Now the attorney general's office is investigating the Dodgers, and rightly so

The Dodgers are undergoing the biggest trial in team history, but that’s hardly the end to the team’s legal problems.

Nothing is more important to the Dodgers than determining team ownership, but an investigation by the California attorney general’s office is hardly insignificant.

But that’s what is happening, one more black mark on the McCourt ownership that hardly needs another.

This one, though, is a real low. Not just another money-juggling act by the club but one that may have impacted a team charity in an unscrupulous manner.

The attorney general’s office is investigating the compensation the Dodgers Dream Foundation made to club executive Howard Sunkin, who is an advisor / lobbyist / assistant for Frank McCourt.

The investigation centers on the $400,000 in salary Sunkin received from the charitable foundation in 2007, which was a quarter of the charity’s entire budget.

I’ve written that a few times now and still have trouble believing it. Not that anyone is denying it.

The attorney general’s office has sent a letter to the Dodgers requesting several documents and answers to questions as to how the charity paid Sunkin.

The inquiry comes almost two months after the New York Times reported the stunning compensation. The Times said a salary of $400,000 was more in line for someone running a $100-million charity.

The Dodgers have acknowledged receiving the letter from the attorney general’s office and said they are fully cooperating with the investigation.

Like what else are they going to do?

There have been plenty of organizational mistakes made the last few years, but this one feels just plain sleazy. This one has earned an investigation.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

So now its come down to this. The Fish Rots From the Head, my friend.

[Herschel Greenspan]

McCourt is no better than a crooked preacher. I would love to see Frankie in handcuffs.

[Harpo JB]

Boy, did the McCourts get taken!
 
They could have hired me to mismanage the Foundation for around a hundred grand a year plus a pair of season tickets.
 

[Since '58]

I'm not surprised by this investigation. Things are just going to get sleazier and sleazier. Between this and the divorce, we're going to get a good look into the "business" dealings of Frank and Jamie McCourt and Company. Of course, Frank could always offer free Dodger tickets to the Attorney General's Office. By the way Steve, why hasn't The Times followed up on T.J. Simers' revelations on this scam yet? Is Carla Hall too busy covering the divorce trial to do the follow up of her own naive article?

[Herschel Greenspan]

Frank McCourt, making money the old fashioned way by cheating not only the fans but clearly but also the US and California. Here is a fun fact from the NYT article,"Lawyers for Jamie McCourt said in divorce filings that the Dodgers were paying two of the McCourts' sons salaries totaling $600,000 a year even though one had another full-time job and the other was attending graduate school. The filings said the McCourts had not paid federal or state income taxes since 2004 and had used millions in team money to finance their lifestyles, including taking out $390 million in loans against future ticket revenue. "

[dino]

sleazy times created by sleazy people motivated by greed. It's so prevalent everywhere you look.

[Native Angeleno]

Can we all say it out loud-----Dodgergate?

Trouble is, which scandal?

Next up: An investigation of Bud Selig, to find out what he took to approve the franchise for the McCourts.

[skyharbor]

Likely the beginning of a parade of government investigations that I wouldn't wish on anyone...........except the McCourts.

[Phillip]

BOYCOTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[whamo]

Send them back to Boston!

[Dodger Dude]

I stand corrected. Now that I look at it, Ruppert wasn't the worst thing that ever happened to the Dodgers! As a True Blue Fan I need to remember I am rooting for the players and an organization in the past that wanted to win for the fans and not just for a bigger pay day!

[Tony B]

No wonder MLB turned them down when they tried to buy the Red Sox. The fans that knew them in Boston would've rioted. Now, we're stuck with them. Thank's Bud. Another job not well done.

[Welcome2BigHouse]

GREAT NEWS, & about freaking time, as what took them so long!!!!!.........would be absolutely GREAT if the gov't. threw the whole lot of these bums into big-house, for abt the neXt 100yrs!!!
(& maybe also a few of the players, on "impersonating professional ballplayers" charges!!!)

[Eddie]

HarpoJB...hahaha I thought the exact same thing!!

[WTB]

Come on Mark Cuban !!!! Come and save the Dodgers !!!!!

[Dodger Fan]

After reading this post and Bill Shaikin's article this morning, it is imperative that baseball steps in and insist that the Dodgers are sold. They never should have been allowed to buy the team in the first place and how baseball (i.e. Bud Selig) allowed it to happen we'll never know. Well its time to eliminate the problem. The McCourts have to go! Even if Mr. McCourt wins he should be told he is no longer welcome by Major Baseball and he has to sell the team. If she wins and tries to buy the team MLB should just say no.

The McCourts are nothing but egotistical, narcissistic carpetbaggers and this divorce proceeding is just showing us how much they have damaged a city treasure to further their personal selfish agenda.

[K]

Herschel Greenspan said, "McCourt is no better than a crooked preacher. I would love to see Frankie in handcuffs."

That's the first thing that occurred to me after reading this piece. Frank McCourt is unquestionably a conman and probably deserves prison time for some of the shafts he's been pulling.

[Harpo JB]

Quoting Dodger Fan | 09/02/2010 at 09:38 AM
 
"egotistical, narcissistic carpetbaggers ... damaged a city treasure to further their personal selfish agenda."
 
If you change the word "damaged" to "hijacked", you just described Walter O'Malley, as seen through the eyes of Brooklyn Dodgers fans.
 

[Louis]

MLB HATES THE LA DODGERS.

MLB SELLS TO A FIFTH RATE MARKET OWNER (EAST COAST CROOK).

WIFE AND HUSBAND OWNERS USE TEAM AS A TAX SHELTER.

WIFE AND HUSBAND - GET KENT AND BARBY CALIF FACIALS.

WIFE AND HUSTAND CHEAT ON EACH OTHER.

WIFE AND HUSBAND DIVORCE.

LA DODGER ORGANIZATION ON THE EDGE OF DESCTRUCTION
...GOD SAVE THE LA DODGERS!

[Louis]

ONE LAST THING.

BOYCOTT TILL THE MCCOURTS SELL.

THIS IS THE ONLY TOOL WE LA DODGERS FANS HAVE.

I'VE SPENT ZERO DOLLARS THIS YEARS ON THE DODGES. Last year I spent, easy 3-4K on tickets ( playoffs, food, beer, games, ect )

BOYCOTT TILL THE MCCOURTS LOOSE THEIR TANS......