All Time NBA Great Accused of Sexual Harassment, While Former NBA All-Star Accused of Sexual Battery.
August 14th 2006 05:56
The NBA like the rest of society has its model citizens and dregs – while everyone else is between good and evil. As a microcosm of the community at large controversy will arise at regular intervals of people from the NBA family behaving badly, and in some instances, illegally.
People involved in the NBA are likely to be multi-millionaires and adored by legions of people. So, any reports of poor behaviour or misdeeds, is going to result in intense scrutiny and debate. When the accusations are against an all-time great and former NBA all-star the public glare can be stifling.
First, cab off the rank in the sexual misconduct merry-go-round is hall of fame player and one of the best small men ever to play in the league, Isiah Thomas. Zeke has been accused of sexually harassing a former New York Knicks
Executive, an accusation that the great one has denied.
Thomas filed a 12-page Court document denying any wrong doing, but admitted that he once touched her on the shoulder, and may have tried to kiss her on the cheek once. The alleged victim Anucha Browne Sanders was fired by the Knicks boss, according to her for “telling the truth” and trying to get the harassment to stop. Furthermore, Sanders alleges that Thomas constantly told her that he was in love with the accuser, and that he was extremely attracted to her (AP, 2006).
In his countersuit Thomas accuses Sanders of holding a deep held resentment of him due to her sacking, and that these accusations are reflective of her embittered feelings towards Isiah.
The second case of alleged NBA misbehaviour is a little bit more harrowing. Former NBA All-Star Eddie Johnson has been accused of sexually assaulting an eight year old girl and was refused bail last week.
Johnson, 51, was accused of entering the apartment of the alleged victim while her mother was out registering her daughter at the local primary school. The girl was at home with her three brothers at the time of the alleged incident.
According to the girl, Johnson, ordered her into a bedroom where he allegedly assaulted her. After the alleged incident Johnson told the girl and her brothers not to tell anyone about what had happened and tried one last time to kiss her before leaving.
The girl’s mother has stated that she knew Johnson vaguely from the neighbourhood and that he didn’t have permission to be in their apartment.
Johnson has denied all charges and has claimed that he loves the kids as his very own and that he is no pervert. Records have shown that that since 1989 the former NBA All-Star has had numerous convictions registered against his name – burglary, battery, robbery, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault on an law enforcement officer, sexual battery, rape and finally the latest sexual assault allegations.
When allegations like the aforementioned ones are brought up it jolts the public into a reality check that the fantasy world of professional sports has a dark undercurrent. No one knows the true facts of the above cases and it is for the Courts decide. However, we should be reminded that the athletes we admire are human, with very mortal foibles – just like the rest of us.
People involved in the NBA are likely to be multi-millionaires and adored by legions of people. So, any reports of poor behaviour or misdeeds, is going to result in intense scrutiny and debate. When the accusations are against an all-time great and former NBA all-star the public glare can be stifling.
First, cab off the rank in the sexual misconduct merry-go-round is hall of fame player and one of the best small men ever to play in the league, Isiah Thomas. Zeke has been accused of sexually harassing a former New York Knicks
All-time great Isiah Thomas accused of sexual harassment. (Image from Wikipedia)
Thomas filed a 12-page Court document denying any wrong doing, but admitted that he once touched her on the shoulder, and may have tried to kiss her on the cheek once. The alleged victim Anucha Browne Sanders was fired by the Knicks boss, according to her for “telling the truth” and trying to get the harassment to stop. Furthermore, Sanders alleges that Thomas constantly told her that he was in love with the accuser, and that he was extremely attracted to her (AP, 2006).
In his countersuit Thomas accuses Sanders of holding a deep held resentment of him due to her sacking, and that these accusations are reflective of her embittered feelings towards Isiah.
The second case of alleged NBA misbehaviour is a little bit more harrowing. Former NBA All-Star Eddie Johnson has been accused of sexually assaulting an eight year old girl and was refused bail last week.
Johnson, 51, was accused of entering the apartment of the alleged victim while her mother was out registering her daughter at the local primary school. The girl was at home with her three brothers at the time of the alleged incident.
According to the girl, Johnson, ordered her into a bedroom where he allegedly assaulted her. After the alleged incident Johnson told the girl and her brothers not to tell anyone about what had happened and tried one last time to kiss her before leaving.
The girl’s mother has stated that she knew Johnson vaguely from the neighbourhood and that he didn’t have permission to be in their apartment.
Johnson has denied all charges and has claimed that he loves the kids as his very own and that he is no pervert. Records have shown that that since 1989 the former NBA All-Star has had numerous convictions registered against his name – burglary, battery, robbery, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault on an law enforcement officer, sexual battery, rape and finally the latest sexual assault allegations.
When allegations like the aforementioned ones are brought up it jolts the public into a reality check that the fantasy world of professional sports has a dark undercurrent. No one knows the true facts of the above cases and it is for the Courts decide. However, we should be reminded that the athletes we admire are human, with very mortal foibles – just like the rest of us.
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