Prokhorov reneges on marriage promise after Nets fail to win championship
When he took over as Brooklyn Nets majority owner, Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov made a bold promise: If the Nets didn't win a championship during the first five seasons under his watch, Prokhorov - a notorious playboy - vowed to get married:
Q: Is marriage something you would consider some day?
A: I have said that if the Nets don’t win the NBA championship within five years, I will punish myself by getting married. We are in year three. So no one is more interested in winning a championship than yours truly.
However, five seasons have passed since Prokhorov took over and his Nets have no ring to show for it. The billionaire poured ungodly sums of money into his team, but they failed to make it past the second round.
The onus to secure a ring now falls upon Prokhorov, but the sly owner deftly used the opportunity to congratulate NBA commissioner Adam Silver, instead.
As Prokhorov said in a message for Nets fans:
You may remember my promise to get married if we didn’t win a championship within five years.
Sadly to say, five years have passed, and today I am very happy to say NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has agreed to take the plunge in my place.
Adam, you’re a much better man than me. Thank you very much, and I wish you and your new bride every happiness. And the Nets fans, have a best rest of the summer, and I’ll be seeing you soon.
Silver announced plans in April to marry his longtime girlfriend, Tim Bontempts of the New York Post reports.
Alas, unlike Silver, Prokhorov is unlikely to give up on bachelorhood as the playboy life might be too enticing for him.
Prokhorov once flew a host of young women in his private jet to a French resort in the Alps for a vacation. The ordeal got him arrested in a prostitution inquiry, the Australian reported in 2007. The 50-year-old was held for three days by French authorities but was never charged.
Perhaps Prokhorov just hasn't met the right woman yet, even though he does have a type:
Q: Describe your ideal mate.
A: Beautiful, smart, sexy and makes a mean bowl of borscht.