David Stern’s Nightmare Summer Continues

Someone could have tried to console NBA Commissioner David Stern by telling him that ‘things could be worse’. Unfortunately for Commissioner Stern, the worse keeps happening. The refereeing misfortunes still hang over the National Basketball Association. That remains under investigation to see if more officials were conducting themselves above reproach. Now, when Commissioner Stern opens the sports section of the newspaper or wanders to an online sports site, he finds the court case beginning against Isiah Thomas, the coach of the New York franchise:

“NEW YORK — The former Knicks executive who filed a $10 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Isiah Thomas was a rising star forced to fend off the NBA great’s clumsy advances, her lawyer told a jury Tuesday.

But defense attorney Kathleen Bogas described Anucha Browne Sanders as a liar who made up charges against Thomas to mask her incompetence.”

link: Sexual harassment trial begins vs. Knicks coach

Commission Stern knows that his professional basketball leagues does not need any more bad publicity. With this lawsuit happening in one of the media capitals of the world and with the salacious nature of the alleged accusation, the press coverage promises to be intense. In the midst of all this, Commissioner Stern’s challenge is to convince the basketball fan base that the NBA is still a solid, family values product. The marketing juggernaut prior to the season’s opening tip off is critical. Enormous amounts of money are at stake and no one knows that better than the Commissioner.

Catherine