When the New England Patriots’ owner visited Russia nine years ago, he showed Russian president Vladimir Putin his Super Bowl ring. Putin pocketed the prize and walked away. Kraft originally claimed he gave the ring to Putin as a gift but changed his tune last summer.
“I took out the ring and showed it to (Putin), and he put it on, and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring,’” Kraft said. “I put my hand out, and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.”
Kraft said he was told by President George W. Bush to say the ring was a gift to the Russian leader.
“I really didn’t (want to give up the ring),” Kraft said. “I had an emotional tie to the ring. It has my name on it. I don’t want to see it on eBay. There was a pause on the other end of the line, and the voice repeated, ‘It would really be in the best interest if you meant to give the ring as a present.’”
Putin denied stealing the ring and claims to not remember meeting Kraft. Putin offered to make Kraft a new ring. There’s no word on if the Patriots’ owner took Putin up on the offer.
This year’s Winter Olympics are being held in Putin’s neck of the woods in the resort city of Sochi. The event has had many problems before even officially beginning. Maybe if the United States wins gold, Kraft can get his ring back.
