Prokhorov to Nets' Fans: "I Intend to Give You Plenty to Cheer About"

Mikhail Prokhorov, one of the world's richest men and a former Soviet Army soldier, was approved as the Nets'  owner Tuesday.

The NBA Board of Governors voted 28-0 with one team not voting to put him one step and one day from control of the team.  The vote officially sanctions the transfer of the team from Bruce Ratner's Nets Sports and Entertainment to Prokhorov's Onexim Sports and Entertainment Holdings.  Prokhorov is the first Russian and first European to own a North American professional sports franchise as well as the first foreign owner in the NBA and its 14th billionaire owner.

He is also the most interesting man in the world.  In his statement, Prokhorov told Nets fans, "I intend to give you plenty to cheer about."

Once the deal between Prokhorov and Ratner closes Wednesday, he will control 80% of the Nets, 45% of Barclays Center in Brooklyn and hold an option to buy up to 20% of the overall Atlantic Yards at a discounted price.  In return, Ratner receives $200 million in cash.  Prokhorov also agreed to pay off up to 80% of the team debt--around $175 million, and fund up to $60 million in team losses while it remains in New Jersey.

• NBA Board of Governors approves sale of Nets to Mikhail Prokhorov - Dave D'Alessandro - Nets Blast
  
• Prokhorov intends to give fans 'plenty to cheer about' - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
  
• NBA approves new Nets owner Prokhorov - Fred Kerber - New York Post
  
• The New Owner - Al Iannazzone - In the 'Zzone
• NBA approves sale of Nets to Russian Prokhorov - Al Iannazzone - The Record
• Prokhorov approved by NBA's board of governors - Julian Garcia - The InterNets
• Owner approved...Call 'em New Jersey Nyets - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News
• Prokhorov To Take Over Nets - Richard Sandomir - New York Times
  
• NBA approves Nets sale to Prokhorov - Adam Zagoria - SNY
• Prokhorov finally the new Nets' owner - Gregory Hrinya - Examiner
• Meet Our New Big Man - New Jersey Nets
  
• Terrence Williams: Prokhorov approved as our new owner - TheRealTWill - Twitter
  
• Mikhail Prokhorov, just in time - Henry Abbott - ESPN
  
• NBA approves Mikhail Prokhorov's bid to control New Jersey Nets - Brian Mahoney - AP
• League approves sale of Nets to Russian tycoon - Frank Pingue - Reuters
  
• Nets' sale to Russian Prokhorov approved - Agence France Presse
• NBA approves new Nets owner Prokhorov - Alan Hahn - New York Newsday
  
• Russian Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov Approved as Nets Owner - Reed Albergotti - Wall Street Journal
  
• Prokhorov’s $200 Million Nets Purchase Gains Approval From NBA - Curtis Eichelberger - Bloomberg
• NBA Approves Sale of Nets to Russian Billionaire - Luisa Kroll - Forbes
  
• NBA team sale to Russian tycoon Prokhorov approved - BBC
  
• It's finally official, Mikhail Prokhorov owns the New Jersey Nets - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
• Russian Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov Approved as Nets Owner - Josh Alper - NBC New York
  
• NBA approves sale of New Jersey Nets to Mikhail Prokhorov - Inside Hoops
  
• NBA Approves Nets Sale From Ratner to Prokhorov - Eliot Brown - New York Observer
• Tsar power! NBA approves Prokhorov to take over Nets - Stephen Brown - Brooklyn Paper
  
• NBA Approves Nets Sale To Russian Billionaire - Lewis Dodley - NY1
• Brooklyn officials release belated call for NBA caution on Zimbabwe issue - Norman Oder - Atlantic Yards Report
  
• The Prokhorov Has Landed - Will Leitch - New York Magazine