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Shaq: Nets Should Stay In NJ, Calls Prokhorov "Beautiful"
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 8, 2010
Modified Oct 8, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 8, 2010
Modified Oct 8, 2010
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Shaquille O'Neal chatted with NJ's Herald News about the Nets, whom the Celtics are playing tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, and guess what, he has an opinion of the team moving to Brooklyn! Shaq said, "I would have liked to see the new owner get with the guy who built the arena and keep the Nets [in Newark]. I don't want to see the team go to Brooklyn. Maybe the two heads can get together, they can do that and I can come down there and become general manager."
O'Neal further sucked up to the billionaire owner of the Nyets, Mikhail Prokhorov, "I think the owner, the beautiful Russian guy, should get with the people of the arena and the other people and me and we should get it done." The 7'6" center, who thinks the Prudential Center is "one of the top three arenas in the country" and has family in Newark, continued, "We got a great owner, a great arena, let's keep it where it's at. Not only that, I'm saving the owner money so he doesn't have to pay another $300 million to build this new arena in Brooklyn. I know he has it. Hopefully he'll stay and hopefully he'll make me general manager because I will be available in 745 days."
Prokhorov seemed amused by O'Neal's pitch but made it clear the Nets are headed to Brooklyn and said his purchase of the franchise was "predicated" on the move, "Regarding the gracious offer to become general manager, Shaq is always welcome to send his resume to Billy King." [via Brooklyn365]
Tagged
Atlantic Yards
barclays center
basketball
Mikhail Prokhorov
nets
prudential center
Shaquille O'neal
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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