Brett Youmark, chief executive of the in limbo New Jersey Nets, tells Richard Sandomir of the NY Times, “From Day 1, we’ve had two strategies..One, to market ourselves as if we’re staying long term in New Jersey to give people a reason to come see us. But it’s important to seed our brand in Brooklyn.”

Not an easy strategy to execute considering how delayed and convoluted the Nets’ plan to move the team from New Jersey to Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn has become – they’ve kind of reached the “oh, geez, this is awkward” phase in their relationship with Jersey.

Made easier, however, when you got guys like Devin Harris, who’s willing to do a promotional appearance in the bread aisle at Pathmark.

Sandomir on Harris:

His off-the-court schedule shows that he had breakfast with a hero police officer at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Hackensack, N.J., helped clean Branch Brook Park in Newark before its Cherry Blossom Festival and took a cooking class at Fabulous Foods in Moonachie, N.J., with youngsters from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morris, Bergen and Passaic counties.

Harris drove an eighth grader in Hawthorne, N.J., to school in his Ferrari, appeared with Nets center Brook Lopez at M&M’s World in Manhattan (M&M’s is the team’s official candy), conducted clinics, hiked, climbed rocks and bowled with youngsters.

The Ferrari, M&M’s, even sitting at a table signing photos at the Pathmark – none sound too strenuous. But everything adds up to him being the Net who’s made the most appearances in his just under two years with the team.

Not bad for a 26-year old who’s the marketing face of an organization mired in uncertainty. I like the attitude on this guy.

A Net Reaches Out to Fans, Wherever They Are (NYT)