Jay-Z Working With adidas, Nets On New Team Jerseys For '12

Nets officials yesterday said that Minority Owner Jay-Z is working with club officials and adidas “to design uniforms for the team when it moves into the under-construction Barclays Center in Brooklyn next year,” according to Rich Calder of the N.Y. POST. Jay Z, adidas and the Nets are “currently ironing out a logo for the Brooklyn Nets and deciding what colors their uniforms should be.” Team officials said that the logo “will feature Brooklyn prominently because the club wants to tap into the borough’s world-popular brand name.” Nets officials said that the team’s colors -- currently red, silver, white and navy blue -- will “likely be changed.” Team officials indicated that they “briefly considered renaming the team the ‘Brooklyn Dodgers’ … but eventually nixed the idea.” Barclays Center developer & Nets Minority Owner Bruce Ratner said that team officials “stayed with the Nets name out of respect to its ‘loyal fan base.’” Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz said that he “was pleased with the team’s renaming, although he did not get his full wish -- that the team be dubbed the ‘Brooklyn Bridges’ or ‘Brooklyn Tudes’ -- as in ‘Attitudes’” (N.Y. POST, 9/27). ESPN N.Y.’s Christopher Hunt noted when Nets Owner Mikhail Prokorhov bought the team last year the franchise “toyed with some other names, such as the Brooklyn Kings or the Brooklyn Bridges.” Jay-Z said, "We're going to create an atmosphere like only Brooklyn can" (ESPNNY.com, 9/26). YAHOO SPORTS’ Eric Freeman wrote, “Congrats to the Nets for remaining the Nets and not turning into something silly like the Brooklyn Gentrifiers, or Bridges, or Dodgers (heaven forbid that one). It's a solid nickname, one that connotes a basic aspect of the game with which everyone can identify” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/26).

BRINGING IT TO BROOKLYN: In N.Y., Erin Durkin notes Jay-Z will “rock the mike to open the new digs, but the rapper wouldn't say how many concerts he will be giving.” Jay-Z said joking, "Maybe one. Maybe two. Maybe three. I sound like LeBron." Sources said that Jay-Z “will give eight shows during a blowout opening” of the new arena. Jay-Z: "I asked for two things out of my partners in ownership -- that we name the New Jersey Nets the Brooklyn Nets, and ... that I open (the arena) with a concert." The Nets are “using Jay-Z's image in a new marketing campaign to sell their pricey all-access pass to the arena” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/27). Markowitz said, "For generations, Brooklyn-ites were belittled and disrespected. Disrespected and belittled, no more! Next year, when we formally open this arena, the ghosts of Ebbets Field will forever be lifted" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/27).

FINDING A NEW HOME: ESPN.com’s Andy Katz reported the Atlantic 10 will “move its men’s basketball tournament to the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn beginning with the 2013 tournament.” The A-10 has “one more year on its current deal to play the tournament in Atlantic City.” Commissioner Bernadette McGlade is “making attempts to get the A-10 more exposure” in N.Y., and the conference is “hosting its media day in Brooklyn on Oct. 13” (ESPN.com, 9/26).