Who says the Cold War is Over - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

The Dad Fisherman · 06-29-2005, 03:17 PM

Russian president pockets Patriots owner's diamond-covered Super Bowl ring

June 29, 2005
BOSTON (AP) -- 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, according to Russian news reports.

It wasn't clear if Kraft, whose business interests 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 told the AP 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.

Raider Ronnie · 06-29-2005, 08:00 PM

You think that is bad,
I went to my marina tonight and Sea Monkey shows me a picture he took of 2 Patriot players (Davin Givins & Daniel Graham) posing on my boat giving the middle finger to the Raider logo on the bow of my boat!!!

Homerun04 · 06-29-2005, 08:13 PM

Russkies...........damn them guys..........

Homerun04 · 06-29-2005, 08:44 PM

Now Kraft is claiming he DID, in fact, give the ring to Putin as a gift......rich folk.....can't figure them out......Kraft saw an opportunity to make himself look good after a misunderstanding......my ten-spot says he NEVER meant to give the ring to Putin, but decided to say that it was his intention as a way to gain some more positive publicity.
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Russian President Gets Super Gift From Patriots Owner
Jun 29, 6:47 PM (ET) Email this Story

BOSTON (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin walked off with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's diamond-encrusted 2005 Super Bowl ring during a recent meeting with U.S. business executives.
But not to worry: Kraft says the ring was a gift to Putin, presented out of "respect and admiration."

Earlier, Russian media had speculated that Kraft hadn't meant to give away the ring.

"I showed the president my most recent Super Bowl ring," Kraft said in a statement released Wednesday. The Russian president "was clearly taken with its uniqueness," Kraft said.

"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," Kraft said.

Putin met with the businessmen Saturday at Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Near the end of the meeting, Kraft took off the ring, and handed it to Putin. Putin tried it on, put it in his pocket and left, according to Russian news reports.

According to Patriots spokesman Stacey James, the ring - which is encrusted with 124 diamonds - has a value of "substantially more" than the previously reported $15,000.

A senior Kremlin official, Dmitry Peskov, told The Associated Press that Putin had given the ring to the Kremlin library where other foreign gifts are kept.

Kraft's business interests include paper and packaging companies and venture capital investments. He 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.