Prokhorov and Jay-Z Use Advertising In Plan

by Chris Alvino on June 30th, 2010 at 12:15 am

According to ESPN.com, Nets billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorv is flexing his financial might by placing a huge billboard advertising himself, Jay-Z and the Nets in close proximity to the Garden.According to Marc Stein:

“Ramping up tensions between the teams with free agency looming, Prokhorov has purchased billboard space near Madison Square Garden that will display a massive image of the Russian billionaire and Nets minority owner Jay-Z, with completion scheduled just before the start of free agency.

The 222-by-95-foot billboard sporting a Nets logo will picture Jay-Z and Prokhorov side-by-side under the heading, “The Blueprint For Greatness.” The signage is strategically placed, according to sources with knowledge of the project, within the sight line of the Knicks’ offices at the corner of 34th and 8th.”

Hey you know what would be even cooler for free agents to see than a huge billboard overlooking MSG?

How about MSG itself!  Last I checked, the Knicks currently reside and will continue to reside in the World’s Most Famous arena, not the Newark bound Nets.

I respect this move (and I happen to like the buzz that this new owner has created for his franchise.  I beleive he will succeed in helping restore that franchise), although I find it overly obnoxious.  Is Nets’ management that conscientious of of the city that the Knicks play in, or is it just my misunderstanding?  I wonder if Jim Dolan will retaliate in similar fashion.  Maybe he can find some nice space on a billboard along the Turnpike.  You know, to convert the millions of Nets fans into Knicks fans.

Or not.

Prokhorov, despite his efforts, will not be able to transform true Knick fans into Net fans unless the Knicks somehow cannot get out of their own way.  If the Knicks succeed in building a contender this summer, a feat which I believe will happen, then I can only offer the Nets good luck in their quest.

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • JeffM729

    I think Dolan should erect a billboard somewhere in the swamp along the Jersey Turnpike. That would be a hilarious response.

  • defensekills

    yea i agree this is very obnoxious but hey thats how this guy does business. we can only do one thing, and that is be better than them. I dont see how the NEW JERSEY NETS expect to win and then turn the knicks into second fiddle in NEW YORK not BROOKLYN.

    I actually like his attitude towards winning and establishing the 5 years championship. by far the most intimidating owner that has stepped in and proclaimed his success. interested in what he does to globally expand the nets in terms of a marketing standpoint.

    but no true knickfan will be come a net fan, especially a knick fan who works with (not for) the nets.

  • Mucha

    LOL Jeff

  • Mucha

    ?????!??!!????

  • harris

    So what?

  • Armand27

    So to start..

    Prokerov has made one of the most respected execs quit, thus having no GM going into FA

    Now he shows the FA the importance of the Garden by raising its profile saying how cool it is to be so close to it… LET ALONE ACTUALLY BE IN IT…

    NICE START MIKI!!!!

  • bob go knicks

    I say have that run of lights in times square keep circling around saying EFF LEBRON”””””’EFF LEBRON”"”"”"”"”EFF LEBRON “”"”"”"”"”" EFF LEBRON”"”"”"”"

  • Mucha

    lol this is really pathetic

  • harris

    Not to mention that Jay-Z has been seen at more Knick games than Net games since becoming a part owner of the fancy Prokhorov’s “great” franchise.

  • onemoretime

    It’s hilarious how the media tries to create drama. All these owners are billionaires. They make it seem like this guy has all the money and the rest of the owners are poor. LOL… what a joke. Secondly the guy has no personality. It’s not like he’s going to charm the pants off of the free agents. It’s amazing how little the media thinks of the average fan where they try to pass off their bullshit as truth.

  • TG

    I never got that world’s most famous area thing. the garden is a dump. famous for what? letting dolan run around?

    there’s a ton of other bigger badder older or newer places- nothing special about that place and everyone thinks ‘their’ stadium is the best–until they rape the taxpayers, build a new one, and sell it off brick by brick….

  • TG
  • yuhdunknow2g

    @TG madison square garden is the most famous arena in the world. who DOESNT know msg? and remember, its not just for basketball, msg hosts a lotta different things there.

  • yuhdunknow2g

    …..and the knicks should put up a sign with Nas and Jim Dolan that just says “Ether..that shit that make your soul burn slow” off the jersey turnpike

  • Mucha

    lol at Ether

    “You no mustache havin with whiskers like a rat”

  • Mucha
  • PipeDreamin

    Didn’t we just catch 10 of Prokherov’s buddies? Can’t we just stick him in with the bunch and send them off to Guantanamo?

  • bob go knicks

    wow!the old cotton bowl in dallas

  • Rene

    I don’t know any Knick fan in the whole city that is going to go to Newark to watch a team own by a Russian who has KGB friends.We get Lebron it’s over for the Nets period.