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February 20, 2008
On WFAN: Brooklyn delay fosters rumor of Nets sale and move to Newark
Atlantic Yards Report
Yesterday on sports talk radio WFAN, Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo had as one guest New Jersey Nets President Rod Thorn. Near the very end of the conversation, they brought up a new angle on the Nets-to-Newark option--a team sale, rather than a move under the existing ownership.
Norman Oder transcribed the conversation:
Chris Russo: And Rod, Mike and I were discussing it, what is going on with this arena? I mean, it's been delayed, we haven't heard anything about it. Are the Nets still thinking full force ahead to Brooklyn? Can New Jersey and Newark and the Prudential be in the mix? What's going on for the arena for the Nets here down the road?
Rod Thorn: We're, y'know, it's full bore ahead. We expect to be in Brooklyn start of the 2010 season, and--
Russo wasn't convinced.
CR: --How about shovels in the ground, Rod, when are we going to see that?
RT: Well, shovels aren't in the ground yet, Chris.
Thorn chuckled a bit, as if recognizing that he couldn't bluff too far.
Mike Francesa: How about these rumors that someone could buy the team and put it in Newark, we've been hearing those rumblings.
RT: Y'know something, Mike, if that's true, then I don't know anything about it.
Oder's take:
Even though the Nets are losing money, I suspect that the promise of the Barclays Center naming rights deal, as well as the Atlantic Yards project as a whole, means the Nets aren't for sale. I also suspect that any rumors out there quickly find their way to Thorn.
Posted by lumi at February 20, 2008 5:48 AM