It's not about the divorce, Frank, it's how you ran the club

There is no one on this planet you would wish divorce upon, and regardless of what you may think of them as owners, that includes Frank and Jamie McCourt.

As Frank made clear Wednesday in his amazing New York press conference, no matter the circumstances, it is a painful ordeal for all involved. And as he said, no doubt his was made even more so because it was so nakedly public.

Still, several times McCourt acted Wednesday as if all the troubles that have befallen him with Major League Baseball were because of his divorce.

Said McCourt on his un-American comment: "What I said was un-American was somebody’s property being seized unlawfully. There are core values in this country and fairness is one of them. Transparency is another. Private property is another. Thankfully, in this country it is not appropriate for one person’s property to be seized by somebody else just because they got divorced or just because of some arbitrary reasons."

On MLB not accepting his Fox deal: "I made the point very forcefully to them that although the divorce is unfortunate, it is no reason to turn down this transaction."

On his meeting with MLB executives: "Some of the comments that were made today, not by (Commissioner Bud Selig) but by others, would indicate a level of frustration with my divorce and the public nature of the divorce."

Except for MLB’s clear and appropriate concern with how he will pay off Jamie when they finally reach a divorce settlement, this is pure nonsense.

The divorce is not the cause of MLB’s concern with McCourt, it only brought to light how badly he has run the Dodgers. This is why he had the franchise placed under baseball’s control:

-- He reportedly siphoned off $108 million from the Dodgers for his and Jamie’s personal use. Anyway, that’s as much as we know about.

-- He used this to fund an extravagant lifestyle that included seven mansions, a private jet and weekly $150 haircuts.

-- He planned to cut payroll while anticipating that club revenue would go from $295 million in 2008 to $529 million by 2018.

-- He paid two of his sons $600,000 per year to work for the Dodgers, while one was at Stanford and the other worked at Goldman Sachs.

-- He used legal loopholes to avoid paying any federal or state income taxes for six consecutive years.

-- The Dodgers paid over six figures to a Russian psychic to send positive energy to the Dodgers from Boston.

-- The team charity, the Dodgers Dream Foundation, paid director Howard Sunkin over one-fourth of its annual budget in 2007 and is now under investigation by the state attorney general’s office; recently the Dodgers repaid the $400,000 to the charity.

-- He went four months without a Dodger Stadium security chief and then reacted slowly, and only after media and political pressure, when a Giants fan was seriously beaten in the parking lot on opening day.

-- The team has gone at least $433 million in debt.

Meanwhile, he’s raised prices on everything and still runs out of money. He went around baseball to take a $30-million personal loan from Foxto make payroll this month. And attendance is plummeting, as many fans have given up supporting McCourt.

Why would Selig approve this Fox deal for someone who has such a horrid history of running one of the greatest franchises in sport into an abysmal state?

And whether McCourt is willing to sign something saying he wouldn't use any of the new Fox money to pay off his wife, that money has to come from somewhere. As of this moment, Jamie is entitled to half the team’s assets.

Maybe divorce did change Frank; hope it did. But his personal history remains evidence to how he manages a ballclub.

And that very much justifies baseball’s actions.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers chairman and owner Frank McCourt, right, and his ex-wife, Jamie McCourt, left, meet and greet fans before a game at Dodger Stadium, July 4, 2006. Credit: Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[The Brooklyn Superbas]

Justifiable by Selig in my opinion. Mr. McCourt clearly has not had the team, the fans, or MLB's best interest at hear.

I say he is getting what he deserves, and it's about the fans got what we deserved as well... a change in ownership.

[Hilary]

The saddest day in Dodger history was when Peter O'Malley announced he would have to sell the club. The best day in the Dodger future will be when MLB announces the McCourts have sold the club.

[skyharbor]

Frank McCourt's resume looks more like a rap sheet. McCourt should take note of the adage "When you find yourself in a hole...stop digging." Sounds like McCourt has dug a hole deeper than any of us know...yet. His behavior suggests the walls are ready to cave in and bury him alive. Steve Soboroff is a grown man and it's his choice to be buried with you but geez Frank...show one scintilla of integrity and leave your kids out of it.

[Dodgerfan175]

Doesn't this guy understand that he is in a lose lose situation. Even if he did by some miracle convince the court to let him keep the team he would immediately become the most hated man in the world of baseball not to mention in L.A.

By working with Selig and selling the team he gets the best possible price and cashes out, seems like a no brainer.

