Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has expressed his dismay after a Sports Illustrated investigation alleged the franchise is a hostile workplace for women.
The story detailed how one team employee had a history of violence against women within the organization while former CEO Terdema Ussery was alleged to have sexually harassed a number of colleagues. One former department head said there was “built-in protection for a lot of men” within the team. None of the allegations were against the playing staff.
“It’s tough,” Nowitzki said on Thursday. “It’s very disappointing. It’s heartbreaking. I’m glad it’s all coming out. I was disgusted when I read the article, obviously, as everybody was. I was shocked about some of the stuff.”
Nowitzki, a 13-time All Star with the Mavs, said he believed team owner Mark Cuban would address the issue. “[It’s] really, really disappointed that our franchise, that my franchise, that stuff like that was going on. It’s very sad and disappointing. But I think [Cuban] is trying to step up and lead this franchise to the right direction, and that is hiring investigators, finding out all the little details that we have to know as a franchise what really was going on. I think Mark is going to step up here.
“As a franchise, obviously, we feel bad for the victims and for what happened to some of these ladies. Like I said, it’s truly, truly disgusting. Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with some of these victims.”
The Mavericks have launched an independent investigation into the allegations, led by Krutoy Law. The New York firm is headed by Evan Krutoy, a specialist in sex crimes.
“They’re going to do a very in-depth investigation,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “They’re going to talk to everybody in the organization, and they’re going to find out the how, the why and the best way to resolve this. An outside party was brought in so there would be no local influence or anything like that. And these people are the best of the best.”
Cuban admitted he had made a mistake in not firing Earl K Sneed, the employee with a history of domestic violence. “I want to be clear: I’m not putting the blame on anybody else,” Cuban told ESPN. “It came down to my final decision that I made.”
