Frank McCourt on Dodgers: "Nobody is going to take them away"
Frank McCourt declared war on Major League Baseball on Wednesday, forcefully rejecting what he said was the league's effort to oust him as the Dodgers' owner.
"Nobody handed the Dodgers to me," McCourt said. "Nobody is going to take them away."
In a meeting with baseball officials in New York, McCourt was told that Commissioner Bud Selig had rejected the television contract with Fox that McCourt had presented as the solution to the Dodgers' long-term financial challenges. McCourt said in a subsequent news conference that the contract met with baseball's guidelines -- and in fact had been revised to satisfy the league's concerns -- and that Selig rejected the deal only as a means of forcing him out.
McCourt called the Dodgers' television rights "our asset" and said it was "un-American" that he could not control that asset.
"It is not appropriate for one party's property to be seized by another party," McCourt said, "just because they got divorced or for some arbitrary reason."
That language suggests strongly that a lawsuit from McCourt is imminent, although McCourt declined to discuss that prospect Wednesday. McCourt and other incoming owners sign an agreement that acknowledges the commissioner's authority to act in the best interests of baseball and waive the right to sue. To prevail in court, McCourt would have to show that Selig abused his power by acting arbitrarily and capriciously.
McCourt had met with officials from the commissioner's office -- led by executive vice president Rob Manfred, the commissioner's point man on the Dodgers situation -- but not with Selig himself.
"I suspect the commissioner calls the other 29 owners back when they call," McCourt said.
McCourt said he had been told during Wednesday's meeting that Tom Schieffer, the trustee appointed by Selig on Monday to run the Dodgers, would act as "nothing short of a receiver, somebody coming in to run my business. I'm not going to accept that."
McCourt held his news conference at the New York office of a firm specializing in "strategic, corporate and financial communications." The event started 15 minutes before Schieffer was set to hold an introductory news conference at a Los Angeles airport hotel. Schieffer delayed the start of his conference by 30 minutes, waiting until McCourt's had finished.
RELATED:
MLB statement regarding Dodgers oversight
Frank McCourt to make longshot pitch to baseball officials
Dodgers beat Marlins in 10 innings on Andre Ethier's home run
-- Bill Shaikin
Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt speaks to reporters after meeting with Major League Baseball executives, Wednesday in New York. Credit: Mary Altaffer / AP
What a nasty little man McCourt is. Well, the line in the sand has been drawn. Let the games begin.
Posted by: Labeldude | 04/27/2011 at 04:19 PM
We must boycott them in order to put the Dodgers in such a state, that no viability remains if McCourt were to get them back.
Posted by: KC | 04/27/2011 at 04:40 PM
The delusions of McCrap continues. There is no end to this creep other than using our second amendment rights.
Posted by: KoufaxFan | 04/27/2011 at 04:48 PM
McCourt the modern day Al Davis!!! Nobody likes you just give up already
Posted by: David | 04/27/2011 at 05:00 PM
Can you say "boycott"?
Posted by: Garrett | 04/27/2011 at 05:07 PM
Frank,
You sound like a fool! Leave with some grace! MLB and Dodgers fans want you out.
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | 04/27/2011 at 05:07 PM
It's a shame but we must stay away. Our message has been heard so far. Let's keep it going. Frank McCourt suffers from delusions of grandeur and the fact that he cannot realize that Los Angeles hates him and everyone in Baseball hates him and wants him gone is amazing.
Using Los Angeles' Baseball team to buy you a mansion or twelve is un-American Frank! There is a great saying that says, "those who live in glass houses should not throw stones". You sir, are a crook and a fraud.
SELL THE DODGERS!!!
Posted by: Hal Hefner | 04/27/2011 at 05:10 PM
Frank McCourt is in full panic mode knowing all the rest of his dirty secrets are about to be exposed by MLB/Tom Schieffer. McCourt made his bed and continues to "lie" in it.
Posted by: Skyharbor | 04/27/2011 at 05:17 PM
Let the games begin!
