Marian Washington’s decision to file a $10 million defamation suit against television analyst Dick Vitale and others for comments made about her in a preseason publication was hers alone.
“My actions are very personal,” the Kansas women’s basketball coach said today. “It had nothing to do with the university.”
Washington is seeking damages for a paragraph in the 1993-94 edition of “Dick Vitale’s Basketball” that previewed the Jayhawks’ season.
The article said, “The Jayhawks are loaded with talent, with swingman Angela Aycock and guard Charisse Sampson heading the list. But coach Marian Washington usually finds a way to screw things up. This season will be no different.”
The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., last October, seeks $5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Washington is suing for defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress.
“It’s pretty obvious that I’ve worked pretty hard to try to help this program, this university and this athletic department,” said Washington who has been the Jayhawks’ head coach for the last 22 years. “The athletic department is very supportive of the program, and I can’t stand by and allow anyone to tear it down.”
No court date has been set.
Washington said she hadn’t discussed her decision with KU officials prior to filing the suit.
Named as defendants are Vitale; Joe Smith of Corona-Elmhurst, N.Y., who wrote the paragraph; Raymond Levy, the publisher, and Ken Leiker, editor-in-chief.
Smith is director of Women’s Basketball News Service, which also is named in the suit.
Washington said filing the suit was a difficult decision.
“It’s never easy,” she said. “It’s a personal thing.”
