« Saturday Morning Pair For Atlantic Yards Report | Main | De Blasio, Why Start Now? »
August 23, 2009
The inaugural Star-Ledger Juice List: The Jersey area's Top 25 most powerful sports brokers
Star-Ledger
by Steve Politi
This list of those influential in the world New Jersey sports shows the ongoing uncertainty of Bruce Ratner's attempts to move the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn.
Not surprisingly, Ratner makes the list at number 6:
Bruce Ratner. Influence doesn't necessarily translate into likability, and if the Nets owner succeeds with his Brooklyn project, Jersey loses its NBA team. If he fails, he'll have the power to sell the team to local investors or to a group that will try to move it again. Trending: Up.
Please note this mention of the Nets in a profile of New Jersy state senate president Richard Codey, who is number 1 on the Juice List:
The coming months don't figure to diminish his role, either. The future of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority is a major issue, and the future home for the Nets -- either here, or in Brooklyn, or in a location yet to be determined -- will finally be settled.
The entry for Jeff Vanderbeek, number 3 on the list, hints at the possibility of the Nets finding a home in Newark's Prudential Center:
Jeff Vanderbeek. The Devils owner is the biggest reason that there's a world-class arena in Newark, and if there's ever an NBA team there, he'll have to be a major player in making that happen. Trending: Up.
Corey Booker, who is 15th on the list, has promoted the idea of the Nets moving to Newark:
Cory Booker. The Newark mayor has talked big about rounding up investors to bring the Nets to the city. If he fails to deliver, he'll drop a few pegs in public perception -- and off this list. Trending: Up.
Posted by steve at August 23, 2009 7:13 AM