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/27/2011 at 05:34 PM
um, the Dodgers were handed to you, Mr. McCourt by News. Corp. They also gave you a loan to help seal the deal..
Plenty of people can take away the Dodgers from you, Mr. McCourt, given you put pretty much all the assets of the club and organization up for loans, like the parking lots you used for loans to fund your lifestyle and buy prime real estate at the top of the bubble. You put up the ticket and gate receipts as collateral for more loans. You even put up Dodger Stadium for a $250 million/25 year loan for something like, 5.6% interest a year.
You deferred player salaries that you are paying players years after they played for the Dodgers.
You live in a community property state, in which your former wife is entitled to half your assets and vice a versa. So technically, half of your money is your wife’s money, all the appeals in the world isn’t going to change the law of overturned Judge Gordon’s opinion on the post nupital agreement
Face it, the game is up. Whining isn’t to pay the bills or run the team.
Posted by: tarit | 04/27/2011 at 05:36 PM
The Dodgers are not the USS Caine. But if frankie continues to act like Captain Queeg then we as the other people on the Caine, have got to revolt and mutinize (sic) by eating his his strawberries. We do that by continuing to boycott the Dodgers. He was born to insult people and he has certainly insulted LOS ANGELES AND DODGER FANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WHERE IS SHARON ENGLE WHEN WE NEED HER MOST.....
Posted by: Jim Mcveigh | 04/27/2011 at 05:45 PM
"I suspect the commissioner calls the other 29 owners back when they call," McCourt said.
DuhhhhhhYUP!
Posted by: Native Angeleno | 04/27/2011 at 06:14 PM
McCourt's continuing ownership is not in the interest of Major League Baseball.
Period, paragraph.
Boycott.
Posted by: Striker | 04/27/2011 at 06:58 PM
"It is not appropriate for one party's property to be seized by another party," McCourt said.
.
Says who?
.
I took over GM.
Posted by: Obama | 04/27/2011 at 07:11 PM
The commissioner IS acting resposibly! he's taking back a baseball francise HE handed to you in'04,when the Commish should have sold the Franchise to local real estate stud, Eli Broad! Mr. Broad had more than enough capitol to purchase and run a franchise,and probably would have run it more intelleigently than you ,Mr. McCourt !Selig was acting on behalf of Fox /News group, so that they would'nt lose the Dodgers broadcasting rights.
Posted by: bigtonymel | 04/27/2011 at 07:39 PM
McCourt is about to go Dodger Cholo on Selig...LOOK OUT!!!!!
Posted by: LA42 | 04/27/2011 at 08:16 PM
Frank McCourt has to be one of the most self-absorbed, most stubborn and most deluded sleaze buckets on the face of the earth. The only other person I can think of who might be worse is Gadhafi, and that's only because he runs an entire country.
McCourt, GET PERMANENTLY LOST!
Posted by: K | 04/27/2011 at 08:18 PM
go away frank. just go away.
Posted by: alanw19 | 04/27/2011 at 08:46 PM
There is a god!
Posted by: K | 04/27/2011 at 08:49 PM
GIVE IT UP, LOSER.
Posted by: FormerLifelongDodgerFan | 04/27/2011 at 09:52 PM
Payday for the Dodgers Saturday? Will frank be able?
Posted by: alanw19 | 04/28/2011 at 03:53 AM
Like any Dodger fan with a brain, I fully and completely support the Commissioner of Baseball in this effort.
Frank McCourt, you are the most despised man in recent history, and you and your nasty wife deserved each other.
Posted by: Airedale | 04/28/2011 at 04:54 AM
Frank, I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me that this is nothing more than a version of "eminent domain". MLB is not acting "arbitrarily" or capriciously. Back in your parking-lot days, if the city or state wanted one of them to build a freeway through, or waste-treatment plant on, or whatever, they would have done it...for the "greater good." That's basically all Bud and MLB are doing, and if you weren't so delusional, you would also realize he probably wouldn't be doing without the consent of the other 29 owners.
