If you have a connection to the Front Office, Please forward.
To whom it may concern,
So tonight I was on my merry way to the Rock, when, on Market Street a half block from the stadium, I was encountered by 5 dudes who took my Nets hat and demanded all the contents in my pockets. I said some choice words and BOOKED IT for the stadium. They smartly didn't follow, as I was approaching a crowded area. I went to the box office and got my Loud and Proud ticket. I was alone, because I am the biggest Nets fan I know and nobody wanted to go see them against the Bucks with me. I went to support our team, especially Brook in his first game back. I counted my blessings that I wasn't beaten, and that I was able to still see "My Guys" play. I cheered hard, only to be let down by such a flat performance from the players and terrible coaching.
What I want to drive home is this: We as Nets fans spend money to support the team, spend time and energy watching and cheering, and in some cases (tonight's case for me), put our safety on the line traveling to/in a dangerous city to see them in person.
Unfortunately, we are not rewarded for being fans of this franchise. Our front office does little to improve the team. Our players lack consistency and determination. Our coach puts together questionable lineups. Remember that huge blowout loss to the Hawks - the last ever home opener in New Jersey ? Would have been nice to see our team put up a fight.
If any of you fellow NetsDaily fans have a connection to the front office, please forward this to them. Or express the discord and feelings of under-appreciation the fans (not just myself) are getting from this franchise.
From,
A Fan Who Just Wants To Enjoy Supporting A Franchise Who Cares
PS
Thank you for reading, if you believe that I am out-of-line, please feel free to express yourself too.
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and well spoken.
This franchise has one more shot to get things right and it all rests on Dwight.
Hey, that rhymed.
It pisses me off that they couldn’t even bring back the NEW JERSEY uniforms one more time. Sigh.
Its all about Brooklyn
and since im from Brooklyn, I dont mind, they cant get out of Jersey fast enough
I dont practice Santeria
by nets14 on Feb 20, 2012 1:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
enjoy spending 100 dollars for nosebleeds
by MrDollarBills on Feb 20, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Look man, I feel your pain and I know you struggle. I’m sorry you had to go through that and almost got robbed in the process. Newark can be a dangerous place outside of the arena and especially if you are alone. I’ve gone to probably over 40 games between Devils and Nets and I haven’t had an issue like this, but I could see it happening if you’re not careful. I went to tonight’s game with my girlfriend and even created a pre-game thread trying to get people pumped up for Brooks return, hoping the team would put up a performance worth watching person. Besides Deron Williams, nobody showed up, we were outhustled by a hungrier team, and there was just very little to root for. Like Nets14 said above me: it’s all about Brooklyn. It has BEEN all about Brooklyn for almost four years now. They don’t care about New Jersey; they don’t care about the roster they are putting out on the floor right now. It doesn’t matter because they are starting fresh in New York in eight months. It’s sad for us, but its reality. Hopefully they don’t shoot themselves in the foot in the process by keeping this roster because Deron will not stick with a team this bad, and I don’t blame him. Again, I feel your pain – but it’s beyond us now and has been for several years now. Remember the glory Nets days in New Jersey with Kidd, Martin, Vince Carter, Jefferson, Van Horn, Kittles and company. the New Jersey aspect of the Nets is long gone.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle
Yea man, this is a sorry situation for us and our franchise.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 20, 2012 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
I don't find it to be a sorry state
If this team is terrible next year then we have a problem. I think the team improved dramatically with acquisition of Williams and there weren’t many options for improving the team since then. It’s rebuilding and its painful.
WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap
by BrooklynNets on Feb 20, 2012 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sorry that this happened to you
…but, “our front office does little to improve the team?” All these losses are so we can get Dwight Howard.
Timeless - The 2001-2003 NJ Nets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nima3dmLrcw
Sure. But all the losses previously were for LeBron right ? Or any other top tier FA. And we see that all we had to show for 2 seasons of scrub players and cheap contracts was a worthless draft pick (in Derrick Favors) and signing Travis Outlaw. While we forfeit seasons other teams are actively signing quality players, drafting well, and building competitive teams. Where else in the NBA is the “forfeit-your-season-so-that-you-can-have-no players-under-contract-and-sign-the best-players” method of doing things working ? Miami ? They only had like one bad season, and came back fiercely. I see your point, surely, it is what is happening. But I really think it is a terrible approach.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 20, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You bring up good points, but I can point to other antecedents. For instance anything before the last two years was without Prokhorov as an owner, and so you have a fair quarrel with Ratner’s price-slashing approach. Luckily that has been remedied.
