Arena Critics Turn Their Aim Towards Prokhorov, Russia

So it’s come to this? That’s just pathetic.

Do they really expect others to take them seriously? They are just embarrassing themselves now.

It’s over, just give up… accept defeat with some dignity.

Actually, the prospects of new ownership are kind of exciting to me now- if they can’t stay in NJ, at least we can get an infusion of decent players for the last couple of years.

These people should be in the loony bin.

What I didn’t realize until now is that the building in which the bar is located is not owned by the bar, but by Ratner. They have a lease, which runs for two more years. They could move. Bars do that sort of thing.

I won’t be too mean to these folks. Few people actually put into action their beliefs. You fought the good fight and lost. Move on, don’t embarrass yourselves.

These are the sort of people living in Brooklyn. And they take themselves very seriously. Wow, and some posters here knock Jersey fans… Jerseyans leave much to be desired, but we are NOT delusional cranks like many Brooklynites.

Neither Ratner or Prokorov has any business owning this team.

As for your contention that the bar should move Net Income -why should they? For a billion dollar arena that hardly anyone in Brooklyn wants? An arena that of course will end being funded by those same tax payers that have no use for it in the first place.

The Nets belong in New Jersey. End of story.

Isaac – give it a rest. It’s getting really old.

I don’t have a problem with Nets franchise moving to BK per se. My gripe is 1) Jersey Nets fans are unfairly labeled as unsupportive, while 2) Brooklynites don’t appear to want the Nets. On the whole, most BKers are indifferent or opposed to the move. If anyone’s undeserving of this team, BKers have edge over NJers.

You can only look at these folks and say WOW.

@Isaac
Why should they move? Because they are standing in the way of an economic development that could deliver jobs, housing and a cultural showplace. A bunch of drunks set up a sidewalk theatre (that is simply not very good). Who cares?

As for your continued assertion that no one in Brooklyn wants it, that is utter bull. There has NEVER been a poll showing less than 60% support for the arena. Stop posting things that have no basis in reality.

Mr. Income writes, “There has NEVER been a poll showing less than 60% support for the arena.”

He should cite his sources.

It’s not true.

Here’s a recap of the polls, which shows how limited support (under 50%) finally became 60% (after the questions were changed).

http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2009/09/opportunity-for-thompson-looking-at.html

For example, a 6/26/05 The New York Times Poll asked “Do you favor or oppose building a new arena in Brooklyn for the Nets?” with 37% in favor and 45% opposed.

Nearly half of those in favor, however, withdrew their support when asked, “What if a new arena in Brooklyn cost $200 million in public funds?”

Right now the direct public funding is $305 million, with hundreds of millions more in tax breaks and opportunity costs.

As I’ve said many times before, an arena built in Brooklyn for the Nets will never see the light of day. The only way I will ever believe this will happen is when I see the Nets playing there. There are to many problems for this arena to ever be built under the current plans.

There is an air of inevitability in the air for this project, but I foresee major changes to the plan (including no Nets in BK) before vertical construction begins.

Wow…more folks living in the cold war mentality. This is embarrassing.

It’s sad that the protests draw more people than Nets home games midweek at the crumbling Swamp Center.

at Net Income:

“Stop posting things that have no basis in reality.”

Income – you know darn well the team has done VERY LITTLE research to feel gauge interest among the NBA and sports fans in general of Brooklyn as to where their loyalties are. Throwing out a few token numbers that may have been taken amongst small samples of people just to give the illusion that there is actual interest for this team in Brooklyn does not disprove what I am stating.

This has been a do it at any costs real estate scam that has nothing to do with basketball or fans of the Nets in New Jersey OR Brooklyn. For all Ratner and Prokorov know, there will be little to no interest in the team if it gets to Brooklyn, but they could care less because of how much money they stand to make regardless of how the team does.

You want the team in the hands of very greedy people that are using the team as a little side venture and that is sad. I want the team in the hands of people (who may also be greedy) that care about the state of New Jersey and having the Nets be a part of it. Those people would gladly move the team to Newark on a PERMANENT basis. That is a compromise by me as a fan, because I vastly prefer the Meadowlands to the Prudential Center, but keeping the Nets where they belong in New Jersey is clearly the most important thing.

Here are the questions I wish could be asked of everyone in the borough of Brooklyn (and how about the other 4 boroughs while we are at it)

1 – Do you approve of the arena being built in Brooklyn regardless of team preference or overall costs? yes or no

2 – Do you approve of the arena being built if upwards of 200-300 million dollars of tax-payer money will be needed to complete it? yes or no

3 – How will you feel towards the Nets if they were to move to Brooklyn? a) pro-Nets b) anti-Nets c) indifferent towards the Nets

4- Which team do you plan to root for if the Nets move to Brooklyn? a) Nets b) Knicks c) other d) dislike the NBA

Would LOVE to see the results of this poll – and not just from the few dozen people on this site that support the proposed move, we already know how you feel.

