My intention was to not post anything this week on the blog unless it was substantial news since I am on vacation. Well, a New York Times report that a former New York Police Department undercover officer has filed a lawsuit against UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma as well as the NBA and USA Baskeball alleging he requested Kelley Hardwick be removed from her role as a security officer at the Olympics would fall under the criteria of something "substantial."

For those who didn't read the story, here is what Kelley Hardwick is alleging. First, back in 2009 while Auriemma, the head coach of the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, joined Hardwick and Rachel Shannon, another member of the secuity detail, for drinks at a hotel bar while all three were at a tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia. When Hardwick and Shannon left the bar, Auriemma joined them on the elevator.

According to the New York Times report Hardwick said:

“He puts his hand on my left arm and goes to kiss me. I grabbed his face and mushed him.”

She yelled at him, she said: “You better check yourself before you get hurt!”

In the story Hardwick said she was willing to dismiss the incident until she received word that Auriemma had requested she be removed from providing security at this summer's Olympics, a role she served in for the last two Olympics.

Hardwick filed a lawsuit in the State Supreme Court in Manhattan alleging that Auriemma successfully lobbied that Hardwick be moved from her position after she pushed Auriemma away in the hotel hallway. The NBA chief counsel, in the story, said that USA Basketball decision to remove Hardwick "had nothing to do with Auriemma."

In the Times story her  lawyer Randolph McLaughlin said “if Geno hadn’t tried to send a message of control by reaching into her company, she would not have filed this.”

Auriemma responded to the allegations with an emailed statement “I was unaware of this lawsuit until hearing about it in media reports today and therefore will have no comment.”  

UConn and Auriemma are not commenting any further.  I sent an email to USA Basketball requesting comment a few minutes ago and if I hear back I will make certain to update this entry.