Nets on the Net: 3/12/10 Edition
Mar 12, 2010 Brett Yormark, Brooklyn, Nets on the Net, Terrence Williams
Sebastian was talking Brooklyn over at the Daily Dime last night.
Our good friend Henry Abbott at the TrueHoop mothership asks what Brooklyn native and renown Knicks fan Spike Lee is going to do once the Nets officially move in.
Al Iannazzone depicts the daily beat writers struggle when talking about Bruce Ratner’s victory lap yesterday: As a colleague said to me last night, it’s wrong that Ratner goes on these shows when these major things happen and doesn’t talk to the regular guys covering the team. We haven’t spoken to Ratner since last April.
Terrence Williams is ready for the grown-up table: Maturity is a word mentioned often. Vandeweghe said Williams’ “maturity level is rising.” Even Williams admits he’s grown up some and is concentrating on playing.
Here’s some video of CEO Brett Yormark on Fox Business News yesterday:
Nets on the Net: 3/6/10 Edition
Mar 6, 2010 Brett Yormark, Brook Lopez, Brooklyn, Devin Harris, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Newark
Colin Stephenson on last night: The Nets held Dwight Howard to 11 points and Vince Carter to 13. And still, they were never really in the game.
Julian Garcia notes that the Nets have all but ensured their worst home record in the franchise’s history: A 97-87 loss to Vince Carter and the Magic Friday night dropped the Nets’ home record to 3-28, meaning they will have to win their remaining 10 home games to avoid setting a record for fewest wins there in one season. The Nets went 13-28 at the Meadowlands in 1989-90 to set the current mark. They also still have shot at the all-time franchise record for fewest home wins at any venue – 10, set in 1976-77 at the Nassau Coliseum.
Devin Harris tells Al Iannazzone that the Nets are still trying out there: “We want to finish strong,” Devin Harris said after the Nets’ 11th consecutive home loss. “We have our minds set on trying to compete each and every game and trying to win every game. All of the other stuff is out of our control anyway so there’s no need for us to really worry about it.”
Fred Kerber uses last night’s performance to poke a hole in the Nets new ad campaign: Meanwhile, back in the present on the Meadowlands court, there was nothing new. Basically, the Nets offered, “It’s The Same Old Stuff — Losing.”
Stan Van Gundy thinks Brook Lopez is an all-star.
Mikhail Prokhorov should be approved next month, according to reports.
Specially-priced season tickets will be offered to Newark residents next season.
The Village Voice has a feature on Freddy’s Bar in Brooklyn, who are being forced to vacate as part of the Barclays Center deal.
Brett Yormark on CNBC yesterday:
Howard Beck of the New York Times on the Knicks and Nets combined futility: The question now is whether the suffering will prove worthwhile. If James lands in Midtown or Amar’e Stoudemire settles in New Jersey, all will be forgiven. Even if the superstars all decline the invitations, the Nets and Knicks will be flush with cash and flexibility to rebuild their rosters.
Nets Will Now Do Your Taxes
Mar 3, 2010 Brett Yormark
This has become a bit of a national story – and for obvious reasons, because it’s absurd – so I thought I’d break it out of the daily link dump for you folks out there to read and comment about.
The latest move in the Nets never-ending marketing ploys to get somebody, anybody, to show up at the Izod Center (per the New York Times):
Their latest promotion will be unveiled Friday, when the Nets play the Orlando Magic. New Jersey residents 18 or older who attend the game will get a coupon that they can redeem at a Roni Deutch Tax Center to get their state income tax done free.
So unlike reversible jerseys with other players names on them, or promising a player’s services for an hour, or $10 tickets during a 10-game losing streak, this promotion has absolutely nothing to do with the Nets, or basketball for that matter, which makes it even more ridiculous. But still, Brett Yormark and company have to be pleased with the results, since just about every media outlet in the country is picking up and running with this story because it’s the kind of cute and quirky thing news outlets die for.
Just to prove that she’s perfectly serious, Roni Deutch gives the Times her rationale for the promotion:
“It’s easy to jump on the Lakers’ bandwagon,” said Deutch, who claims to have been the first girl to play Little League baseball on an all-boys team in her home state, California. “The hallmark of a strong company is one that aligns with young companies. I’m a betting woman, and I think the Nets are going to win a championship this decade.”
Yeah, sorry Nets, I’m still going to keep my March 27 appointment with my accountant.
Nets on the Net: 2/25/10 Edition
Feb 25, 2010 Brett Yormark, Nets on the Net, Nets vs. 72-73 Sixers
Al Iannazzone makes a great point as it pertains to this summer’s free agent class: just offer them the money and take it from there.