I can’t get too angry at the Nets striking out at Lebron since he seemed to be dead-set on the Miami situation. I could see people preferring to fill up on B-list stars, however. If for the sake of argument we signed Rudy Gay and David Lee I think we’d be a perennial 2nd round playoff team.
We wouldn’t have the expectations of a team that had a Deron-Dwight core, but we would consistently win more games than we’d lose, but would probably never win a championship. Personally I think that’s an acceptable option for some fans. Sure you don’t win the big prize but the team you follow is fairly skilled, and it’s generally a more pleasant experience to follow them on a daily basis. Maybe, eventually, you get fed up with being in limbo.
Timeless - The 2001-2003 NJ Nets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nima3dmLrcw
Why in Gods name would anyone want to risk going to jail for a Nets hat?!!!
by power_njerz on Feb 20, 2012 3:37 AM EST reply actions 4 recs
Read the rest of it.
and demanded all the contents in my pockets.
Also, why would you ever walk around the hood by yourself? Safety in numbers, safety in numbers.
Winners: Giants, Yankees and Devils
Losers: Nets
by BrooksBridges11 on Feb 20, 2012 7:46 AM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t walk in the hood by myself. And I’ve lived here in Newark for a couple years now. I wouldn’t walk past MLK out of the University Heights area, and whenever I walk past the Broad Street station my guard is up. I was half of a block from the stadium, off of well crowded broad, and on Market in front of businesses. Also, nobody wanted to go to the game with me haha, so am I going to miss out on seeing Brook and a hopeful W just ’ cause I’m alone. Your right though, definitely power in numbers.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 20, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions
Also, this franchise has done a good job of turning Net fans to Knick fans.
March 15th is the Nets’ deadline to rectify that.
Winners: Giants, Yankees and Devils
Losers: Nets
by BrooksBridges11 on Feb 20, 2012 7:48 AM EST reply actions
lol they left you with your tickets
Just playing sorry to hear you got robbed.
"I define passion as extreme emotion."
When you have to shoot, shoot don't talk.
haha I didn’t even have my tix ! I was on my way to the stadium to get them. If they took my card I would have had no way of getting a ticket. They just took my hat though I wouldn’t empty my pockets for them and they were too scared to jump me.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 20, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
Regarding connections to the Nets FO:
My uncle played HS b-ball with Brett Yormark and his brother, for what it’s worth.
Winners: Giants, Yankees and Devils
Losers: Nets
by BrooksBridges11 on Feb 20, 2012 8:51 AM EST reply actions
IF the season were to end today as things stand...
We would have two lottery picks, one second round pick. Enough cap space for D12, Deron and someone else. If the trade deadline passes and Dwight is still in Orl. We’re looking pretty good and hopefully…with some luck and grace of God- this terrible incident will be all but a distant memory for you.
I like your thinking ! I hope things play out well.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 20, 2012 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
we couldnt possibly have two lottery picks
First winner of the Golden Rex
Schottenheimer: "46 Left motion right over under bear 24 cat 65 triple left right up down on three"
Sione: "What is the offense doing?"
Rex: "I don’t know, but it won’t be a first down"
I'm sorry to read this, that's terrible
but you can be sure of this: The Nets don’t care about you, or your safety.
Your money will be better spent on safer, and more fruitful pursuits. Like sky diving.
That said, I’m glad that you weren’t harm. Robberies are no joke out there, dudes might shoot you if you don’t have anything
I wouldn't say they don't care about their fans safety
That’s just a bit of an absurd statement to make.
by ZR on Feb 20, 2012 8:44 PM EST up reply actions
hey man, i'm sorry you had to go through this
but anyway, regarding the nets as a team: i understand they’re making the moves for dwight. i understand that he’s the plan. i understand that the team isn’t talented right now.
but what really makes me mad is the lack of effort and energy that this team plays with for long stretches.
the least they can do for the few dedicated fans is give their all.
that's terrible
and unfortunate that you had to deal with that but i give you credit for not emptying your pockets and thinking about running to a crowded area immediately, you are lucky.