@ Norman Oder

Netincome is known to play with the facts that better support his argument. I stopped taking him serious a long time ago

@ MRT I live in brooklyn and hang out in the downtown area believe me it’s going down. For all of you saying brooklyn won’t support the nets I know a whole lot of people including knicks fans that can’t wait to root for their hometown.

LMAO what a bunch of clowns.

Net Income has a black belt in the discipline of spin artistry

@ Norman Oder who did the video how about you pick a day other then christmas eve when everybody knows that the road will be packed because everybody is trying to get some where. these dddb people are showing the true colors that should start selling tickets because the people are running their own circus, no wonder nobody takes them serious.

I liked what they did in front of Freddy’s, and it shows how they won’t move. If Cuomo does step up to the investigation of the bonds and finds that they are illegal, then I will gladly support his run for governor next year. BTW, here is that article from the times on claiming that publicly financed sports facilities are found to be net money losers and the Barclays Center will be no exception to that rule, and I don’t want to hear any reactions until after they read it, and skimming it does not count.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/sports/25stadium.html?_r=2

So Net Income – have any surveys been conducted EXTENSIVELY including the four questions I listed above? I expect silence from you on this one since there is no way to respond in your favor.

Tal

I liked what they did in front of Freddy’s, and it shows how they won’t move.

THEY WILL BE ARRESTED ON SITE IF THEY TRY

Rev ’em up!

@ Tal Barzilai this article talks about places that hasn’t had a winning team in a long time. Wasn’t the new yankees stadium and citi field funded the same way as the barclays center and those 2 stadium’s thru more then 6 million people. This article didn’t mention the barclays center in it plus this is NYC not Cincy.

I am the manager of Freddy’s and I just want to address some of the comments, specifically the ones that say “Do they really expect others to take them seriously?”
“It’s over, just give up… accept defeat with some dignity.”
….these sort of comments, by stating that…. in fact it is NOT over, very good chance that Empire State Development Corp will be investigated for Fraud regarding the Bond Sales, & that this is about the community, not just the bar, and any good bar stands as a community center, I could go on…but i will just finish by adding just SOME of the reviews of freddys bar Below….
(note the quiote from ESPN: “Freddy’s is one of the great dive bars in New York City….a far nobler institution than you are likely to find in professional sports”

Thank you
Donald O’Finn
 ___________
FREDDYS
Esquire Mag: Freddy’s voted ESQUIRE’S BEST BAR’S IN AMERICA.

Time Out NY: “It’s possible that Freddy’s is as near a perfect saloon experience as you’ll ever encounter.”

Village Voice: Freddy’s voted “One of the 10 Best Bars in Brooklyn.”

N.Y. Gamble Guide: Freddy’s voted "One of the 10 Nest Dive bars in N.Y.: A Brooklyn classic… Also voted one of the best bars in N.Y. City for Sunday afternoon drinking."

New York Mag: “Greatness lies behind these doors.”
 
Village Voice BEST OF – BEST VIDEO ART IN A BAR: 2001-2008: "Donald O’Finn’s feverishly edited encyclopedically strange video collages are lively rivers. …his editing is so hyper-intuitive that the culture shocks and time warps
gel into a state of half vertigo and half trance."

The Brooklynite: “Freddy’s is one of the borough’s most vital cultural hubs.”

Village Voice NYC Guide: “Freddy’s hosts some of the city’s most original readings and performances.”

New York Mag: (Best Of) “The great Freddy’s…seems to sizzle with life.”

NY Post: "While Crane-Swizzle, wasn’t the first to turn his local watering hole into something trendworthy – that honor could go to Donald O’Finn, manager of Freddy’s who began creating “an adult playground”…at his bar over 10 years ago"

National Public Radio: on Opera night, "the local watering hole for murderers and tyrants, adulters and virgins, Don Juans and divas."

Shecky’s Bar Guide: “This worn-in classic..a delectable dive..best known as a fringe art space.”

NY Times: “Freddy’s..a friendly barkeep, good beer on tap and a generous backroom..it’s an exceedingly comfortable joint…The staff likes to keep things low-key…Freddy’s is a little bit blessed.”

Zagat: “loads of atmosphere”…. “this place oozes Brooklyn pride.”

N.Y. Sun: (on Diva Night) “…raucous and sublime… un-elitist, imperfect, and fun…”

Time Out NY: “This is the perfect neighborhood bar.”

Black Book Mag. Night life guide. “When God created the bar, he named it Freddy’s.”

SOMA: (South of Market Arts-San Francisco) “Freddy’s Bar waits patiently with a warm Brooklyn vibe … Freddy’s is mellow while still being interesting…. but most of all the place is comfortable.”

