Vin Scully To Return Announcing Booth Next Season
Idol
A lot has changed for the Los Angeles Dodgers in recent days, but one thing is going to remain very much the same. The team announced Sunday that Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will return in 2013, his 64th season behind the microphone. Scully will call all Dodgers home and road games in California and Arizona.
Scully, 84, said he is feeling energized after the Guggenheim Baseball Management group bought the team from Frank McCourt this spring for $2 billion.
“I was so impressed by the new ownership,” Scully said Sunday morning in the Dodger Stadium press box. “I was here for the press conference, and I heard some big talk. I wondered whether they would actually do what they said they would do. How fast will they move? How high will they try to take the team? Well, they have done it 10 times over. And what they’ve done is revitalized the city, revitalized the team, the fans — and myself.”
“They want to win, and they want to win now. So I’d like to hold on with both hands and see just how far they’ll take this ballclub — because I really think they’re going to take it as high as it can possible go,” Scully said. “And with all the optimism, it would be pretty hard to walk away from that.”
The Dodgers haven’t won a World Series title since 1988, but that isn’t the primary reason Scully’s coming back.
“I don’t really measure how long I want to stay by the success of the team. I really think it’s inside,” Scully said. “It has nothing to do with the team. It’s the love affair. That’s part of the way I feel about baseball.”
The Dodgers say Scully’s tenure is the longest of any broadcaster with any team. He calls all nine innings of the team’s TV broadcasts, while the first three innings of each of his games are simulcast on radio.
Dodgers chairman and owner Mark Walter says Scully’s return for another season “means a great deal to all of us.”
Scully began his professional baseball broadcasting career in 1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He has called three perfect games, 25 no-hitters, 25 World Series and 12 All-Star games.
Among the historic events he has broadcast: Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, Kirk Gibson’s homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, Hank Aaron’s record-setting 715th homer, Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 71st, 72nd and 73rd homers and the scoreless-inning streaks of Dodger greats Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser.
Richest Man In LA Joins Steven Cohen’s Bid For Los Angeles Dodgers
Moneybags
Despite his close friendship with bidder Magic Johnson, Patrick Soon-Shiong has joined hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen’s bid for the team, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Because Soon-Shiong is the richest man in Los Angeles, he’s believed to be the golden ticket that will determine the team’s next owner. Now that Cohen has Soon-Shiong behind him, they may be an insurmountable team.
Because Soon-Shiong bought a minority share in the Los Angeles Lakers from Johnson two years ago, it was believed by some that Soon-Shiong would team up with Magic. Although Johnson had the highest bid at $1.6 billion, Cohen’s $1.4 billion bid impressed many because $900 million of it is cash, Biz of Baseball reports. Now, with Soon-Shiong on his team, Cohen’s bid, which may end up at $2 billion, has the most green by far.
Soon-Shiong, who is a doctor, biotech investor and philanthropist, has a net worth of $7.2 billion, and Cohen’s net worth is $8.3 billion, according to Forbes’ 2012 billionaires list.
Soon-Shiong also gives Cohen’s bid some much-needed LA cred. Cohen needs it because he lives in Connecticut, grew up a New York Mets fan and there are unconfirmed rumors that he hasn’t even stepped foot in Dodgers Stadium, Lasondra’s Lair points out. If Cohen wins the team, LA agent Arn Tellem is expected to become company president, and former baseball manager and infielder Tony La Russa will likely to be in charge of baseball operations.
Johnson’s last hope may be to appeal to Frank McCourt, who makes the final ownership decision. As CBS speculates, “Johnson might have the best chance to help [McCourt] there if Johnson is willing to try to boost him publicly by somehow claiming McCourt isn’t the person everyone already knows him to be.”
Others, however, think that McCourt will simply go with the highest bidder in the end, and the end is drawing near. McCourt has to pick the winner by April 1 and close the deal by April 30.
Los Angeles Dodgers Give Team Batboy Tryout
Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin, Is Chico Herrera Next??
