Posted on 06/29/2005 2:56:20 AM PDT by Panerai
It's no secret the Russian economy has been sucking wind for years, but few economists could have predicted that President Vladimir Putin might resort to swiping diamond Super Bowl rings.
In what may prove to be the Cuban Missile Crisis of Russian-Patriot Nation relations, the former KGB agent apparently misunderstood Pats owner Bob Kraft's offer to check out his gem-encrusted finger bling and instead pocketed it, according to media reports on both sides of the Atlantic.
Kraft walked away from a Kremlin meeting between Putin and American business executives without his 2005 Super Bowl ring for fear of creating an international incident, according to an account in the New York Sun.
``I've seen the story, and I've gotten other calls,'' Pats spokesman Stacy James said. ``I wish I could confirm it, but I just don't have any way to.''
Kraft is still traveling on business in Europe and couldn't be reached, James said.
The Sun account, which was attributed to unnamed sources, said Putin looked over the proffered Super Bowl knuckleduster then promptly pocketed it following the meeting last weekend. The paper said Kraft has been trying to come up with a polite way of asking for his outsized bauble without reigniting the Cold War.
While Patriots Nation may be at Defcon 4 over the alleged jewelry injustice, the U.S. State Department really couldn't care less.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bostonherald.com ...
Vlady stole the bling?!
share the wealth, that's communism for ya.
Did Vlad put it up on eBay yet?
Word is Richard Seymore, Willie McGinnest, Rodney Harrison, and Co. are heading to Russia to retrieve the "rock" for their boss.
Arrest everyone in the Russian embassy and hold them until the ring is released!!
Oh, lighten up. It is not like he does not have another one.
;-D
Wots mine is mine and wots yours is mine, too.
Give Kraft credit for class, btw.
Free the ring!!!
I'm sure Belichick is working on a plan to get it back.
Trade draft choices?
If he wanted to forget about it, we'd never of heard about the issue - it would never have been made public. Only Belachek would know. To get it back, all he did was make it public. After its in the news a few cycles, Putin will be shamed into an "unsolicited" return of the ring. Belachek should send a Thankyou-for-return memo with a VERY nice gift ($'s) back to Putin (not some plain old football).
I was thinking more along the lines of blitzing him with Harrison and then Vrabel comes in from behind to get the ring.
Dude, no way. Bellicek knows that the KGB isn't as clueless as Peyton Manning.
I read another report that Kraft might have given it to him as a gift. We'll see.
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