Nets Owner MIKHAIL PROKHOROV yesterday declared that he "intends to run for the Russian presidency, posing a sharp challenge to VLADIMIR PUTIN in the wake of a series of anti-government protests," according to Mark MacKinnon of the GLOBE & MAIL. Prokhorov said that he intends to "aim his campaign around defending the rights of Russia's disenfranchised middle class." He initially entered politics "earlier this year, becoming the leader of a pro-business party ahead of the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections." The Just Cause party saw an immediate "surge in popularity, and Mr. Prokhorov was suddenly ousted as leader." Prokhorov "blamed a 'puppet master' inside the Kremlin" for ousting him. As an independent candidate "not affiliated with any of the officially registered political parties, he must first gather two million signatures in support of his candidacy." The presidential election will take place March 4 (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/13). Prokhorov yesterday said that he had been "planning his presidential run since" being ousted as the leader of the Just Cause party (N.Y. POST, 12/13). The AP's Jim Heintz noted it is "unclear how effective a challenger Prokhorov might prove to be." Nets coach AVERY JOHNSON said, "He is pretty smart. He has great leadership skills. When you are behind the scenes and you are talking to him, you know he is a special person. It wouldn’t surprise me" (AP, 12/12).
FROM FRONT OFFICE TO HEAD OFFICE: In N.Y., Howard Beck notes Prokhorov's decision to run will "not pose an issue to the NBA." League officials "greeted the news with a shrug." NBA Senior VP/Marketing Communications MIKE BASS said, "There is no prohibition on NBA owners running for or holding political office" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13). MARKETWATCH's Sam Mamudi noted if Prokhorov wins the election he would "join another NBA owner among the ranks of elected politicians: Senator HERB KOHL has owned the Milwaukee Bucks since 1985 and represented Wisconsin as a Democrat since 1988" (MARKETWATCH.com, 12/12). Smith College sports economist Andrew Zimbalist said that Prokhorov will "probably scale back his involvement in the Brooklyn-bound basketball franchise so the Russian electorate doesn't suspect his attention would be divided if he were to win" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13).