The Los Angeles Dodgers are always on the look out for the next great Major League Baseball player and sometimes that guy doesn’t from their minor league system but from a tryout. Chances are that next great player they are looking for could have been under their nose all along and in their dugout for the last couple of years.
That’s what could happen if the Dodgers are impressed enough with team batboy Francisco ‘Chico’ Herrera. The team offered a chance for Herrera and 124 others to showcase their baseball skills at the Dodgers annual tryout at Camelback Ranch, the team’s spring facility in Glendale, Arizona.
Herrera, a 22-year-old who has worked for the Dodgers the past four years has steady impressed the current big league Dodgers with his skills, notably the arm and athletic ability making catches he showed during batting practice. Assistant General Manager De Jon Watson was talked up by former pitcher Jon Garland that they should at least take a look.
Watson is happy to offer it because, well, you just never know.”We’ve signed guys out of our tryout camp every year,” Watson said. “Last year we found a guy throwing 97 and it was like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to sign him.’ “So this isn’t some publicity stunt to deflect attention away from whatever embattled owner Frank McCourt has last stepped in. This isn’t an attempt to get fans to buy tickets to watch the tryouts.Nope, this is real.”
The best player on his team at Hollywood High and the starting shortstop at Valley College in North Hollywood Herrera is no getting that chance.
“I’ve seen him down the foul lines, he makes some pretty good catches. You watch him in BP and he’s out there power-shagging in the outfield. Like, ‘Who is this kid?’”So yeah, we’ll take a look at him. You never know. Guys change, they mature, they grow. You never know until you take a look at him,” Watson said.
Joe Torre Group Withdraws Bid To Purchase Los Angeles Dodgers
Out
The group led by Joe Torre has withdrawn its bid to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Times reported. According to the report, owner Frank McCourt’s refusal to include the Dodger Stadium parking lots in the sale was a major sticking point.
Torre’s partners include Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso and investor Byron Trott of BDT Capital. The remaining bidders, now believed to number nine and include a group headed by Magic Johnson, have been requested to submit a second bid this week.
McCourt must select a winning bidder by April 1 with the sale closing by April 30, the day he must pay former wife Jamie McCourt a $131 million divorce settlement.
Joe Torre Resigns From MLB Job To Pursue Purchase Of Dodgers
Just Say It Joe, You Didn't Like The Job
The commissioner’s office loss of Joe Torre could be the Los Angeles Dodgers gain. After one year working under Bud Selig as executive vice president of baseball operations, Torre has resigned to “explore opportunities with a group that will pursue ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers,” MLB said in a release Wednesday morning. The resignation is effective immediately.
Disgraced Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has agreed to sell the club because of financial woes stemming from a messy divorce with Jamie McCourt.
“I have made this decision because of a unique chance to join a group that plans to bid for the Dodgers,” Torre said in the statement. “After leaving the field, this job was an incredible experience, one that I enjoyed very much.”
Torre will join the investment group headed by L.A. real estate magnate Rick Caruso.
The Los Angeles Times reported last month that McCourt has until April 30 to sell the Dodgers. Initial bids for the team originally were due by Jan. 13, but the deadline has been extended to Jan. 23.
In Torre’s absence, senior vice presidents Joe Garagiola Jr., Kim Ng and Peter Woodfork will oversee the baseball operations functions of the commissioner’s office, MLB.com reports. A permanent replacement will be named at a later date.
Tommy Lasorda Returns To Coach Los Angeles Dodgers
Baseball Ambassador
Last night was just like old times for former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda as he took a seat on the the teams bench. Lasorda wore his famous No. 2 white jersey as an honorary coach under manager Don Mattingly against the San Francisco Giants, a gesture extended by the team for his 84th birthday.
“I want to manage,” he said. “I got 1,599 wins. Win this one and we’ll be 1,600. It’s very, very important to me.”
Lasorda retired in 1996 as one of just five major league managers to guide the same team for 20 years or more. His tenure included two World Series titles, four National League pennants and eight division titles. He’s is in his 62nd season with the franchise and currently serves as special adviser to team owner and chairman Frank McCourt.