Village Voice: BEST BROOKLYN BAR WITH A SMALL TOWN VIBE: also “Most comfortable hang.”

CitySearch: Freddy’s is a great bar, all the beer you’d expect on tap, weird stuff on the walls, TVs showing bizarre sleazy movies, it’s got it all.

CARA, Aerlingus Travel Mag: “undiscovered reasure…classic dive”

Spin Mag: (on Cringe night) “The funniest night out in N.Y. City.”

ESPN: “Freddy’s is one of the great dive bars in New York City….a far nobler institution than you are likely to find in proffesional sports”

GetUnderground.com: “Hip…yet unyuppified”

Knotmag.com: "a Mecca for artists and writers with no stomach for hipster poseurs or overpriced drinks.

Bavatuesdays.com: “This storied speak easy represents the best combination of dive bar and underground cultural Mecca.”

NY Magazine’s New York’s best of nightlife: “The best spelling bee for Adults”

No Tourists Guide Book: (Best OF) voted Best Backroom.

NOB (Not Only Brooklyn) Arts: Freddys…is both wondrous and free, presenting a diverse selection of artists simultaneously down home and excellent.

Continental Air Lines Travel Mag: “Freddy’s…casual, free swinging atmosphere.”

AM NY: “One of the Cities most popular Dive Bars”

Metro (Mix): Freddy’s is all you would want (and more!) in a dive bar. The beer is cold. Their calendar is chock-full of interesting and offbeat events, including tons of live music, a diorama/craft night and something called “strip club.” There is always something interesting on the TV sets,
including amusing B-movie footage that you’ll have to see to believe.
______________________________________________________________
Freddys Bar & BACKROOM
Never a Cover charge
Never a Drink minimum
________________________

Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. Huh. I didn’t even know they still made that stuff.

I couldn’t watch the video all the way through, so I skipped ahead. But I heard about 7 people clapping.

And for all of you conducting and analyzing surveys, does it matter that those of us in other NYC boroughs want the arena? Is anyone asking us? Are we not taxpayers? Subway ride for $2.25 each way & 20 minutes or less from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens vs. subway to Penn Station New York, limited train service to Secaucus, walk forever to a bus, sit while the bus accumulates passengers, then drive another 15 minutes to the arena (and drivers often get lost because of a detour)…to watch them lose…and back again! Are you kidding me?! New Jersey Transit took away our bus from Port Authority. NJ takes care of its football fans, but not its basketball fans. NJ deserves to lose the team.

@rayray

Good to hear from you. And I’m with you 100%. Haven’t seen you in the arena recently though.

lol…"We didn’t win the Cold War to have our American state government seize our land for Mother Russia!"

no wonder everybody’s ignoring them…i would…

SmartNetsFan, they have a right to keep their property, so they deserve to protest in order to maintain it.

William (Brooklyn), just because there is no mention of the Barclays Center in the article doesn’t mean that the it can use taxpayer dollars.

The rest, NJ does not deserve to lose its NBA team and there are fans in their own state, plus DDDB gets ignored because most of the major politicians are blinded by Ratner.

What’s the name of this bar ? Slap Nutz? Deez Nutz??What do these spud heads think this is " Batteries Not Included" ..!! What are they going to do ?? And who’s the spud head in black? That boy got a nose like Triple H. !!!!!!

The name of that bar is called Freddy’s Bar & Backroom.

lol…"We didn’t win the Cold War to have our American state government seize our land for Mother Russia!" I just sold a home on Ave X E 27 to people from Russia! Brooklyn now has a big block from Russia . So dose Clark ,NJ. Money is money . Welcome to the world we live in.

Right on, right on, defenders of property rights.

I can’t believe the Nets have become a pernicious anti-Constitutional menace.

"We didn’t win the Cold War to have our American state government seize our land for Mother Russia!"

Oh yeah. That will show them…

It was a good battle, six, seven years worth. However, it’s just about over. Good luck trying to find fraud in the bond sales and all, but if the white flag isn’t raised, it’s on its way up.

Thank you Donald O’Finn for those reviews on your bar. I liked the architecture of it as well as the interior. It was even good when I got to go there and see it in person, though I don’t take alcohol. If you didn’t see me, I usually wore a Mets cap and probably a shirt reading the NJ Nets on it, but I won’t blame you if we never met. However, despite all those great reviews, many supporters here will still think that your bar should be torn down reguardless. I have been on skyscraper message boards where some fourm members are so fanatical on skyscraper projects, they act like extreme nationalists and call anyone who gives even the slightest amount of criticism as either being anti-developement or NIMBYs hence seeing it all as b/w as if you can only be with them or against them on it and not have some shades of gray.