Questionable behavior very typical for Isiah

By Max J. Dickstein, amNewYork Sports Editor | mdickstein@am-ny.com

October 5, 2007

Back in June, Isiah Thomas' former coach Chuck Daly told me that Thomas is a "barracuda-tough guy." This week, the Knicks' president and head coach was pretty much judged an impolitic pig, and from what we learned during his trial, we might add that he is Machiavelli-manipulative and Nixon-ambitious.

And Snow White-innocent, according to Thomas.

Moments after a jury awarded former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders $11.6 million in damages largely because Thomas, crude and insulting, immured her in a toxic work environment, Thomas said: "I am innocent. I am very innocent."

Very innocent?

Very redundant and very impossible, unless Thomas, who seems buoyed by a belief in his moral exceptionality, has innocence in extra supply.

Considering Thomas' weaselly history, that's doubtful.

In 1987, the Pistons' All-Star suggested that Larry Bird's greatness was a fantasy based on racial bias. In the late 1990s, he bought the Continental Basketball Association and ran it inexplicably into the ground.

Since coming to Madison Square Garden in 2003, he has used easily manipulated players like Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury to create a shield of loyalty that's kept him protected and employed.

And he heats his home by burning proud Knicks ticketholders money.

(No verification on that last one.)

"I love him," said Daly, 77, Thomas' well-meaning mentor.

"I think he's a very talented guy. Very, very bright."

And very, very innocent.