....and I couldn't be happier! Major League Baseball is taking over the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team financially paralyzed by the divorce of its owners. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig says in a release Wednesday that he will appoint a representative to oversee the "business and the day-to-day operations of the Club." Selig says he took action "because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers." http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2011/04/selig-confirms-appointment-of-dodgers-trustee-investigation-into-club-finances.html
Yet another stain on one of the greatest franchises in MLB history. Frank McCourt needs to take his sorry ass and kick it all the way back to Boston. The team is a mess. The stadium is a mess. McCourt's finances and divorce are a mess. Sell the team back to Fox and get the hell out of town.
http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktla-mlb-takes-over-dodgers,0,3554339.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Ktxl-Fox40NewsAtTen+%28KTXL+-+FOX40+News+at+Ten%29 LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers owner Frank McCourt expressed disbelief over today's decision by Major League Baseball to appoint a trustee to oversee the team's day to day operations and investigate the club's finances. "Major League Baseball sets strict financial guidelines which all 30 teams must follow," McCourt said in a statement Wednesday night. "The Dodgers are in compliance with these guidelines. On this basis, it is hard to understand the Commissioner's action today." --- Frank: Its because you're an aie-hole.
The only reason MLB let McCourt and her husband buy the Dodgers was to get Rupert Murdoch out. McCourt had to borrow almost all of the money for the purchase. Selig hated the Fox ownership. I'm not a huge fan of Selig but this is the most logical way to get the team on the market. Frank says that the Dodgers are within the financial guidelines of MLB?? Lol only with a $30 million loan from Fox just to make payroll!! He was trying to get $300 million in upfront money from Fox (TV deal) to run the team for a couple of years. While I am not a die hard Dodger fan I do have a soft spot for them. I hope Bud takes the time to find a new owner who will make them what they should be. I think they are the most under utilized franchise in baseball. They should be up there with the east coast teams in revenue and pay roll. MLB wants them to have their own TV network but Frank doesn't have the Capitol to start it. He was trying to extend the Fox deal becaus they were willing to write upfront checks to cover his current screw ups. By by Frankie. Good riddance!
is Mark Cuban still interested in an MLB franchise? I think he'd do well in LA. of course, Selig and the other owners don't like him...
I recall the ****storm in what - '03 or '04 . . . . . . and vaguely recall recent rumblings when Judge invalidated Nuptial Agreement$. Just uh, surprised uh, McCourt uh, didn't uh, "accidentally" uh, drown. Dodger assets [on paper] have actually substantially increased, haven't they?
I think McCourt and her husband paid $400 million. WHEN they sell I'm certain the auction will bring $800 million+. I believe the Red Sox deal was shortly after Jamie bought the Dodgers and doubled the purchase price. Cuban said he isn't interested in buying an MLB team anymore.
http://m.espn.go.com/wireless/story?storyId=6403609&top Nice ESPN story about McCourt and her husband. I guess Bud was trying to help Fox. Maybe it's just me who dislikes Rupert and Fox. Lol!
I am way more critical of Bud Selig than I should be, but good move on his part. Remember a few years back when MLB took control of the Expos in order to move them to DC? I wasn't a fan of that decision until a couple of years afterwards. I hate seeing MLB putting themselves into situations where they don't belong, but something had to be done, all because 2 people couldn't agree on being worth 800 million or ONLY 400 million. Now, the dodgers ain't moving, they already caused enough grief when they moved out of Brooklyn, which led to the mets, and now look at that ownership situation - that will be interesting, the Wilpons are spending all their cash fighting the madoff lawsuits, I'd imagine we may see another MLB intervention if they don't get their acts together and sell the team. With that being said - it's a sad state of affairs for those 2 teams, but at least my cardinals are on safe ground.
this article from earlier last week gives a pretty good explanation as to why selig rejected the deal: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=6672665 basically it would have been possible for the judge to force the mccourts to sell the team, and have the TV rights renegotiated for a below market value price, causing the rest of the league to suffer financially once the other teams' tv deals come up for renegotiation.
