The Spotted Bass - Sports - Deposition shows inner linguist side of Isiah Thomas

Deposition shows inner linguist side of Isiah Thomas

Thomas: "Why would I say those things to such a poorly sketched bitch?"

Former NBA great and New York Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas showed another side of himself recently during a taped deposition he gave as part of a sexual harassment trial centered around him. Thomas was being sued by a former black female executive of Madison Square Garden, owner of the NBA's New York Knicks, for sexual harassment during her tenure with the firm. The jury ordered Thomas and MSG to pay the woman $11.6 million dollars in damages.

During Thomas' deposition, a portion of which was made available to The Spotted Bass, he admittedly addressed the victim a 'bitch.' Explaining why this behavior should not be construed as sexual harassment, Thomas said it wasn't the same for a black man to call a black woman a bitch as for a white man to do the same.

"My mother and all of my aunties respond to bitch," Thomas said in justification. "They won't respond to anything else. It gets really confusing at family gatherings because all of the women will stop what they're doing to help the man in need. It's not the least bit offensive. It's just something that's been passed down through the generations."

Thomas was asked why, then, was it inappropriate for a white male to address a black female using the term. "White males started using the term inappropriately when hip-hop started. They heard the black rappers using 'bitch,' and they thought it sounded pretty cool. It was at the same time white guys started wearing their pants low and not making the NBA and track and field. The problem was, white guys started using the word incorrectly and in a derogatory way with variations such as beeotch and beyatch. It's a one-syllable word, my man."

The always outspoken Rev. Al Sharpton said he will protest outside Madison Square Garden until Thomas apologizes. In response, Thomas said, "I respect Rev. Sharpton, but sometimes he acts about as white as Clarence Thomas. What a beyatch."



Home > Sports > Deposition shows inner linguist side of Isiah Thomas Deposition shows inner linguist side of Isiah Thomas Thomas: "Why would I say those things to such a poorly sketched bitch?" Former NBA great and New York Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas showed another side of himself recently during a taped deposition he gave as part of a sexual harassment trial centered around him. Thomas was being sued by a former black female executive of Madison Square Garden, owner of the NBA's New York Knicks, for sexual harassment during her tenure with the firm. The jury ordered Thomas and MSG to pay the woman $11.6 million dollars in damages. During Thomas' deposition, a portion of which was made available to The Spotted Bass, he admittedly addressed the victim a 'bitch.' Explaining why this behavior should not be construed as sexual harassment, Thomas said it wasn't the same for a black man to call a black woman a bitch as for a white man to do the same. "My mother and all of my aunties respond to bitch," Thomas said in justification. "They won't respond to anything else. It gets really confusing at family gatherings because all of the women will stop what they're doing to help the man in need. It's not the least bit offensive. It's just something that's been passed down through the generations." Thomas was asked why, then, was it inappropriate for a white male to address a black female using the term. "White males started using the term inappropriately when hip-hop started. They heard the black rappers using 'bitch,' and they thought it sounded pretty cool. It was at the same time white guys started wearing their pants low and not making the NBA and track and field. The problem was, white guys started using the word incorrectly and in a derogatory way with variations such as beeotch and beyatch. It's a one-syllable word, my man." The always outspoken Rev. Al Sharpton said he will protest outside Madison Square Garden until Thomas apologizes. In response, Thomas said, "I respect Rev. Sharpton, but sometimes he acts about as white as Clarence Thomas. What a beyatch."