clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Nets Sign Stoli as "Official" Vodka

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Getty Images

The Nets have signed up Stolichnaya as the team's spirits sponsor once they get to Brooklyn, in effect making it the team's official vodka, reports Darren Rovell of CNBC. Brett Yormark completed the deal while in Moscow last month.

You're surprised?

Under the deal, news of which Rovell broke on CNBC Thursday afternoon, the Nets will reap $2 million a year for five years from Stoli. In return, Stoli will have six branded bars in Barclays Center and signage, Yormark told CNBC.  Stoli's US distributor also tells Rovell that Mikhail Prokhorov may appear in the vodka's commercials but wouldn't be definitive.

One problem with that.

As you may have read, the Nets' Russian owner says he doesn't drink vodka ...never tasted it.  In fact, he told Forbes Russia the stereotype of the drunk Russian is one he intends to break.  So how to get around that unfortunate fact? If Prokhorov is indeed willing to push a spirit he doesn't drink, might we suggest this: Stoli shows Prokhorov sitting at a table surrounded by beautiful women, perhaps smoking a cigar. Then, while looking directly at the camera, he says, "I don't always drink vodka but when I do, I prefer Stolichnaya."

Works for us.