Patriots owner says Super Bowl ring was gift to Putin

tuscaloosanews.com ^ | June 29. 2005 6:04PM | The Associated Press

[Destro]

Statement from New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft

(This statement was posted Wednesday on www.patriots.com and is presented here without editing.)

Published June 29, 2005

At the end of a very productive three-hour business meeting with President Putin, organized by my good friend Sandy Weill, I showed the president my most recent Super Bowl ring.

Upon seeing the ring, President Putin, a great and knowledgeable sports fan, was clearly taken with its uniqueness.

At that point, I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin.

I have ancestors from Russia, so it added significance for me to know that something so cherished would reside at the Kremlin along with other special gifts given to Russian presidents.

It was truly an act of serendipity and one that I am honored to have experienced. It touched me to see President Putin's reaction to the ring and I felt, emotionally, that it was the right way to conclude an exceptional meeting.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

First-class touch, even if he really didn't intend the gift.

[dfwgator]

I wonder if in the next few years the Patriots could play an exhibition game in Moscow? That would be cool.

[Destro]

He can afford to give it away.

[Destro]

Isn't there an NFL league in Europe?

[Wristpin]

Putin's probably an Eagles fan.....

[Tiger Smack]

I saw the video on PTI on ESPN.....was NOT a gift, Putin just took it and the Pats owner is just trying to cover for Putin because he wants to do business in Russia

[Echo Talon]

Lets make sure they don't win any more Super Bowls.

[TexasTransplant]

What is he going to do? Call the Head of the KGB a Thief?

He wouldn't be safe even in the US.

[starfish923]

I hope Vladimir wrote Robert a thank you note.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

He can afford to give it away.

No! Really? A billionaire can afford to give away a $15K ring? That never would have occurred to me! Gee, thanks for the insight! /sarcasm

Have you ever seen "What's the Worst that could Happen?" The very rich often take their symbolic trinkets very seriously. The fact that Kraft was so gracious about Pooty-Poot speaks well of his character. And no, I am not a Pats fan by any stretch.

[Horatio Gates]

Pats ping

[Captainpaintball]

I don't believe this for a minute. Like you said, he just wants to do business in Russia, where criminals rule. Putin is playing this guy for a fool--it tells you what he thinks of Americans. American businessmen are whores, and we all know what happens to whores. They get f----d. Putin must have had doubts, and with one swipe of a ring he erased them.

[Destro]

duplicates of the rings are routinely made - I don't think they break the molds.

[Destro]

LOL!

You guys are paranoid.

[SevenofNine]

OMG it was gift

OH BOY LOLOLOL!!

[Lemondropkid31]

I agree with ya. I bet this will be on Coast to Coast with George Norrie. LOL!!! Talk about Paranoia

[SevenofNine]

Could be worst Raiders could win Super Bowl AL Davis could give SUper bowl ring to Vlad

[dk/coro]

This one is easy: These bums deserve to stiff each other.

Who (in my little universe) cares?

[SevenofNine]

Well you know what if Vlad smart he could resell on Ebay he could get lots of US dollars from that since Ruble is piece of crap now LOL!