English muffins, too, I suppose

From the "completely and utterly besides the point" files:



Bad week on the sexual politics front if your surname is Thomas.

• After Justice Clarence Thomas, in all his grand judicial hubris, announced to Steve Kroft and the world at large on Sunday's "60 Minutes" that none of the once hotly debated sexual exchanges between himself and Anita Hill ever actually happened (a point he made at some length in his new memoir, as well), and that the whole nomination imbroglio was, in fact, over abortion, Professor Hill struck back in a civil, mature and even respectful manner in an editorial in the New York Times. After lying dormant for 16 years, the battle resurfaced, and Hill once again made Thomas look like a petulant dimwit. Of course, he rarely needs assistance in this department if you pay any attention to the bases he cites for his Supreme Court voting decisions (has he even read a copy of that parchment Rep. Madison began circulating 220 years ago?). But since few people probably do pay much mind to such trivialities, we can all take solace in the fact that the battle royale has returned to its rightful place in the public sphere and will likely soon return to the tabloid headlines as well.

• N.Y. Knicks coach and former NBA All-Star Isiah Thomas, whose supportive mother's inspiring story of courage, faith and commitment to doing right by people was once the subject of a highly praised telemovie, was ruled liable for sexual harrassment of a former employee and for creating a sexually hostile work environment yesterday. Team MSG, owner of the The Knickerbockers organization, was ordered to pay Anucha Browne Sanders approx. $11.6 million in actual and punitive damages for Thomas' seeming rebuke of all his mother stood for in raising Isiah and his siblings. Way to go, Coach!