“It feels great,” Lasorda said. “This is something I never thought, never dreamed it would happen and it happened. I’m so grateful. My family’s enthused about it. All my friends are calling me from all over the country. I didn’t think I was that much missed.”
When Giants manager Bruce Bochy was asked how he felt about Lasorda being on the Dodgers bench again he said,“let him manage. I’ll outsmart him.” To which Lasorda responded by saying “tell Bochy I’m in the Hall of Fame.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Send Survey Out To Season Ticket Holders On Frank McCourt
Genius
Los Angeles Dodgers fans have apparently shown their displeasure with owner Frank McCourt by staying far away from Dodger Stadium as row after row of empty seats can be spotted over and over at home games. Now the Dodgers are giving their season-ticket holders an actual way of voicing their concerns over the owner who steered their ballclub into federal bankruptcy court.
The Dodgers have sent a survey to its most loyal customers to determine the likelihood if they will renew their season seats. The fans who were uncertain to renew were offered a chance to voice that concern with several choices.
(A) Team performance
(B) Pricing
(C) Ownership
Frank McCourt once again botches another simple task as he doesn’t need to kill trees and send out a survey, just look into the seats and see that there is no one there.
WTF: Los Angeles Dodgers Fan
Genius
The ongoing troubles of the once proud organization of the Los Angeles Dodgers is well documented, thanks in part to owner Frank McCourt and his ex-wife Jamie McCourt. However this fan has taken it another level to express his disgust with the ongoing situation.
Usher Takes Foul Ball Away From little Tommy At Los Angeles Dodgers Game
Looking for a PR nightmare at any point in the Major League Baseball season? Then pick any day for the 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers, mainly because of their owner Frank McCourt. However this week this probably hit an all-time low for the team when an usher took away a foul ball from little Tommy during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Dodger’s spokesman Josh Rawitch said that the incident was “all in good fun.” Sure it was. Like anytime a grown man approaches a little kid and craps on his enjoyment, it’s all in good fun.
Los Angeles Dodgers Could Lose $27 Milli Off Declining Attendance
Your Fault
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise could lose at least $27 million in ticket sales, concession and parking revenue this season because of a dramatic drop in attendance. The Dodgers totaled $286 million in revenue but with this season’s attendance decline that could amount to at least a 9.4 percent drop in total annual revenue this year.
The Dodgers average attendance is down by 7,902 a game as the team struggles on the field and Frank McCourt’s ownership reign remains in jeopardy. That is the biggest drop in per-game attendance in the majors this season.
The Times calculated the $27 million based on attendance figures, the average ticket price calculated by Team Marketing Report and internal Dodgers data on concessions and parking revenue revealed last year in court documents in the Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce case.
Los Angeles Dodgers Checks Bounce
Your Fault
A number of Los Angeles Dodgers team employees paychecks bounced this week, days after team owner Frank McCourt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Los Angeles Times reported that players and full-time front office employees were not affected.
Josh Rawitch, Dodgers vice president of communications, told the Los Angeles Times that the affected employees were part-time, game-day staff, the everyday working guy. The Times identified them as security guards and ushers who work at Dodger Stadium. The team issued new checks Wednesday and has agreed to cover bank fees.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Los Angeles Dodgers for filing for bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court Monday, blaming Major League Baseball for refusing to approve a multibillion-dollar TV deal that owner Frank McCourt was counting on to keep the troubled franchise afloat. Former players are owed millions and even Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully is owed more than $150,000 as part of his contract, court documents show. The filing by a cash-starved McCourt comes just days before he was expected to miss a team payroll and possibly be confronted with an MLB takeover. McCourt has taken out loans to stay afloat this season but his mounting financial problems were expected to balloon this week, when he owed tens of millions of dollars to meet payroll and other obligations.
The bankruptcy filing lists assets of up to $1 billion and debts up to $500 million. The Dodgers are obligated to pay $92.5 million in guaranteed player contracts, not including signing bonuses, and the team has nearly 300 full-time employees. It also noted a $67 million loan taken out against the parking lots at Dodger Stadium was set to mature Thursday.