watching last nights game was awful. there was zero energy, it felt like I was watching a high school team play. it’s one thing to be a die-hard nets fan and continue to support this franchise through good and bad like most of us have, but it’s starting to get exhausting and unfair. night after night we’re getting buried by teams that we should be blowing out and then beating the teams that we could justify a loss to. i don’t want to say the front office doesn’t care THAT much because the better the franchise is, the more revenue they will bring in.. but i agree with what you said, we can’t always lose games because we may have a FA coming in. i want dwight howard just as much as the next fan does but what happens if when all is said and done, he doesn’t come? we lost another season, now possibly another top player in deron, and we are right back at square one with the end never looking near. how long can you support a franchise when they are giving you nothing in return??
i dont plan to ever turn and become some big fan of another team because it’ll never be the same passion and love for a franchise and i know that, but my patience is wearing thin with this franchise and the constant losing and always being one of, if not the, jokes of the league. we NEED dwight and a lot of upside in brooklyn or we’re just completely hopeless.
Yormark will put on a show to confront these guys, but he don't care about what you went thru to attend.

Official Member of DO NOT TRADE MARSHON Society!
To be successful, apparently Avery's Defense System requires it to be manned by NBA All-Defensive Team.
by 3ptChucker on Feb 20, 2012 11:46 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
that kid look like he wants to give a right jab to his nuts
The realist keepin it real amongst the surrealists
Use em and throw em away, see a pro a day is essential. If you want a piece of the rock, trick, go to Prudential
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Feb 20, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
Kudos...
I wrote the same thing last week and got ripped for it…nice to see others being passionate and caring about routing for a loser. Everyone wants to talk about what we don’t have and speculation versus what the product is on the floor now….
Sorry to hear about your theft. If I were you, like myself, I’d carry Mace and would not go alone.
Continued...
We don’ t have a plan…we have a prayer. We have arguably the top PG in the NBA and are going to lose him because our coach doesn’t motivate and has the same ho hum attitude like management with what if scenarios…they are garbage. Put a good product on the floor every year. If you decide to rebuild, it takes a year. Then you sign good players that fit a plan and a scheme, not Travis Outlaw. We had a perfect opportunity to sign Nene and Butler..two very good players that with Deron would have made playoffs. This going for it all concept is tired and won’t work. Everything this franchise had was lost…It’s going to take another decade to make a name for ourselves. Sad
i actually wanted nene or chandler
i was much more uncertain that we’d get dwight then and a nene and chandler would’ve helped this franchise greatly. unfortunately, as the news reports and dwight himsefl, he thought he was a nj net until the owners at orlando nixed the deal. you can choose to believe that if you want, i’ll believe what multiple news writer reported but it could very well also be false.
Chandler worked out great for the Knicks, i didn’t want a max contract for either but at least a good pickup at the very least. Nene was injured for a number of games this season so not giving nene was maybe a better choice, but if i had a choice i’d rather have nene on this team.
lastly, i just wanted to point out your previous post was deleted and you got ripped on it for it not because of what you wrote or your opinion, but how you wrote it and the way you reflected your view points back at the other posters. feel free to do post however you wish, just wanted to give my 2 cents.
here’s to hoping we have a good product with a winning franchise going forward, if not….it is what it is.
chandlers salary is more then lebrons,
NOT WORTH IT
I live by two mottoes:
1. I like my women like i like my point guards, chubby #DWILL
2. It takes more then power to become the King Of Russia, but that's why I'm well endowed
by King Of Russia on Feb 22, 2012 2:36 AM EST up reply actions
I agree
But if you send this to the front office they will ignore it because the only reason we are not trying to get better or even change is so that we have everything we need to acquire Dwight Howard.
Newark is Newark
I feel terrible that you got accosted for your nets hat. glad you are a true fan. I would totally understand how you feel and this franchise has not made it easy being a fan of the nets. Here’s hoping to bigger and brighter future for this franchise moving to brooklyn.
No one has ever had a hat taken from them in NYC
Please
The Devils have won more titles than all Philly pro sports teams combined in the last 25 years
by Real Big Devils Fan on Feb 22, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sorry to hear that my man
I’ve never had a problem like this going to the rock but I could see it happening easily. In fact I’ve never had a problem walking around market st with hundreds of dollars worth of crap from VIM and foot locker. It’s just bad luck I guess. I’m glad you didn’t let get in your pockets, because there’s always a bunch of cops outside the arena and they were just bluffing.
by William_H_HOLLA on Feb 20, 2012 3:12 PM EST reply actions
I don't think all of us sending this will help, honestly
because its a personal situation and all of us sending this will make it look like a fake note. Unless we change it up to make it seem like we were with you OR you are someone we know and this happened to you or w/e.
