The Rev. Al Sharpton wants New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas to apologize to black women and threatens with a boycott if his request is not answered.

Both Sharpton and fellow National Action Network leader Tamika Mallory demand that Isiah Thomas, 46, explain certain statements he has made suggesting that it is worse for a white man to call a black woman “bitch” than it is for a black man.

Thomas’ statements, recorded on a tape, were heard during a trial that concluded with Thomas being found guilty of sexually harassing a female employee.

“He set a false standard that black men are allowed to call their women, in particular, the B-word, almost as if misogyny is acceptable for black men,” the New York Daily News quotes Sharpton as saying. “He owes the public an apology and clarity for that.”

Thomas’ words on the tape were: “A white male calling a black female a bitch is highly offensive. That would have violated my code of conduct.”

Former Knicks marketing executive Anucha Browne Sanders, 44, filed a lawsuit against the Knicks coach in early 2006, accusing him of sexual harassment. Sanders said in her lawsuit that he repeatedly called her a “bitch” and “ho” during private conversations.

The marketing executive also alleged she was fired by Madison Square Garden for her claims that Thomas had sexually harassed her.

Last week, the jury in the case found that Thomas and Madison Square Garden sexually harassed Browne Sanders. It awarded Sanders $11.6 million in damages, to be paid by Madison Square Garden and chairman James Dolan for harassing and firing Browne Sanders out of spite, reported the New York Times.

Thomas said of the jury’s decision: “I'm innocent, I'm very innocent, and I did not do the things she has accused me in this courtroom of doing. I'm extremely disappointed that the jury did not see the facts in this case.”

During the trial, Thomas admitted to using inappropriate language around Sanders, but insisted he had not directed it towards her, according to the Times. Degrading a woman in the workplace “is never OK,” Thomas said. “It is never appropriate.”

As to the comments that have angered the Rev. Al Sharpton and Tamika Mallory, the latter says: “We cannot challenge artists and commentators like Don Imus and others on their language and then allow our athletes to use language that demeans us or sets a standard of disrespect,” as quoted by the Daily News.

Sharpton, president and founder of civil rights organization the National Action Network, has warned that the organization would boycott Knicks games if Thomas did not apologize.