Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov posts his offer to Ratner and the Nets on his own "Blog Mikhail Prokhorov." We provide the translation below by way of Google Translation.

However translated it is clearly rather foolish and absurd (and unique). This is the guy Ratner is going to have save his hind quarters?

From the oligarch's blog (if you have a better translation please send to us):

Here is a professional translation that was sent to us:

Greetings to all!

            I realized all of a sudden that, well, it’s been quite a while since I’ve written, and there’s a reason for that—the last few months we’ve been swamped at work with routine tasks, and there was nothing really interesting to report.  But now there is something—not long ago our group received a proposal to participate in a business project concerning the building of a new arena in Brooklyn (New York) and to become a shareholder of the basketball team “New Jersey Nets,” which in two years should move to Brooklyn and be called “Brooklyn Nets.”  

            Most interestingly, I learned of this project from the papers, about how I would play an active role in it!  And what a surprise, then, that within a few days after the stories came out in the press, shareholders of the team reached out to us with a real proposal to discuss possible collaboration!  The discussion concluded with us receiving a firm offer from the American shareholders to be involved in the project.  For our group, participation in such a complex project undoubtedly is interesting only in the event that NBA technology can be used for the systematic development of basketball in Russia.  Our existing professional league, as everyone knows, is not able to independently keep itself afloat, and because of that, the financial well-being and existence of clubs are entirely dependent either on the support of governors or businessmen-fans of the sport, and any changes to their financial position leads to instability in the development of a club.

            Another problem—the system of training young sportsmen and the ability for them to receive playing time in distinguished clubs.  When you support a professional club, there emerges the entirely natural desire to quickly achieve a result, and the quick result leads to inviting foreign players to the club.  And our young players have in recent years been “sitting on the bench” without adequate playing time.  (I have no qualms stating that the PBK TsSKa team “killed” a few young players with great prospects who at age 16-17 “upset” their European counterparts in the youth Euroleague by 30 points).  There is way out of this—we need to change the model of basketball development in Russia with the aid of super modern systems of training sportsmen (this is the innovative model).  The basis for development should be a strong student basketball league beginning in children’s sports schools.  We’ll get to work on this, if we realize this deal.

            Over the weekend, I sent the “New Jersey” shareholders a counter proposal about our involvement in the project with an emphasis on Russian interests:

1. Commercial conditions:

• “ONEKSIM” provides financing for the construction of the new arena in Brooklyn guaranteed by a significant share in the project.
• a controlling shareholder interest in the “New Jersey” team will be transferred to the group for a symbolic price.
• as part of this deal, the group will attract correspondent financing in Western banks (I consider that if this works out, the deal would be just unique!).

2. Qualitative conditions:

• Russia would achieve a position of equality among the elites of world basketball.
• access to all modern technology and training methods with the possibility of using them in Russia.
• apprenticeships for leading Russian trainers and managers in the NBA.
• the ability to send our best students to NBA training camps.

            For our group “ONEKSIM”, the realization of this very profitable business project, to which we were invited thanks to the world financial crisis (there has never been a foreign owner of an NBA club), will be yet another path for developing our sports interests alongside the biathlon, support for children’s sports and sports of high achievements. 

            I think that there will be many skeptics (among them false patriots), but that will just make it more interesting as we move forward. 

            To all I wish good luck.

Machine translation

New Jersey Nets and the development of Russia's basketball.


Everyone, greetings!

All of a sudden realized that well for a long time did not write anything, and this is the reason - the last months at work was an enormous amount of routine, and somehow there was an interesting occasion. Now we have - our group has recently received a proposal to participate in a business project of building a new arena in Brooklyn (New York) and entering the shareholders of the basketball team the New Jersey Nets, which 2 years should move to Brooklyn and will be named " Brooklyn Nets.

The most interesting thing about this project, I learned from the newspapers, as well as the fact that I accept active part in it! And what was the surprise when a few days after publication in the press on our team left the shareholders with the actual offer to discuss possible collaboration! The discussion ended with the receipt from the American offer to shareholders of legal entry into the project.

Our group participated in such a complex project clearly interested only in the case of the use of technology for the systematic development of NBA basketball in Russia. Exist in our professional league, as you know, to earn the money can not, and therefore the financial well-being and existence of the club depends entirely on the support or governors, or the capabilities businessmen, sports fans, and any changes in their financial situation lead to instability of the club.

Another problem - the system of training young athletes and the opportunity for them to get playing time in decent clubs. When supports professional club, there is a perfectly natural desire to quickly get results, and rapid result gives an invitation to the team of foreign players. And his young players for several years "sitting on the bench" without enough playing time. (It can responsibly say that PBC CSKA "killed" several very promising young guys who are aged 16-17 years, "brought" to its European peers by 30 points in the youth Euroleague). Hence the conclusion - it is necessary to change the model of the development of basketball in Russia using a super modern systems of training of athletes (this is an innovative model). The basis for the development should be a strong student basketball league with access to children's sports schools. These and loans, if you sell the deal.

At the weekend I sent the shareholders of New Jersey "a counter-proposal for inclusion in the project, taking into account Russia's interests:

Commercial terms:
- ONEXIM extend credit to build a new arena in Brooklyn secured a substantial stake in the project.
- Controlling the team the New Jersey goes to the group for a symbolic price.
- Under the deal the group will attract a similar loan to western banks (I think, if successful, the deal will simply unique!).

Qualitative criteria:
- Russia will receive an equal place in the elite world of basketball.
- Access to all the modern technologies and training techniques with the ability to use them in Russia.
- Placement of Russia's leading coaches and managers in the NBA.
- Send the best students in the training camps for the NBA.

For our group ONEXIM implementation is very lucrative business project, participation in which was made possible by the world crisis (never in the history of foreigners owned NBA) will be another direction of development of sporting interests, along with biathlon, support children's sports and sports.

I think that would be plenty of skeptics (including pseudo-patriots), but the more interesting it will move forward.

All good luck.