Nets Mets Giants All day Every day.
Beware the Lopez
NY Giants Tribute
Yea I agree. My intention was only to see if a person had a good contact that he/she could forward to illustrate the feelings and trials of the fans of this franchise.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 20, 2012 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry to hear about that though
Nets Mets Giants All day Every day.
Beware the Lopez
NY Giants Tribute
wow. really sorry to hear about this.
but really glad to know you’re ok.
stay strong, brother.
wolves never rest
I go to games all the time
and I exit the train station right by market street. You have me worried about going to my next game now _
Sucks about what happened in Newark but ripping apart a brand new FO doesn't make sense to me
BK has barely been here. Same for Prokhorov. We all knew that this was going to be a team in transition – championships rarely happen overnight. They were able to find their first superstar – Deron Williams – for next to nothing in comparison to what would’ve ended up being Carmelo Anthony. Now they are front runners for Dwight Howard. This situation is not like LeBron or Summer of 2010; they have Deron recruiting for them and Howard has publicly requested a trade.
I understand that there are some frustrations about this season. I have them too. But I do my best to think big picture. BK has done almost everything right so far and Avery has done an OK job to weather the storm given this situation; not easy when you lose a player like Brook Lopez, it just isn’t.
March 15th will come soon. If Howard isn’t a Net the next day but is still with Orlando, there’s still hope.
Brooklyn is the same if not worse than newark is so
theres no point in complaining about stuff like that.
i’d be more cautious in brooklyn than in newark,(but that could be cus i’m in newark alot)
What?
Brooklyn has really scary neighborhoods, but I don’t think area where they are moving to is like that
by anothernetsfan on Feb 21, 2012 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
we fans should walk together and if we see those thugs
its not gonna be their lucky day…..
Some of you guys are ridiculous.
The Nets don’t care about our safety? The FO does little to improve our team? Coach putting together questionable lineups? In reverse order, we’ve been killed by injuries and roster changes. We have a thin, new bench as is, and Avery isn’t going to find the best lineup right out of the gates. If you haven’t forgotten, the FO is the same one that got us this guy named Deron Williams and got rid of crappy/lazy Devin Harris and bust Derrick Favors. As for the Nets not caring about your safety, of course they do. They may or may not do anything for you, and if they don’t that’s fine because it wasn’t their fault. If you had a legitimate argument, I’d use my contacts with the Nets FO that I have to contact them for you, but you don’t. The arena is in Newark and they provide a lot of security. What happened to you could happen at any arena.
I didn’t say anything about the Organization not caring about our safety, maybe someone above did. I’m sure they do sincerely care about the safety of the fans, especially since it’s our attendance and other transactions that bring in revenue. What I was saying is that we as fans are investing time, energy, money into the franchise when the franchise is giving us little in return. This is ofcourse not referring to only this season. but over a handful of seasons. Yes, I realize we’ve undergone a change in management, but overall the seeming lack of aggressiveness and desire is frustrating for fans that are investing themselves into a franchise that is not as invested in them.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 21, 2012 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
I understand your thoughts.
The safety thing was stated above by somebody else, I figured I’d just add it in. The change in management does much more than one would think, and Mikhail Prokhorov is the owner now, and as all business people know (myself included), it takes time to see a return on investment. Think of it this way, Proky bought the Nets in Sep 2009 (according to Wiki). The only players worth mentioning on that roster were Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, Hump, and MAYBE Courtney Lee. Not worth mentioning? We had Boone, Battie, Alston, CDR, TRENTON HASSELL, JARVIS HAYES, YI, NAJERA, QUINN, BOBBY SIMMONS, SEAN WILLIAMS, and the forever lost T-Will. that was the majority of our roster. Since then, Proky has almost single-handedly paid for the Barclay’s Center and without him, we also wouldn’t have D-Will, who is the ONLY reason why we have a chance at getting D12. He is also the reason why we’re at the Prudential Center and not the Izod Center. If you’re telling me that the FO lacks aggressiveness and desire after all this, then good luck being a Nets fan. They have put us in a better position than we ever could have dreamed of.
