to gain footing in the professional sports landscape" (ESPNNY.com, 5/21). espnW's Kate Fagan said, "The tenor of (the press conference) was -- you could see so far it seems like he’s developed a good relationship with the players” ("OTL," ESPN, 5/21).
EVERYTHING ZEN? In N.Y., Scott Cacciola notes Thomas "did not reject the idea that he could someday return to the NBA." He said, "You never know where life will take you." Thomas added that he "had not spoken" with Knicks President Phil Jackson since joining the Liberty. Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer "dismissed the suggestion that Thomas might have some influence on the Knicks through his close relationship with Dolan." He said that Thomas had "already made it clear to everyone in the organization that he would not be going anywhere near the Knicks" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/22). When asked if Thomas would help the Knicks in his new role, Laimbeer responded, "No way, no way shape or form. He’s made it clear to me and everybody that world is nonexistent. If you go down that road it would be the stupidest thing you do. It’s a clearly defined giant brick wall between the two situations. He’s all about the Liberty and he’s entered in this with ownership capacity" (ESPNNY.com, 5/21).
NOT FEELING IT: The N.Y. Daily News' John Harper said Thomas' hire "just doesn't feel right" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 5/21). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes "not even a perpetual state of tone-deaf oblivion could shield" Thomas from what "he knew was coming" at Thursday's media day. Thomas "tried hard to portray himself a crusader for equality, insisting his own struggles against racial bias and upbringing by a feminist mother were more than enough evidence to back his claim of being a social 'activist.'” Sullivan: "I’m angry that you got this job. I’m angry that you’re making decisions for women’s professional lives when you have a history of treating women in the workplace with disrespect. I’m angry that you seemed to delight in the added interest your arrival brought to Thursday’s proceedings, pushing yourself as a vehicle for growing the women’s game, as if this sort of attention is something to be proud of" (Bergen RECORD, 5/22). Bloomberg's Kavitha Davidson said Thomas "is a terrible basketball executive." He has "failed at every front office position he has held for a men’s team," so saying "'why not try your hand at a women’s team' is very insulting, frankly, especially for a league that is trying to gain legitimacy and grow its popularity." Davidson: "It’s a really damaging message to be" ("OTL," ESPN, 5/21). In N.Y., Mike Lupica describes Thursday's press conference under the header, "Isiah Thomas, New President Of WNBA's New York Liberty, Chucks Up Another Air Ball" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/22). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said of Dolan, "If I’m ... a woman owner, in particular, of a WNBA team, I’m saying, ‘Why are you doing this?'" ("PTI," ESPN, 5/21).
