NBA Insider with Ken Berger

This is not typically my realm, nor the type of stuff you should expect to see on the blog as basketball season draws closer. But I am here to report that the sexual harassment case against Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden has begun at U.S. District Court in Lower Manhattan.

Thankfully, there is a one-hour lunch break in the proceedings, as well as a wirelessly equipped Starbucks in the neighborbood (albeit without air conditioning) for me to give you this update.

U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch and attorneys for each side are interviewing each of 100 potential jurors individually to weed out those with obvious conflicts. Eventually – presumably by the end of the day – an eight-member jury will be chosen and opening arguments will begin.

Only a couple of interesting tidbits so far. First, I liked how blunt the judge was in dismissing a motion by one of Anucha Browne Sanders’ attorneys who was concerned about the monetary value of her settlement offer to the Garden being admissible evidence; i.e. $6 million.

“Let’s just not be naïve about it,” Lynch said. “We’re all here because it’s a lot of money.”

Also, a few interesting names you’re familiar with appeared on a witness list the judge read to potential jurors in open court. It included, in part, two Knicks players (Stephon Marbury and Malik Rose); team doctor Lisa Callahan; assistant coach Brendan Suhr; former scouting director Jeff Nix; community relations executive Karen Buchholz; public relations assistant Kathleen Decker; former media relations executive Joe Favorito; and Petra Pope, director of the Knicks City Dancers.

The possibility of a settlement exists until the first witness takes the stand. It is customary in such cases for the star witness of the plaintiff’s case to take the stand first, so that would be the plaintiff herself, Browne Sanders.

MSG chairman James Dolan, who also is a defendant, was not in court this morning but is expected once testimony begins.

Thomas strolled into the courthouse with a smile and wave to a couple of fans at about 9:10 this morning. Presumably, he’s able to check his cell phone during the lunch break to see if Mitch Kupchak or Geoff Petrie called with a trade proposal.

That’s all for now.