[DrDodger]

In the history of the Dodgers...FOX was a burp...the McCourts flatulence....lets clear the air and get this show on the road.

[Lou]

Steve, good list but you left some things out

-nixed the deal to sign Vladimir Guerrero the first day he got here

-traded top prospect Carlos Santana just because he didn't want to pay Casey Blake's $2 million salary

-didn't offer Randy Wolf or Orlando Hudson arbritration because he didn't want to pay for 3 1st round picks

-killed the Dodgers international scouting program so they are at the bottom of the league in this. The same team that signed Fernando, Nomo, and Chan Ho are outspent internationally by the Twins.

-did not put a team around the young Dodgers nucleous and instead signed retreads.

[Dodgerfan]

He received a $30 million loan, he gave $20 mil to the Dodgers and kept 10 million for himself. How much do you think he has left? With at least 2 different legal teams, a soon to be ex-wife and an out of control lifestyle, 10 million won't last very long. It's hard to believe that his 'make believe empire' has lasted this long.

If Frank owned a Mac Donalds, Ronald would have foreclosed by now!

[jackal]

Now he (Frank) wants us to trust him. Come on Frank, were not stupid.
Earlier this month you took a $30 million personal loan from Fox to make payroll, but by your own account during your meeting with MLB it appears you only gave the Dodgers $20 million.

I'm not here to question what you did with the $10 million you kept for your self, but shouldn't you have given all the money to the Dodgers so you can make next month's payroll.

[Neil]

His wife should get $0.00 plus tax. Let her get a job. Greed, greed, greed.

[LBprGuy]

@Lou - GREAT additional list. You also might add:

- Built an entire season's marketing campaign around a 37-year-old left fielder not named Barry Bonds.

- Build an entire season's marketing campaign around the team's announcer ... who you aren't able to listen to at home games after 3 innings.

- Raised parking prices from $8 to $15 while adding a convoluted parking lot exit strategy that still confounds fans who have been going to the stadium for 50 years.

- Fired Ross Porter. Retained Steve Lyons. Hired the screaming guy who does Dodgers road games.

[john]

title of the article is wrong. it should be

It's not about the divorce, Frank, it's how you ran the club INTO THE GROUND.

[Dodger Fan]

Add this to the list - small, but $$ that dropped into McCourt's pockets:

- Last season, no MLB bloopers. Why? Even the Dodgers have to pay MLB to license footage. So they used free, public domain clips of kids and animal "bloopers" from the internet. What did this have to do with baseball? Beats me.

- Remember the "K" meter under the LED scoreboard? It's now wrapped as a Farmer John "ad space". Why? The board required maintenance($) and requires electricity to operate ($) - easier to wrap it in an ad and forget it was ever there.

- Notice how many new ads there are in the outfield? Dodger Stadium was a jewel - aging, but a jewel. Now it looks like a minor league ballpark, with ads for Indian casinos and other local/low-rent brands.

- What happened to the concessions? Philly Cheesesteak - gone. Other brands - gone. Philly Cheesesteak had an attendance requirement in their contract and the Dodgers weren't bringing in enough bodies, so they didn't need to open.

- Dodgers only report paid attendance, not actual bodies through the turnstile. Yes, Dodgers keep the $$ from ticket sales, but they lose food and concessions - which are at least 50 cents on the dollar of the ticket price.

Bottom line: McCourt runs a third class operation. I'm a season ticket holder and starting last year, I stopped buying any food or drink on principle. Why put another dime into those pockets? They took $100M of the fans money. Let them do something for the fans - Arte Moreno lowered beer prices. McCourt has raised the price of everything he can. No thank you, McCourt. Go home.

[Bill Consolo]

Hey Frank McCrook have you ever heard the old adage "what goes around comes around?" Better yet "You reap what you sow?" How funny and true it is that in Boston you were written up as someone "who could talk the talk but never walk the walk." Now we are supposed to feel sorry for you even though you brought those same snake oil business practices with you that have helped the early demise of The Dodger franchise. Sorry McCrook but the chickens have definitely come home to roost.
Before you invaded our city you had one shady venture or investment after another while shafting everyone you did business with in the wake. Also, you never invested one cent of your own money in The Dodgers so please don't say it's your money okay! In my opinion you and your entire family should be run out of town on a rail! Your best bet is to go find a carnival in need of a side show barker because that's where you belong. Hit the road!

