Posted June 29, 200519 yr BOSTON -- Russian President Vladimir Putin walked off with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's diamond-encrusted 2005 Super Bowl ring, but was it a generous gift or a very expensive international misunderstanding? Following a meeting of American business executives and Putin at Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg on Saturday, Kraft showed the ring to Putin -- who tried it on, put it in his pocket and left, said Russian news reports. It isn't clear yet if Kraft, whose business interests also include paper and packaging companies and venture capital investments, intended that Putin keep the ring. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Wednesday that Kraft was traveling and he hadn't talked to him in four or five days, despite e-mails and calls. "He's still overseas, I can't even tell you where. ... He's not due back until next week." "It's an incredible story. I just haven't been able to talk to Robert Kraft to confirm the story," James told The Associated Press. However, a Kremlin official who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of compromising his position said the ring was a present. "Such a present was made," the official said. He said Putin had given the ring to the Kremlin library where other foreign gifts are kept. James said the ring's worth was "substantially more" than $15,000, as the value had been reported. He refused to be specific, but noted that the ring has 124 diamonds. Kraft handed out Super Bowl rings to players and coaches at his home two weeks ago. The Patriots have won three of the last four Super Bowls. Weird...
June 29, 200519 yr James said the ring's worth was "substantially more" than $15,000, as the value had been reported. He refused to be specific, but noted that the ring has 124 diamonds. The Marlins rings were well in excess of $30,000 each.
June 30, 200519 yr f*** the Patriots. 831109[/snapback] Jealous much? 831156[/snapback] Nope, I just hate their douchebag fans and the media's adoration of Tom Brady. I am hardly jealous. They were a 1-15 team not that long ago.
June 30, 200519 yr f*** the Patriots. 831109[/snapback] Jealous much? 831156[/snapback] Nope, I just hate their douchebag fans and the media's adoration of Tom Brady. I am hardly jealous. They were a 1-15 team not that long ago. 831966[/snapback] Well they have 3 super bowls in 4 years now, whereas the Dolphins haven't won one in your lifetime, so I figured i'd ask.
June 30, 200519 yr f*** the Patriots. 831109[/snapback] Jealous much? 831156[/snapback] Nope, I just hate their douchebag fans and the media's adoration of Tom Brady. I am hardly jealous. They were a 1-15 team not that long ago. 831966[/snapback] Well they have 3 super bowls in 4 years now, whereas the Dolphins haven't won one in your lifetime, so I figured i'd ask. 832411[/snapback] I don't have a problem with rivals that are successful, I have a problem with the bandwagoners who leach on afterward and claim to be "lifelong" fans since like 2001. Especially in Florida where there are three pro teams and everyone in this damn state is now a Patriots or Steelers fan.
June 30, 200519 yr Author Kraft today said that the ring was a gift to Putin. I don't know if that's the exact truth, however. He might have just done that to avoid an international incident over a $15 K ring.
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