On March 11, 1994, the then-New Jersey Nets defeated the Indiana Pacers, 87-73, but suffered a loss with much bigger long-term consequences.
That day, a computer systems company named Cyber Mesa Computer Systems picked up what they probably thought was an innocent domain name they could use for their internet marketing: Nets.com.
Over 20 years later, the domain has become the topic of intense scrutiny, biting parody, and money — lots of money.
Since the Nets moved to Brooklyn, the site has redirected to the official websites of the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and a few anti-Nets splash pages, egging the Nets on In an effort to put pressure on the Nets to buy the domain — for over seven figures at one point, according to one report. Amidst rumors and reports that the company sold the domain to Mark Cuban, James Dolan, or some other enterprising entrepreneur, it appears the domain has never left Cyber Mesa.
Now, the owners of the site have redirected Nets.com to former Nets coach Jason Kidd’s personal website, just a few days after Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov fired a jab at Kidd, saying “don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord has split you.”
The domain is currently up for auction on eBay, with a current bid listing of $51,100 after 13 bids. It seems like the site might finally get some closure — or a new beginning.
