HOw To Gain Interest In The WNBA: Hire A Former Sexual Harasser As President Of A Franchise

Detroit Free Press- Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan has rehired Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas — this time to run the WNBA's New York Liberty.

"Over the last couple of months Jim and I talked," Thomas told the Associated Press by phone today. "We talked about the ideas and the way that there was a growth opportunity for the New York Liberty. Women's basketball is an exciting opportunity. It's something I wanted to be a part of.

He remained with the Knicks in an unspecified role, even after a lawsuit brought by former team employee Anucha Browne Sanders that cost MSG $11.6 million. Sanders alleged that she was sexually harassed by Thomas, who maintained his innocence and never was found personally liable.

"I asked questions about what happened and am comfortable with MSG's position on the trial," said Kristin Bernert, who is the senior vice president of business operations for the Liberty, the team's general manager and a former official with the Detroit Shock. "I tend to take people for who they are now and my personal dealings with them."

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Yo New York, guess who's bizzzack! The world's most professional parasite. Just when you think you got rid of him he's clinging on as a "personal adviser", or he's full on attached himself through the New York Knicks sister franchise. Hey, the WNBA couldn't be less interesting. That's just a fact. If someone offered me a million dollars to name the last two WNBA champions I would probably fall asleep before I even had time to muster up an answer. There's only one thing that breeds viewership better than an entertaining product, and that is controversy. Is Isiah Thomas, a guy who was accused of sexually harassing a female employee at Madison Square Garden to the tune of $11.6 million, the best choice for running a female basketball team? Probably not. In fact, it's almost certain that it is a recipe for disaster. However, it's also a recipe for entertainment. People don't want to watch women play basketball. They want to watch women try to battle against real or perceived prejudices. Hiring a male, who boasts a resume full of failure, to watch over a group of female athletes is a metaphor for society that feminists are sure to shine the light of 1,000 suns on. Just attach a hidden camera to Thomas' tie, send him in the locker room, and boom...you've got yourself a reality show. The television interests of most women and professional female athletics finally meet!

Was the racist rant of former NBA executive Donald Sterling that leaked an absolute disgrace? Did it spurn a ton of media coverage for the Los Angeles Clippers? Did it put them on the map as more than the little brother of the Lakers? Did it garner a ton of sympathy for every one else in the organization? Yes, yes, yes, and fuck yes. Now the Clippers are in the second round of the NBA playoffs with their new owner putting on a sideline show every game. If putting a racist is charge of a group of predominantly black men worked out in the end, how could putting a known sexist in charge of a bunch of women not work out? It's the perfect storm for publicity. Give it like 3 months. Thomas will be spouting off about how the Liberty aren't playing with testicular fortitude, or how 'his women' are too passive. Won't be long before he butchers Epiphanny Prince's name and calls her "Epiphanny Princess". That's a front page news story that a couple hours of breakaway lay-ups could never provide. If this guy can't get people talking about the WNBA then no one can.