Brett Yormark was in full sell mode in an interview with the New York Times: “For us, it’s about talking about a new story and going through a total transformation,” Yormark, a relentless marketer, said before the Nets lost to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. “We’ll have a new home, new coach, new owners, new players and a new attitude.”
ESPN’s Bill Simmons cites the Nets as one of many teams that are contributing to a financially disasterous time for the NBA.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the probability numbers suggest the Nets should tie the 72-73 Sixers worst record ever.
Nets on the Net: 12/31/09 Brooklyn Talk, NYE Edition
Dec 31, 2009 Brett Yormark, Brooklyn, Bruce Ratner, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Outside of the Nets victory over the Knicks last night (more to come on that in a bit), there isn’t a tough of Nets-related news out there this a.m. besides some Brooklyn-related tidbits.
First, Nets CEO Brett Yormark talked with the YES Network before last night’s game and mentioned some tidbits about Brooklyn (”Brooklyn is here”), Mikhail Prokhorov (”he wants to build a championship team”) and the temporary move to Newark and the Prudential Center (”it serves as a great sampling environment to our fans in New York who can take rail”).
The New York Observer discusses Bruce Ratner’s next financial challenge in building the Barclays Center. He must raise $324 million by next December or he will have to refund the bondholders’ money: Some of this money will come from Mikhail Prokhorov, the tentative new buyer of the Nets, who has agreed to pay $200 million for 80 percent of the team and 45 percent of the arena-to-be. He has also, according to bond documents, agreed to fund at least $60 million in losses by the team until the arena is complete, though this amount is unlikely to be sufficient given that the Nets have been posting more than $70 million a year in pre-tax losses lately.
Nets to Newark? Not So Much…
Dec 16, 2009 Brett Yormark, Brooklyn, Bruce Ratner, Izod Center, Mikhail Prokhorov, Newark
Barely 24 hours after the Nets organization got good news about the sale of bonds for the Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, talks to temporarily move the Nets from the Izod Center to the Prudential Center in Newark have apparently unraveled, according to a report in the Star-Ledger this afternoon:
“I don’t know that it’s dead, but from what I’m hearing, any sort of activity … will have to await the next administration,” conceded Jerold L. Zaro, who had been working to broker the deal on behalf of the Corzine administration.
The proposed plan had the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the New Jersey Devils working together to book events at both arenas and share revenues, while allowing the Nets to break their lease at the Izod Center and move to the more modern Prudential Center. The Nets would move again when the Barclays Arena opened in Brooklyn. But the Sports and Exposition Authority has apparently pulled out of talks, and is not looking to negotiate the lease for the Nets at this time, according to the Star-Ledger.
Brett Yormark told reporters that the organization is not giving up just yet on its proposed plans:
“We continue to be encouraged about the prospect of making an interim move to the Pru Center,” said Brett Yormark, the president and chief executive of Nets Sports and Entertainment.
Meanwhile, in related news, Bruce Ratner finalized the proposed deal to sell an 80 percent stake in the team to Mikhail Prokhorov. Russian’s richest man must be approved by the NBA before he can take control of the team.
This report is a total bummer. While the move to Newark would have only been temporary, it would have helped breathe some new life in this organization while they waited for their official new start to begin in Brooklyn in a few years (potentially). If all sides can’t come back to the table, the Nets will likely continue to languish at the Izod Center in front of sparse, disinterested crowds, who are only going to grow more bitter and angry as the team starts packing up for greener pastures in Brooklyn. The city of Newark proved at the two preseason games in October that they were eager for a chance to host a basketball team, and while there was certainly no guarantee of nightly sellouts at the Prudential Center if the Nets moved there, between the passionate city population and the arena’s accessibility to mass transit, I would have to guess they were going to be a better draw than at the Meadowlands. If this is politically motivated because Corzine lost the election in November, then shame on everyone.
Nets on the Net: 11/26/09 Turkey Day Edition
Nov 26, 2009 Brett Yormark, Brooklyn, Bruce Ratner, Courtney Lee, Develop Don't Destroy, Devin Harris, Kiki Vandeweghe, Lawrence Frank, Losing Streak, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Al Iannazzone explains why he (and we) should be thankful.
Lawrence Frank is trying to resist playing Devin Harris and Courtney Lee big minutes as they come back from injury.
Meanwhile, the whispers about Frank’s future continue. If Frank gets fired, his replacement will likely come from in-house as the organization continues to pinch pennies.
Another article that gathers some reaction from the 88-89 Miami Heat and the 99-00 LA Clippers, aka, the two teams the Nets could soon be challenging for infamy.