Imagine a team without D-Will, playing in the Izod Center with no move to Brooklyn and NO reason for other players to want to play on our team. That’s what we have been since forever. It’s time for a change, and that change is happening in the best way possible.
by say whaaaaat on Feb 22, 2012 2:09 AM EST up reply actions
The FO has strategically made the right moves without us even realizing it
In order to move from the bottom to the top you have to make those sacrifices. It’s called rebuilding. Draft picks, cap relief, young talent…. it was all done for a reason. I commend the FO for making those tough decisions. We suck right now, and for a reason. It wasn’t failed signings or failed trades…. it was orchestrated for the better of the teams future. We already have gone through the roughest patch, keep your eyes on the prize! Dwight. Brooklyn.
I’m sorry to hear about you getting your hat stolen and almost robbed, but lets be honest here. What are you doing walking through the streets of Newark alone at night? That’s asking for trouble. Anyone from NJ should know this.
The reason we dont care is because they dont care
Plain and simple, is like they were ashamed of being in NJ. Second they are making some dream plans for the future and not building in the present. If the FO wants a solid fanbase to follow them to Brooklyn you gotta show us some more love than that
Please let me know
what your email is, I’ll forward this to Yormark and CC you.
Your story seems shadey
Does not seem legit, where on Market Street? In front of what store?
I’m not buying it, been to The Rock about 200 times and have never seen or heard anything like this. Are you small and thin?
The Devils have won more titles than all Philly pro sports teams combined in the last 25 years
by Real Big Devils Fan on Feb 22, 2012 6:03 PM EST reply actions
Just past the Golden Krust restaurant. It was not directly in front of it, maybe 15-20 feet more towards mulberry. I am short, so they had numbers and size on me. You don’t have to believe it, I respect that, because your opinion or belief is of little importance to me. I wanted to share my experience and opinion with other Nets fans and hopefully the FO. I’m happy for you that you have been to the Rock “about 200 times and have never seen or heard anything like this”. I hope that streak continues !
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 23, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
I was walking on Market st that night heading to the game with my girl
5 guys walked past us. One of them was staring at my hat. He looks back and says “you’re not really a Nets fan are you?” lol. I said “hell yea” and he shook his head. I then proceeded into the arena to watch my team get embarrassed by the Buck. SMH
Thoughts...
I definitely feel bad about hearing this story… trust me. But shouldn’t you be more concerned that there might have not been enough of a police presence rather than the team that was put in front of you that night? Maybe it’s just me… but the last thing that would be on my mind that night would be that the team could have played better, but instead, that my safety was in jeopardy — and something should be done about that first and foremost.
The way that interpreted this was that had there been a better team on the floor this incident would have potentially gotten a pass in the long run? I think that there are some glaring holes in police presence as your leave Newark Penn Station for sure… It’s fine while your in the station (for the most part) but those two blocks leading towards The Rock is always shady. I feel that once your within the main confines it gets better… but adding a few police officers to that area would be very beneficial.
by Avery's Johnson on Feb 27, 2012 9:50 AM EST reply actions
Absolutely I agree with what you’re saying. The City of Newark definitely needs to increase police presence in the area. I don’t understand why there aren’t more cops in the surrounding blocks on game nights. I realize the Nets cannot prevent what happened – the cops can. However, what I was trying to express, for me personally, was that if the Nets players could reward the fans by putting in more effort on the court or by making FO moves to improve the quality of the franchise, then franchise fans who spend money, time, etc and risk their safety coming to games would be justified for doing so. By us putting in the effort, and not feeling it reciprocated, it is to some degree a slap in the face. When you said, “maybe it’s just me… but the last thing that would be on my mind that night would be that the team could have played better, but instead, that my safety was in jeopardy…” – my situation could have been much worse, a couple friends of mine have unfortunately been in worse situations here in Newark where they weren’t as fortunate as I was. Moreover, I have lived on campus at the Rutgers dorms in Newark for several years – our safety is always in jeopardy. It is something we get used to. So I looked at it that way. I tried not to let it ruin the joy the Nets bring to me. But then to see them play so poorly and lackadaisically essentially added insult to injury, and set me off.
I hope this was not too long of a response. Sorry if it was.
by BLUEPRINT.FOR.GREATNESS on Feb 27, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions















