Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams last night responded to the Toronto Raptors’ trash-talking with a little trash-talking of his own.
After the basketball team’s general manager, Masai Ujiri, pumped up a Raptors crowd by yelling, “Fuck Brooklyn!” before game one of the Nets-Raptors playoff series, Mr. Adams released a statement hitting Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s infamous crack-smoking scandal and the Canadian citizenship of pop star Justin Bieber.
“It’s unfortunate that the Raptors’ GM felt so desperate facing against our Nets that he would throw profanity around discussing our beloved borough, but I can’t say I’m surprised. After all, Brooklyn is a classier place. Just compare Babs to Biebs, or spend some time with their…colorful mayor,” said Mr. Adams, pivoting to quote The Notorious B.I.G.: “Still, we spread love; it is, after all, the Brooklyn way.”
Mr. Adams proceeded to bet Mr. Ford a six-pack of Brooklyn beer on the Nets-Raptors series’ outcome.
“Rather than mess with verbal barbs, I say it’s ‘put up or shut up time’, Toronto! I’m willing to send up North some of Brooklyn’s best if the Raptors can prevail, perhaps a six-pack from Brooklyn Brewery or a CD from the First Family of hip-hop. The ball is in Mayor Ford’s court to meet the challenge,” said Mr. Adams. “Let’s go Nets!”
Speaking with reporters during halftime, Mr. Ujiri walked back his earlier anti-Brooklyn taunt.
“It was a wrong choice of words. I apologize to kids out there, and to the Brooklyn guys. Nothing against them, I’m just trying to get our fans going,” he said, according to the New York Post. “I don’t like them, but I apologize.”
The Nets won Saturday’s game 94 to 87.