Brett Yormark on WFAN yesterday.
There are still many steps that have to take place before Mikhail Prokhorov can take over as owner of the Nets.
The Atlantic Yards Report has some reaction from yesterday’s press conference by Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn regarding the Nets planned move to Brooklyn. Here’s some video as well:
For Nets Tix Promotions, Turn to the Tube
Nov 20, 2009 Brett Yormark, Just For Fun
In an ongoing trend since before the season started, the Nets made national headlines for their most recent “Ten is Enough” marketing effort, where the team sold $10 seats to Tuesday night’s game against the Pacers as the Nets were riding an 0-10 start to their season. The Nets were able to sell a few extra tickets with the ploy, but the team is still winless. So now what can they do to market tickets?
That’s where Nets Are Scorching comes to the rescue. Taking a cue from “Ten is Enough,” NAS has created some new marketing ploys that are adapted from the names of some of our favorite television shows of the 70s and 80s. Brett Yormark, you’re welcome to use any of these, free of charge. Just make sure you save us some $10 seats.
Different Strokes for Different Folks – Acknowledging the Nets shooting woes, the team looks to get some fresh shooters into the fold. The first 5,000 fans who come to the Izod Center on game day get a chance to take a halfcourt shot. First one who sinks it, gets to show off their stroke in Nets uniform on a 10-day contract.
Experience “Growing Pains” at the Izod – Most of us were big fans of Terrence Williams when the Nets drafted him earlier this year, but unfortunately, he’s still got some growing to do as a player. Fans in attendance get something free from the concession stand every time TWill turns the ball over. Fans get a special bonus if Marv Albert refers to any of TWill’s mistakes as a “boner” of a move.
Fill Our House, See Our “Full House” – Buy a ticket to the game, and see where all talented Nets are – by getting a tour of the tranier’s room where Devin Harris, Courtney Lee and others are treated and bandaged up. Then afterwards, you can join them on the sidelines and watch whoever’s left on the team play a basketball game.
“Perfect Strangers” See the Nets – Mikhail Prokhorov can easily play the role of Balki Bartokomous, while Bruce Ratner dons a curly wig and plays Cousin Larry. At halftime, they’ll do the “Dance of Joy.” This could also double as the “Who’s the Boss” promotion, as long as Bruce Ratner ditches the curly hair for a blonde wig.
Three’s Company – Buy tickets to three Nets games, and a Nets player of your choosing takes you out to lunch, plays hoops with you, gives you a massage and does your laundry. Wait, I think the Nets are already doing this…
Cheer with Cheers – Show up at the Izod with a cast member of Cheers, and see the game for free (I mean seriously, what’s Shelly Long doing these days anyway?). Get free season tickets if you can pull this off when the Boston Celtics are in town.
- For another writers take on the Nets marketing efforts, read CNBC Darren Rovell.
Nets on the Net: 11/19/09 Edition
Nov 19, 2009 Brett Yormark, Brook Lopez, Brooklyn, Devin Harris, Lawrence Frank, Nets on the Net, Rafer Alston, Rod Thorn
Al Iannazzone says it’s not fair to blame Lawrence Frank for the 0-12 start.
Expect Devin Harris for Saturday.
The Daily News has another report about the state allegedly “low-balling” Brooklyn residents for their property, needed to build the Atlantic Yards development.
Fanhouse talks with Scott Hastings, a member of the 1988-89 Miami Heat who opened the season 0-17, the worst start in NBA history. Hastings says he’s pulling for the Nets to get a win soon.
The New York Times profiles Bret Yormark, the man of a thousand ticket-selling gimmicks it seems.
Rod Thorn, staying calm.
Rafer Alston tells HoopsWorld that he’s happy with his season thus far, though he could be doing better on the defensive end.
Brook Lopez wants more touches in the post. So why is he shooting 20-footers?
Nets on the Net: 11/16/09 Edition
Nov 16, 2009 Brett Yormark, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Sean Williams
Despite strong performances Friday and Saturday, Lawrence Frank is still not ready to commit to Sean Williams.
Julian Garcia talks more Sean Williams, and also makes note of the Nets ticket promotion Tuesday night – “10 is enough,” where certain tickets will be $10 as Bret Yormark looks to celebrate the team’s worst losing streak to start a season. Awesome.
Meanwhile, Brett Yormark is begging for fan loyalty.
Net Income at the Nets Daily blog looks at members from Mikhail Prokhorov’s old CSKA Moscow teams to see which ones could interest the Nets.
Atlantic Yards Report examines why Prokhorov may want to buy the Nets regardless of where they play their games.