Isiah booze probe likely

Isiah booze
probe 'likely'

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/386304p-327808c.html

BY MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

The NBA likely will launch a probe into allegations that Knicks President
Isiah Thomas conspired to get opposing players drunk the night before
games, sources told the Daily News.
The allegations, contained in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former
Knicks Senior Vice President Anucha Browne Sanders, could be viewed as
tampering - if Thomas had contact with opposing players.

Browne Sanders accused Thomas of working with concierges at hotels
frequented by visiting teams to encourage opposing players to go to certain
bars and strip clubs and get drunk the night before a day game.

An NBA spokesman said yesterday that the league is "monitoring the entire
situation." But one league source said that while Thomas' alleged actions
"seem highly unusual," they will probably be investigated. A Knicks
spokesman said the team had no comment.

While the charges may seem insignificant, the NBA is very sensitive about
the kinds of clubs its players frequent during their trips to New York and
other major cities. Several years ago, the league endured a major scandal
involving several prominent players, including the Knicks' Patrick Ewing,
and strippers in the Gold Club in Atlanta.

Lonnie Hanover, a spokesman for Scores, wouldn't confirm if visiting
players came to the East Side strip club mecca, saying only, "Athletes from
every major sport love strip clubs, and you know where they go."

Teams found guilty of tampering are normally fined, with the amounts based
on the severity of the infraction. In extreme cases of tampering, teams
have even lost draft picks. "Who knows if there's anything really there,"
said one source.

Several general managers doubted Browne Sanders' accusations, because most
players already know where to go for fun when they come to New York.

"I can't see Isiah being brazen enough to put his career in jeopardy," said
an Eastern Conference executive. "We all know that there are serious
consequences for tampering."

Originally published on January 27, 2006

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