MLB Blocks Fans From Customizing Los Angeles Dodgers Chapter 11 Jerseys
Thanks Frank
Major League Baseball is the latest league to enforce their policy on refraining from it’s customers from using inappropriate, derogatory, or profane language upon it’s apparel.
So if you were interested in poking fun at the Los Angeles Dodgers and owner Frank McCourt by customizing a jersey that read “Chapter 11,” then your out of luck as their customization will not allow you to do so.
Mark Cuban Says There’s Interest In Los Angeles Dodgers
S.O.S. Mark
For a while now we have posted the story of Los Angeles Dodgers fan Roger Arrieta creator of the website www.markcubansavethedodgers.com has been trying to persuade Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to try and buy his favorite team from owner Frank McCourt. Arrieta has gotten the attention of the Mavericks owner and now Cuban has told TMZ.com on Tuesday that he’d be “very interested” in buying the Dodgers “if the deal’s right and they’re fixable.”
The franchise may soon be up for bid if baseball commissioner Bud Selig decides to seize the financially fragile franchise from team owner if he is unable to meet the team’s payroll next week. His ability to do so suffered a huge hit Monday when Selig refused to sign off on a television rights deal with FOX that would have given McCourt hundreds of millions of dollars in upfront cash.
Cuban, who previously made failed bids for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers, told TMZ’s Harvey Levin that he needs to investigate the various separate pieces of the Dodgers business.
“I can’t imagine that it’s not going to be such a mess that it’s going to make it hard to turn around. It’s not for sale yet, but we’ll see what happens,” Cuban said.
Former MLB Commissioner Doesn’t Think Mark Cuban Belongs In Baseball
S.O.S. Mark
Back on May 27, we posted the report of Los Angeles Dodgers fan Roger Arrieta created the website www.markcubansavethedodgers.com to try and persuade Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to try and buy his favorite team from owner Frank McCourt. Now former Major League Baseball commissioner Fay Vincent has spoken out and doesn’t think Cuban is right for baseball.
During an interview on ESPN Radio, Vincent said his dealings with former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner make him leery of another boisterous, flamboyant owner in the game.
“I went through the Steinbrenner business. Some of the behavior of owners can be very troublesome for commissioners,” Vincent said. “I don’t think Mr. Cuban’s been an easy partner or owner for David Stern, and that would put me on my guard if he were to come to baseball.”
Vincent banned Steinbrenner from baseball for life in 1990 after it was discovered Steinbrenner hired someone to dig up dirt on Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield however Steinbrenner was reinstated in 1993 once Vincent was forced from office. Cuban has made failed attempts to buy the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs but Vincent doesn’t think Cuban is mature enough to own an MLB team.
“The rules are the rules. I think this enormous criticism, the screaming about officials, the kinds of things that got him fined by David, those are not the actions of a sensible, responsible owner. I mean, winning is not everything, and I’m afraid for some of these owners. They get so carried away with winning, they believe that’s the objective.”
“I think it’s more important for owners to be gentlemen, play by the rules, respect the authorities, do what’s good for the sport, than it is to manage a franchise into total success,” Vincent said. “The subtleties make the difference. George Steinbrenner was a real problem in baseball, and I think Mark Cuban is a real problem in basketball.”
Orel Hershiser & Steve Garvey Would Like To Purchase The Los Angeles Dodgers
True Blue
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser has joined a group of investors led by former Dodger first baseman Steve Garvey with the idea of purchasing the team should they be put up for sale. The collection of investors, now called the Garvey-Hershier Group, has been assembled by Garvey in case owner Frank McCourt is forced to sell the team.
Major League Baseball is already running the day-to-day operations of the Dodgers and the league could force McCourt to sell the team if he fails to reach payroll. McCourt has been able to make the payments after much uncertainty the last two months.