Posted by: jim c. | 04/28/2011 at 07:37 AM
really frank?
mlb GAVE you the franchise (since you put in no money) and now they will
TAKE it away. i'm betting you'll never own another team and MLB will be happy with that end.
they'll probably sell the team for more than your poor business sense would get for it anyway.
good riddance to you and your ex.
Posted by: Blue Dodger Fan | 04/28/2011 at 07:41 AM
Frank:
Don't go away mad...
Just GO AWAY!
Posted by: Jeff | 04/28/2011 at 08:13 AM
McCourt is no Al Davis. Davis loves his team and founded and built it, and won 3 championships. McDivorce just won the western division a few times. He needed a loan to pay his team, how's he gonna pay to settle his divorce? And how will he pay for all that litigation if he sues baseball? The guy's living in a fantasy world.
Posted by: Justin | 04/28/2011 at 08:20 AM
"Nobody handed the Dodgers to me," McCourt said. "Nobody is going to take them away."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually the Dodgers were handed to you by Fox and MLB.
But unlike the rest of the people who got 0% down loans, you're not underwater and can cash out for a nice profit.
NO ONE LIKES YOU MCCOURT. NOT DODGER FANS AND NOT THE OTHER OWNERS.
Just cash out and leave so we can get an owner that actually comprehends what the Dodgers means and doesn't have the mentality of a small market owner. Newsflash McCourt, Los Angeles is the 2nd biggest market in the country. And somehow the Twins outspend us?
Posted by: Lou | 04/28/2011 at 08:51 AM
Hey Frank - noticed your son went to New York w/you. Bonding time or was this to justify his salary on the payroll. Not only am I boycotting your parking lot, Stadium & ball club, but I'm boycotting the RC Quakes who must love being associated w/the Dodgers now.
Somewhere Donald Sterling is smiling because you make him look competent. PLEASE slink away from LA Frank like Georgia and Al did.
Posted by: formerCelt AD | 04/28/2011 at 09:33 AM
The other 29 owners didn't rape their teams of some of their operating capital like you and your wife did, and let's not forget your spoiled kids who get Dodger money for doing nothing. The other 29 owners acted in good faith and tried the best they could to build a winner, while you and the Mrs took Dodger operating capital and bought other things that you couldn't afford without pillaging the Dodgers. The fans have the last say, that you forgot. Stay away until the McCourt virus is gone for good!
Posted by: McCourt blows | 04/28/2011 at 09:44 AM
Oh Frank! Baseball 101 -- No whining.
Posted by: Skyharbor | 04/28/2011 at 09:46 AM
Dear Frank --
As the say in baseball, "Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night." You've just struck out, so take a seat and shut up.
Posted by: Since '58 | 04/28/2011 at 10:45 AM
Doesn't Frankie own the operating rights to the L.A. Marathon? Did he use Dodger money acquire that? If we really want him out, let's boycott the marathon too!
Posted by: REA | 04/28/2011 at 12:16 PM
Why don't you just leave now, Frank, while you still have your dignity and self-respect.
Oops. Too late.
Posted by: BlueinAZ | 04/28/2011 at 03:33 PM
Go away Frank, you bother me!
You're a crook that belongs in an orange jump suit instead of your fancy suits. I hope when you and partner in fraud of an ex-wife lose the Dodgers you both wind up flat broke. -- Neither one of you deserve anything except for one another.
Posted by: Luther | 04/28/2011 at 06:03 PM
Look here Mr Parking lot Attendant boy(McBroke), the jig is up!! The party is now officially over(thank God)!! Face it, you are thru, finished! Everybody now knows what kind of a person you are, a complete and total broke, loser!! Everyone and I do mean EVERYONE now knows that the only lifeline you have left is to try and siphon the Dodgers' broadcast rights from FOX in order to stay afloat and not go belly-up! Luckily, the Commissioner was able to sniff that out in time and not let you mortgage "OUR" teams' future!!! Get LOST!!!!
Posted by: santuri1 | 04/28/2011 at 11:58 PM