Karl fires away at Isiah

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 19, 2006 at midnight

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Nuggets coach George Karl blames New York coach Isiah Thomas for starting last Saturday's brawl at Madison Square Garden. And Karl had no problems Monday letting that be known.

"He's full of ----. He's a total ---hole and he should be held accountable for what his actions are," said an emotional Karl, who used profanity in describing his feelings for Thomas.

Seven players were suspended by the NBA for the altercation. But

Thomas received no penalties from the league even though Karl believed Thomas instructed his players to be rough because of Thomas being upset about Karl leaving his starters in late in Denver's 123-100 win.

"There is no question in my mind it was premeditated," Karl said. "It was directed by Isiah. I think his actions after the game (were) despicable. He made a bad situation worse. I'll swear on my children's life that I never thought about running up the score. My team has had trouble holding leads at the end of games."

With the Nuggets holding a 119-100 lead late in the game, four starters and Eduardo Najera, who usually starts but didn't Saturday, were on the floor. Thomas after the game said he asked Anthony why he and center Marcus Camby were still in the game late.

He accused the Nuggets of running up the score and said that played a role in rookie Mardy Collins' flagrant foul with 1:15 left.

Collins' foul touched off the melee. Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who punched Collins, got the most serious penalty at 15 games.

"I think he's a jack--- for the way he called me out after the game because I can swear - I'll take a lie-detector test - that I never even thought about running up the (score)," Karl said of Thomas, also calling him a "jerk."

Asked before Monday night's game against Utah if he wished to respond to Karl's comments, Thomas, who had heated words with Karl last summer after Karl had criticized the firing of former Knicks coach Larry Brown, said, "Not at all."

Calvin Andrews, agent for Anthony, said Sunday that Anthony told him Thomas made threats during a free-throw line situation with 1:32 left. Andrews said Thomas said, "You and your teammates better not go to the hole" because "you might get hurt."

After the game, Andrews said Thomas told Anthony, "I told you so."

After Monday morning's shootaround, Thomas denied those accusations, saying he "didn't warn" Anthony and it "wasn't a threat." He said he said "this isn't a way you should act" and that the Nuggets "shouldn't be rubbing it in."

The NBA investigated the situation. But Thomas was not penalized.

"My finding was there was not adequate evidence upon which to make a determination," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "If I thought that somebody had given a specific order to injure another player I would react very differently, and I don't believe that happened here."

Stern was asked about comments Karl made Monday about Thomas.

"I'll be dealing with the Nuggets organization for that," Stern said. "That's for (Nuggets owner Stan) Kroenke to decide, and I'll have that conversation with him about the public comments of his employees. Although, if it gets beyond the emotional outburst of the moment and there is continued lack of self control, I will deal with it myself."

Indications were Stern won't penalize Karl, calling it a "one-time outburst." But he stressed "many people are watching us, many of them young."

Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said Karl's comments are "being addressed internally." He said "George is done commenting" on Thomas and "the thought that he is thinking about some silliness on the other side is silly."

Thomas was upset with Karl last summer after he criticized the handling of Brown, Karl's good friend. But Warkentien called it an "urban myth" starters were left in due to Brown's firing.

"Those who believe that should be chasing . . . Ron (Goldman) and Nicole (Brown Simpson)'s killer," Warkentien said.

Warkentien said Karl left starters in late during a lopsided game Dec. 12 at Atlanta, which has assistant Herb Brown, who is Larry's brother.

After Monday's shootaround, Thomas stopped short of blaming Karl for the situation. But he said Karl "put his players in a very bad position" by leaving in his starters.

The Knicks and Nuggets don't play again this season.

"If (Karl) knew we were coming back to Denver or playing them here, I don't think he would've had those things to say," Knicks guard Steve Francis said.Harsh words

Comments by Nuggets coach George Karl about Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, and a response from Knicks guard Steve Francis:

"There is no question in my mind it was premeditated. It was directed by Isiah. I think his actions after the game (were) despicable. He made a bad situation worse."

THEY SAID IT

"I was very disappointed. Clearly, we're not getting through or players in certain circumstances just don't want to be restrained. I would suggest that those players will not have long careers in the NBA."

- David Stern,

NBA commissioner

"If J.R. Smith gets up and acts like nothing happened, then there is no issue. So I don't understand why Carmelo gets more games than J.R. Smith, because if J.R. walks away from it, then there is no issue at all."

- Jon Barry,

ESPN analyst, former Nugget

"The incident was deeply regrettable, unacceptable on every level, and I hope and expect to never witness anything like that again. We are all very sorry it happened."

- James Dolan, Madison

Square Garden chairman

"Too many games . . . way too many when you hear that Isiah Thomas will sit out zero games. Seven to 10 games was a sensible range to me."

- Marc Stein,

ESPN columnist

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