“Garvey approached me,” Hershiser, who is currently an analyst for ESPN. “We’ve always talked and communicated through the years. He was a little more of a role model for me, the way he did things. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ He’s been a good businessman.”
“When he called and said he wanted me to be part of this group, I said, ‘Garv, I’d always be interested in helping and doing something like this that would be a lot of fun.’ We’re forming a group that’s investigating situations as they arise. That would be very interesting for me.”
Hershiser spent the first 12 years of his playing career as a Dodger, winning the Cy Young Award and World Series MVP in 1988. Garvey has connections to billionaire Ron Burkle, part-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, to also be a possible partner.
Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban Notices Movement Asking Him “Save The Dodgers”
S.O.S. Mark
A Los Angeles Dodger fan has started a campaign to convince Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to buy the team from embattled owner Frank McCourt. The movement and the site (www.markcubansavethedodgers.com) has even gotten the attention of Cuban, according to site creator and Dodger fan Roger Arrieta.
“I actually heard back from Mark Cuban,” Arrieta said in a tweet. “He said he has seen the pics, didnt deny saying he wasnt interested, right now it’s Mavs time.”
Easy to understand where Cuban’s focus is right now as his Mavericks have advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in his ownership. But it’s also encouraging to see fans like Arrieta that are so passionate about their team that he isn’t going to sit on his hands while the McCourt’s destroy his team. He’s even seeking donations for a billboard to continue the push.
Good luck and hope all ends well for all Dodgers fans out there.
Los Angeles Dodgers May Not Make May Payroll
Your Fault
The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to lack the funds to meet their payroll obligations in May, which could accelerate Major League Baseball’s seizure of the club. The Los Angeles Times reported that a $30 million loan from FOX, which raised the ire of Commissioner Bud Selig and prompted him to take over the club’s day-to-day operations, covered the April payroll and the first obligation in May. But according to people the Times cited familiar with the situation, the club lacks the cash for the second May payroll obligation, which could prompt MLB to cover the payment for Frank McCourt and seize the team.
The commissioner’s office effectively took control of the team on April 20, and Tom Schieffer, the former Texas Rangers president, appointed by Selig must approve any transaction over $5,000. MLB is investigating the finances of the team and related entities since McCourt bought the Dodgers from the FOX division of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. in 2004.
Based on an opening-day payroll of $103.8 million, the Dodgers payroll for its major league roster in the second half of May will be approximately $8.25 million. The figure includes 16 days salary, but not any signing bonus payments that happen to fall due.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Frank & Jamie McCourt
Frank & Jamie McCourt
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to Frank and Jamie McCourt owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers for leading the franchise into a dire straight that Major League Baseball needs to step in and assuming control of day to fay operations. The fighting over this storied franchise has consumed the Dodgers since Jamie McCourt filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage in October 2009 one week after her husband fired her as the team’s chief executive. Frank McCourt accused Jamie of having an affair with her bodyguard-driver and performing poorly at work.
Back in December a judge invalidated a March 2004 postnuptial agreement giving Frank McCourt sole ownership of the team allowing Jamie to seek one half of the franchise. This has caused Frank McCourt to seek out loans, most notably the cable carrier and previous owner FOX television. Since the court proceeding of the divorice4 between the two McCourt’s payroll has dropped in both 2010 and 2011.
Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership At Stake In McCourts Split Part IV
Off The Richter Scale
For awhile now on this site we have posted updates on the on-going divorce of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt now his ex-wife is accusing her ex-husband of making financial deals concerning the team behind her back in violation of a court order, according to a court filing.
Jamie McCourt filed court papers requesting a judge order Frank McCourt to turn over all documents about team finances after reading in the Los Angeles Times about a $200 million loan that Frank McCourt tried to secure from Fox Television against the team’s cable TV rights.
“It is outrageous that Jamie and her counsel have to rely upon the news media for information that Frank is affirmatively obligated under California law to provide before the fact,” stated the filing by attorney Michael J. Kump, who represents Jamie McCourt.
