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Fate of Brooklyn Nets Could Rest on Markowitz's Game
By
John Del Signore
Published May 2, 2008
Modified May 2, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 2, 2008
Modified May 2, 2008
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The revelation that Bruce Ratner, would-be Atlantic Yards developer and Nets owner, has been secretly discussing selling the team to the owners of the New Jersey Devils, has put Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s athletic reputation on the line. Newark mayor Cory Booker, who would love the team to come to the Prudential Center in his town, has offered to settle the fight for the Nets with a simple, winner-takes-all game of hoops: Cory vs. Marty, one-on-one.
The challenge was issued after Markowitz rushed out a press release dismissing Newark as Brooklyn's “western suburb” and vowing that they would never get the Nets. One of Markowitz’s campaign promises was to bring a top-level national sports team back to Brooklyn. But with the economy tanking and Ratner’s controversial project stalled by lawsuits, that promise is looking increasingly empty.
Nevertheless, Booker’s challenge brilliantly plays into Markowitz’s Achilles heel: an abiding passion for publicity stunts: “I accept Mayor Booker's challenge and must remind him that I am only 5-foot-5. I’ll accept the challenge only if I can have a ringer play against him.” Expect both pols to keep milking this one, with Booker soon to demand his own ringer, and Markowitz proposing a competitive eating contest instead.
Photo courtesy AKinloch
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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