Fans wary of Brooklyn Nets owner's decision to move team operations to Russia

2014-03-26 40

That's Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.

His U.S.-based company owns the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, seen here visiting Moscow in 2010.

Prokhorov told reporters this week he plans to move the company that own the Nets to Russia.

Fans outside Barclay's Arena in Brooklyn, New York are none too impressed.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) KIM WASHINGTON SAYING:

"This is Brooklyn. They're the Brooklyn Nets and the Brooklyn Nets should stay in Brooklyn, plain and simple. Tell his ass to go back to Moscow."

The move is in keeping with the Kremlin's call on Russian businessmen to repatriate their assets.

This, after the U.S. passed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TIM O'GRADY SAYING:

"New Yorkers are a proud bunch and very proud of their city, so it's not going to be something they're happy about. A very controversial country."

It's just the ownership company doing the moving, the Nets still have thei

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