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SPORTS BITS: Thomas denies harassment; E. Johnson denied bail; Serena wins in Cali; Alonzo honored for service.
*New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas filed a 12-page court document Wednesday denying that he sexually harassed a former team executive, the New York Daily News reported Thursday. Anucha Browne Sanders, the Knicks' former senior vice president of marketing and business operations, claims she was fired in January "for telling the truth" while alerting team execs of the alleged harassment. She has accused Thomas of telling her he was "very attracted" to her, "in love" with her and trying to kiss her. In Thomas’ court filing, he acknowledged that he once touched Sanders on the shoulder, and may have even tried to kiss her on the cheek. But he insisted he did nothing wrong.
*NBA veteran Eddie Johnson, 51, was denied bail Wednesday in Ocala, Fl. on charges of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl. Johnson requested to represent himself, but Marion County Judge John Futch assigned him a public defender. The former guard from Auburn, who played with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics, is accused of entering the apartment where the young victim was staying while her mother was out. The girl told detectives Johnson ordered her into a bedroom, where he sexually assaulted her, according to the police report. He then told her "not to tell anyone about what just happened," and tried to kiss her before leaving, the report stated. He was charged Tuesday with sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 and residential burglary. He has also been charged with sexual battery and burglary in the rape of a 25-year-old woman Aug. 6 at an Ocala motel room. Johnson, (not to be confused with the Eddie Johnson who is now a television analyst with his former team, the Phoenix Suns), was being held at the Marion County jail.
*Serena Williams is on a tear at the JPMorgan Chase Open in Carson, CA. The tennis star, ranked 110th, advanced Wednesday by beating Ashley Harkleroad 6-3, 6-2 in a second-round match. She ousted 11th seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia in Tuesday’s first round, and her next opponent will be seventh-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. Williams lost to Hantuchova in the Australian Open in January, and then didn't play again until Cincinnati last month. "I'm a much better player than I was in Australia," Williams said. "I'm much more fit, I'm much more ready. I'm in a better place."
*Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat was named recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of July for his flagship charitable event, “Zo’s Summer Groove.” In its 10th year of existence, “Zo’s Summer Groove” benefits Alonzo Mourning Charities’ network of organizations which include 100 Black Men of South Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Honey Shine Mentoring program and the Overtown Youth Center, and has raised over $6 million. Mourning is the fourth Heat player to win the award, joining Lamar Odom (May 2004), Dwyane Wade (August 2004) and Shaquille O’Neal (December 2004).
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