Brooklyn Nets: Jay-Z's Ego Taking Spotlight Away from NBA Franchise
If the NBA is able to resolve the lockout before the start of the 2012-13 season, the Nets will be able to welcome the new year by christening a new arena.
In addition to the arena, they will also have a new city representing them, as they will officially be known as the Brooklyn Nets. But the team will be playing second fiddle to part-owner Jay-Z in their new digs.
The rap icon has been a fixture at Nets games since he purchased a small interest in the franchise in 2004, and has helped the credibility of the long-suffering franchise.
But the way the franchise is bending over backwards to make sure that everyone knows Jay-Z is a part of it is ridiculous.
The latest atrocity will be Jay-Z opening the arena with an eight-concert series, according to a report from Erin Durkin of the New York Daily News.
""The superstar, who owns a small piece of the soon-to-be renamed Brooklyn Nets, will perform at eight concerts to celebrate the grand opening of the arena—where all-access passes are going for up to $15,400 a season."
"
Most sports franchises want to save the unveiling of a new arena until their first game, but the Nets are not like any other franchise. They don't care so much about the product that they put on the court, just as long as they are able to turn a profit.
Jay-Z and the Nets would be better off waiting until the start of the season to put on a mini-concert before one of the team's home games.
But no, it has to be all about Jay-Z doing his thing, and ignoring what is in the best interest of the franchise that he is invested in.
He has caused more problems than he has solved since buying into the franchise. The team had to pay a $50,000 fine in April because he went into Kentucky's locker room after an NCAA tournament game.
He does not want to help this franchise win a championship. He does not want this franchise to become a bigger deal than he is.
He wants to have his face shown on television. He wants to be seen as this great entrepreneur. He wants to be the star of the show in Brooklyn.
And the Nets just let him get away with it because they are not good enough to be relevant on their own.
