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Jay-Z, upon selling share of Nets, thanks Ratner, Prokhorov, Yormark; fans remain in thrall

Remember how writer Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah observed in December 2010, "Jay-Z is a natural orator; he can say much or nothing, and it not only sounds good, it also sounds heartfelt."

Yesterday, under the headline Brooklyn's Finest, Jay-Z posted a message on his Life+Times site about selling his share of the Nets:
Being a member of the Nets organization surpassed some of my greatest ambitions. It was never about an investment; it was about the NETS and Brooklyn. My job as an owner is over but as a fan it has just begun. I’m a Brooklyn Net forever. It’s been an honor to work with Mikhail Prokhorov, Dmitry Razumov, Christophe Charlier, ONEXIM Sports and Entertainment, Brett Yormark and all the wonderful people involved in making the Nets first class. My sincerest thanks goes to Bruce Ratner, who first introduced the idea of moving the Nets to Brooklyn. A thank you and deepest appreciation goes to the fans. You are the lifeblood of any team.
The Nets have made their mark on the NBA and as they enter a new era, Roc Nation does as well; as we embark on Roc Nation Sports. Our newest endeavor is committed to building the brands of professional athletes as we have done for some of today’s top music artists. For Roc Nation Sports to function at its full potential, NBA rules stipulate that I relinquish my ownership in the Brooklyn Nets. It was a tough decision but as I stated earlier, it’s not about ownership. Congratulations to The Nets on a great season and making the playoffs! I will always be a Brooklyn Net.
Remember, it's a business, and he's a business, man. (Though doesn't the Brooklyn move creation myth credit Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz?) If Jay-Z truly cared about the fans, he'd say something, for example, about the team raising the prices of the cheap seats from $15 to $25.

His fans, however, remain in thrall. Among the comments:
  • Good stuff. Jay-Z is so classy.
  • Proud of you!!
  • Nothing inspires me more than you. Many years ago you spoke about the nets and boom you made it happen . That's how I want to achieve in life. Now its on to to the next one!
Jay-Z's focus on brands makes him fit right in with Yormark, who said last August, “We are pleased that GEICO and Brooklyn support each other and we are excited to continue to partner with brands of excellence.”

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