Jamie McCourt, who is seeking half ownership of the team under California community property law, maintains she has a right to know about all its financial dealings as any “non-marital business partner” would. But Frank McCourt, who maintains the team is his property alone, said his ex-wife has agreed that he is the designated control person in charge of running the team’s business operations.
In a Feb. 16. letter to Kump, lawyer Sorrell Trope, who represents Frank McCourt, said his client will give his ex-wife the information she is entitled to, but “her rights are not nearly as broad as you characterize.” A judge in December threw out a 2004 marital property agreement that gave Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers, clearing the way for Jamie McCourt to seek half the team.
Jamie McCourt served as the Dodgers’ CEO until her then-husband fired her in 2009 and she filed for divorce, ending a 30-year marriage. The court filing stems from a Feb. 25 Times story that stated Fox had agreed to lend McCourt $200 million under the condition that, if McCourt defaulted, Fox’s TV contract would be extended at below-market rates for up to four years.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig rejected the deal, “a clear sign that Frank’s actions were deemed to be not in the best interests of the franchise,” Jamie McCourt’s court filing stated. Since Jamie McCourt has a presumptive 50 percent interest in the Dodgers and other McCourt assets, she is entitled to all information that could affect those assets, the court papers state.
In a letter included as an exhibit with the court filing, Trope wrote that Frank McCourt rejects the notion that his ex-wife has a 50 percent presumptive interest. He scheduled a March 4 meeting between the parties to discuss the terms of the information exchange.
“Frank has fully complied, and will continue to comply, with his obligations to Jamie, and he expects Jamie to fully comply with her obligations to him,” said Ryan Kirkpatrick, an attorney for Frank McCourt.
Los Angeles Dodgers Fans Boo Owner During Joe Torre’s Farewell Speech
When Joe Torre ended his Los Angeles Dodgers after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Sunday he gave a farewell speech to some 20,000 fans in attendance. In his farewell speech he tanked owner Frank McCourt, which drew a round of boos from the crowd.
Frank is going through a highly publicized divorce with Jamie McCourt that has the two fighting over custody of the team, in which we’ve come to find out that they have taken millions out of the team to finance their personal lifestyle. All this while charging fans doubled ticket prices, doubled parking prices, hired a psychic for hundreds of thousands per season, paid their sons hundreds of thousands for not working for the team, and took over $100 million from the franchise for themselves.
Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership At Stake In McCourts Split Part III
Off The Richter Scale
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to pay his estranged wife, Jamie, $637,159 a month in temporary spousal support, plus lawyers fees pending their divorce.
The amount that Judge Scott Gordon decided upon falls short of the $988,845 that Jamie McCourt requested. More than half that requested amount ($568,829), her lawyers said, is needed to pay the costs, including mortgages, of seven homes and an eighth piece of property in Mexico that are listed in her name. Her lawyers argued that spousal support should include those costs since her estranged husband used to contribute funds to the housing.
The judge specified that $412,159 of the monthly total should go to payment of costs associated with the properties, but ordered the property in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to be sold.
In the months since she made her lofty financial request, Jamie McCourt has been vilified in the court of public opinion and in the courtroom where her husband’s attorney, Sorrell Trope, likened her to Marie Antoinette.
Her lawyers argued that Frank McCourt has access to $18 million annually and should not withhold from his wife the funds she needs to maintain the lifestyle that they created together.
His lawyers on the other hand said the Dodgers franchise was not Frank McCourt’s “personal piggy bank” and that he only has an annual income of just $5 million.
The bigger source of conflict which still yet to be decided and could have major consequences outside their marriage is over ownership of the Dodgers.
Frank McCourt argues that he alone owns the baseball team. Jamie McCourt says they share ownership. The trial on that issue is scheduled to begin in late August.
Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership At Stake In McCourts Split Part II
Off The Richter Scale
Los Angeles Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce was anticpated to become rea; nasty and the begining is starting to reveal itself.
In court papers filed Monday, Jamie fired back at her estranged husband’s accusation of infidelity by alleging:
“Frank [and his lawyers]…make some hurtful and unnecessary personal comments about me,” she wrote. “I would prefer not to address such accusations or to discuss my belief as to Frank’s extramarital activities.”
