Posted on 10/06/2007 3:23:37 PM PDT by Roberts
NEW YORK -- Al Sharpton on Saturday vowed to lead protests against Madison Square Garden unless New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas apologizes for a remark that suggested he holds whites and blacks to different standards when it comes to using a derogatory term for women.
"If, in fact, that's what Mr. Thomas said, he's wrong," the activist minister said at the weekly Harlem gathering of his National Action Network.
Thomas responded that he has nothing to apologize for, and hopes Sharpton will come to the same conclusion.
In a videotaped deposition introduced at his sexual harassment trial, Thomas said: "A white man calling a black female 'bitch,' that is wrong with me. I am not accepting that. That's a problem for me."
But, asked whether he would be as angry if the same words came from a black man, Thomas said, "Not as much."
"I'm sorry to say. I do make a distinction," Thomas said.
Thomas has since sought to clarify his comments, saying it is wrong for any man to hurl the insult. But he found himself responding to the issue again after Sharpton said the Action Network would picket Madison Square Garden during Knicks games unless Thomas apologized, or explained himself.
The coach and the activist said they spoke on the phone about the issue Saturday morning.
Thomas said he told Sharpton his words had been misinterpreted. He said his wife, Lynne, also participated in the call.
The deposition tape was played to a jury during a three-=week civil trial that ended Tuesday in Manhattan. A jury ordered the owners of the Knicks to pay $11.6 million to a former team executive, Anucha Browne Sanders, after finding she endured two years of insults and unwanted advances from Thomas.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Yo, Al. What if a black man calls a white woman a b*tch? Is that okay?
Al Sharpton is a bitch...and you can quote me.
On his radio site, “the reverend” Al’s site is part of the Black America Web.
Funny, I don’t see a link to any other [race]-America Web?
“Sharpton to protest Knicks unless Thomas apologizes” (or unless the Knicks “donate” big $ to Al)
This is amazing! I’m finally in agreement w/Al Sharpton!
I agree. I say those on here should give Sharpton credit for being right when he is.
The Knicks? What’s that?
ohhhhhhhhhhh, thooooooooooose Knicks, the most disappointing worst managed team in the NBA.
I remember when a slow white man who couldn’t jump, Larry Byrd, mad an amazing play that lead to Detroit’s defeat in the playoffs. Thomas and rodman were eating sour grapes and said that Byrd wasn’t that good, it was only because he was White that he was celebrated and only as good a an average black player. (They said from the LOSERS locker room).
Can’t he get a real job instead of wandering the country living off of conflict and aggravating misery?
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