It Sounds Like The Knicks Didn't Bother To Talk To Derrick Rose's Rape Accuser Before Trading For Rose
NY Daily News- Less than a week after Derrick Rose was deposed in a rape lawsuit, the Knicks traded for him without ever seeking the alleged victim’s side of the story, the woman’s lawyer said Wednesday. Brandon Anand, who is representing the 30-year-old “Jane Doe,” said he suspects the Chicago Bulls dealt Rose because of the pending lawsuit.
“My first reaction was maybe they’re hiding this from the Knicks and passed him off without giving full disclosures, but it seems to me like the Knicks should’ve done their own investigation,” Anand told the Daily News. Asked about Anand’s charge that he was never contacted by the Knicks, the team declined to comment and pointed to an earlier statement from Knicks President Phil Jackson that he was “aware” of the lawsuit. If the $21.5 million lawsuit goes to trial Oct. 4, it could mean Rose would miss at least two preseason games and multiple practices as he tries to get acclimated to a new team. More worrisome are the sordid and embarrassing details emerging from this case — with attorneys on both sides fully immersed in public mud-slinging.
Jackson admitted he never felt compelled to investigate the allegations into Rose — saying after acquiring the 27-year-old in June, “We are aware of it. Investigation is a big word.” “I think (the Knicks) should’ve conducted that big word (and called me),” Anand said Wednesday. “I think I would’ve shown them the documents that were public, that were fair game, and I think it all speaks for itself. (Rose’s) testimony certainly revealed a lot. Just showing them the evidence that’s already out, they would’ve gotten a very clear idea about what actually happened.”
Well if that story doesn’t reek of the Knicks, I don’t know what does. We have James Dolan, who re-hired Isiah Thomas to the Liberty after that whole sexual harassment trial and after he turned the Knicks franchise into a smoldering pile of ash. We have the Zen Master who wants to draft guys based on their ass size instead of their talent. And we have Steve Mills who…I don’t know what the fuck Steve Mills does.
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But the Knicks not doing their due diligence on this case is truly so fucking Knicks. I bet teams like the Spurs would hire Robert De Niro’s character from Meet The Parents to talk to D-Rose and his accuser. Not the Knicks though. They are just letting it ride. No way a rape case could be a problem for a team. Sure you could have distractions as the case goes on as both sides sling mud on each other. And then the whole “miss practices” or “miss games” thing. And if Rose ever did get convicted, the whole “our starting point guard is a rapist” issue could be perceived as a negative.
But again, none of this surprises me. I knew I would have to walk on eggshells while blogging this trial once Rose became a Knick. Meanwhile the Knicks seem to be content with the strategy of just hoping everything goes away. And you know why this isn’t surprising? Because it all starts at the top.