Monday’s filing, submitted in advance of next week’s court hearing on temporary spousal support, comes five months after Frank said he fired Jamie as the Dodgers chief executive largely because of her alleged affair with her driver.
Jamie has argued for nearly $1 million per month plus $9 million in fees for attorneys and accountants handling the divorce case. Frank has argued that she can support herself and pay her bills pending trial without contribution from him.
Her lawyers further argue that Frank hopes to pin her in a financial position so precarious that she would “cave into his demands and relinquish any claim to the overwhelming bulk of the marital estate, including the Dodgers.”
Jamie hopes to persuade the court to invalidate a marital property agreement that provided her with sole ownership of the couple’s residential properties and provided him with sole ownership of the team.
Her lawyers reiterated that she is entitled to maintain her pre-separation lifestyle pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings, noting that the couple customarily stayed in five-star hotels, ordered bottles of wine costing $100 or more at restaurants and regularly used limousines and private jets. The McCourts also “had their hair done by a hair stylist, who came on an almost daily basis to whichever residence they were then staying.”
The most recent filings also shed some light on the final months of a marriage that lasted almost 30 years. Frank’s last filing included a copy of e-mails between Jamie and Jeff Fuller, the driver with whom she allegedly had an affair, in which Fuller wrote, “He heard us talking” and she replied, “Don’t think so.”
In an interview recently Frank said,
“It’s tough. I’m not going to lie to you,” he says. “It’s a very, very sad thing. Nobody wants to go through this privately, never mind publicly.”
“But in L.A., so much of it is about drama. L.A. is so much about personalities. It’s just how the city functions. This is a juicy story for people until it’s not juicy anymore. Then, they move on to somebody else’s story. Tiger Woods was fantastic for me”
This is a real life version of “The War of the Roses” and the divorce surley has Dodgers fans fearing that this could could ruin their franchise, for which McCourt paid $430 million in 2004. Definitely why manager Joe Torre has been unwilling to discuss contract extensions with the Dodgers.
Dodgers fans are wary, knowing their division foes were hit hard by the divorce of San Diego Padres owners John and Becky Moores last season in which they were forced to sell the club, and the Padres went into a garage sell with their players. They are projected to open the season with a major league-low $40 million payroll.
Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership At Stake In McCourts Split
Off The Richter Scale
There’s a shakeup going down in Los Angeles and it has nothing to do with an earthquake. You’re about to witness the beginnings of a complete implosion of one of baseball’s most storied franchises. The collapse unfolding is of the Los Angeles Dodgers and it comes down to a case of two powerful individuals whose marriage is heading for divorce court and it will be a nasty one.
Frank and Jamie McCourt made their separation public on the eve of the Dodgers beginning the National League Championship Series. There’s been tension been in the Dodgers front office long before and has been described by one front office employee as “walking on eggshells.”
The separation of the McCourts could lead to the sale of the Dodgers, as was the case of the forced sale of the San Diego Padres when then owner John Moores divorced his wife of 45 years, Becky. The two owned 90 percent of the Padres, but based upon community property laws in the state of California, Becky shared 50 percent of the assets with John.
A lawyer for Jamie McCourt announced that she had been fired from Dodgers on Thursday by estranged husband, Frank who in March had been promoted to CEO of the organization, making her the highest-ranking woman executive in Major League Baseball.
“Jamie is disappointed and saddened by her termination,” Wasser said. “As co-owner of the Dodgers, she will address this and all other issues in the courtroom. We are confident that if the ownership issue must be adjudicated, the Dodgers will be determined to be community property owned 50 percent by each of the McCourts.”
This will handcuff the Dodgers, as it did the Padres, and team personal know it such as Dr. Charles Steinberg, chief of marketing for the Dodgers, who is headed to the Red Sox.
How long before others decided to fly the coop? Will 90090 go up for sale? What is known is Dodgertown life will be that of uncertainty.
