OOPS! Nets Owner Says “Sometimes I watch”
21. Dec, 2009 
10 Comments
Courtside Writer
by Courtside Post Staff Writer
Somebody needs to give new Russian Nets Owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, a bit of PR Training.
In an interview with SovSport, a Russian sports site, Mikhail Prokhorov talks for the first time about his new team. When asked if he watches the Nets, he admits “sometimes I watch” and chastises the SovSport writer, “I always thought it was bad form to rejoice when someone loses”. He’s well-versed in team finances, the number of top free agents (14) in 2010-2011, and the Nets’ draft prospects: “We can get two or three stellar newcomers.”
According to Wikipedia, in 1989, Prokhorov graduated with honors from the Finance Academy under the Government of RF, known at the time as the Moscow Finance Institute. From 1989 to 1992, Prokhorov worked in a management position at the International Bank for Economic Cooperation, and afterwards shortly served as head of Management Board of the International Finance Company (MFK). In 1993, aged 28, during the largely un-regulated privatization of former state-controlled industries after the fall of Communism, Prokhorov (together with Vladimir Potanin) engineered the acquisition of Norilsk Nickel by Onexim Bank, of which he was then chairman of the board.
In March 2004 he founded the Cultural Initiatives Foundation (as part of the Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation). It is headed by Prokhorov’s elder sister, Irina, a prominent Russian publisher.
At one time, he financially supported CSKA Moscow’s basketball, hockey and football clubs, and is a member of the Supreme Council of the Sport Russia organisation. Prokhorov currently serves as president of the Russian Biathlon Union.
In September 2009 he made an offer to buy a controlling interest in the New Jersey Nets and half of a project to build a new arena in Brooklyn. He will invest nearly $200 million dollars and become the first non-North American NBA owner upon approval by the NBA’s Board of Governers.
The deal with the Nets also includes an option for Prokhorov to acquire up to 20 percent of Atlantic Yards, which would surround the new Barclays Center arena with apartments and office towers on 9 hectares in Brooklyn.
Wow … 6′ 9″ tall ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Prokhorov
I am sure Uncle David (Stern) loves this as the entire league has been making an Internatial push for the past 8 years. No surprise and there will be more to come. Most likely some group from China.
Do you know who am I?Do you want more interesting?
The NFL is working with Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy to study brain trauma in football. The league will ask former and current NFL players to donate their brains to science. Presumably, with fancy boxes to ship the brains, like they do for Super Bowl rings.
Page 2 loves this idea.
Scientists could study Mark Sanchez’s brain to find out what he doesn’t understand about the words “double-covered.” They could study Tony Sparano’s brain to find out what he sees in Pat White that no one else does. And they could look at Brett Favre’s brain on the subject of waffling.