Awards piling up for Barclays Center. On Wednesday night, at the annual Sports Business Journal awards ceremony, Barclays Center was named the "Sports Facility of the Year" A week ago, Architizer Magazine named the arena its "building of the year."
The Nets are carrying the "Brooklyn Blackout" theme to its ultimate and logical conclusion: The Nets will wear black at home for Saturday's game. Could help: the Nets did have their best road record ever in their black uniforms.
When the Nets played in their first playoff series in years in 2002, the league had to take over the pre-game and half-time festivities. The Nets own promotions were replaced. Not enough hoopla. No need to worry about that with Brett Yormark.
If Jay-Z starts to rep NBA players in his new agency, he would have to leave the Nets ownership group. The big issue wouldn't be money, but losing their link to a "cultural icon," as the Nets refer to him ... reportedly by contract.
As Brooklyn becomes more of a global brand, the Nets are seeking to capitalize on it, selling the team and the borough, which as the New York Times Magazine notes, has gone from "landmass to global phenomenon." It is oh, so Brett Yormark.
Earlier this week, the Nets donned bowling outfits, traded sneakers for bowling shoes and basketballs for bowling balls. It was part of a fund-raising efforts for the Nets Foundation and its community assist program.
How much to take away from Brett Yormark's refusal to endorse the job P.J. Carlesimo has done this season as interim coach? When Stefan Bondy asked the CEO of the Nets and Barclays for an appraisal of Carlesimo's job, he politely declined. Big deal?
Throughout the week leading up to the trade deadline, sources inside the Nets quietly said that the team's ownership had given management the green light to make deals ... if they thought it would help the team. The commitment to win still stands.
How things have changed for the Yormark Twins. Michael's Panthers ended a 10-year playoff drought last year. Brett's Nets opened a new arena in a new city and appear headed for the playoffs themselves. They sat for a joint interview in Florida.
Goodbye Sly. Hello BrooklyKnight. The Nets' new mascot introduced himself by flying down from the Barclays Center rafters before the season opener on Saturday.