[Tom Thompson]

Over and over and over again.... I see the same comments by the same people saying how much they hate Frank McCourt for the way he took this "Proud" Dodger franchise and destroyed it. I just don't get it. Would someone please tell me how taking a team that hadn't seen the post season in close to 20 years and getting them there 4 out 6 years is "destroying" the franchise? Can someone please explain why a guy who bowed to fan pressure and signed Mrs Rameriz to a 2 year $45 million dollar contract was being a greedy slimeball? I keep hearing about how he "took" $100 million dollars from the team, but that was over a period of 7 years and when you look at the amount of money he paid for the team that works out to about a 3% annual return on his investment. He increased the payroll from day one and even last year when his on the field payroll was "only" about $85 million, it was still among the top 5 teams in baseball. Like I said.... I don't get it. Sorry folks... say what you want. It IS about the divorce and if you think the financial revelations coming from that are shocking.... wait and see how shocking the revelations are when the discovery procedures start in McCourt v. MLB and everyone finds out just how much the other team owners take home. Heck... there are a number of teams out there who pick up more money in revenue transfers than they pay out in payroll altogether. Everyone needs to remember that Bud Selig & all 29 other owners signed off on Frank's purchase of the team. The only thing that has changed since then is the Dodgers record, which is far better now than it was then.

[campc4]

This guy is now being sued by a hair stylist in LA, this is no joke, he failed to pay his hair bill!

[CMM]

And don't forget McCourt's promises to upgrade the Lodge and Reserve levels. My lodge tickets have gone from $36.00 to $100.00 under McCourt but other than change the seats, nothing has been done on my level. The bathrooms are the same, the same crappy sound system is in place, the concession lines are 2 innings long at a big crowd game. It is harder to drive out of the park than before McCourt owned the team. (Sometimes 2 hour in the car long)
I used to pay $200.00 yearly for Stadium Club access now it is $1200.00. In the passed we would rub elbows with Dodger Greats there Koufax, Cey etc. Now McCourt has added the dugout club and my experience costs more and delivers much less.
I doubt McCourt has even walked around the venue other than his small isolated area during a game. He has no idea how many times I have to nearly get into it with drunks who wont stop cursing around my guests. It is pathetic. Now we fans are supposed to call and report a problem. There was a time when the culture was of a family place and it was Blue Heaven. I have seen it become dangerous under this clown's ownership. And I am in good seats, what is it like on the Top Deck?
If my father was not as old as he is I would have let the seats go until new ownership, but it is the place that makes him 20 years younger. A place where I the liberal and my father the conservative can go and enjoy Dodger Baseball. I curse McCourt for stealing some good times from us.
Alas let us not forget another fine Move McCourt made. He changed the seat colors back to the original pastels. The reason they changed them to dark blue, orange and red was because you can't see the ball come off the bat with light yellow seats. Now we have fielders who are at a disadvantage in their home park. That was one more pricey stupid move.
Just get McCourt out of LA.

[Chris]

Thank you for that article. Truly amazing list of irresponsibility toward the Dodger tradition, the fans and the players and coaches on the field. Cannot wait for the day a new owner arrives. It cannot come fast enough.

[68elcamino427]

So McMoney?
Now you care?
Now you are suddenly credible?
Lots Of Laughs!

[Dylan]

Typical......new young money think they can do what has been done in the past...and really have no idea....you should of bought someone else...not one of two teams from Baseballs Holy Grail.

You'll never work in this town again sucka.

[Dan]

I went to a game this year and they ran out of Dodger Dogs by the 8th inning! I was sitting in the Loge. Is McCourt that broke? I couldn't believe they didn't have Dodger Dogs. McBroke prob has a quota. What a cheapa$$.

[Blueeyedgal]

The rifling of the Dodgers Dream foundation, the ridiculous sums paid to his sons, and the millions of dollars worth of mansions he'd bought on MY money are why I did not renew my season tickets in 2010 and haven't been to a Dodger game since the last day of 2009, although I've only missed watching or listening to about 5 games during that stretch.

My disgust had NOTHING to do with the divorce, except for the fact that it was the mechanism through which all this financial greed was uncovered.

[Blueeyedgal]

Lou, while we're at it, let's add:

-- renegged on the Dodgers' agreement with Vero Beach, in which the Dodgers promised to stay in Vero Beach if the city bought the whole facility at taxpayers' expense and then leased it back to the team for $1 a year. That dirty bit of blackmail was Fox's doing. But McCourt drove the dagger into the same wound by breaking the agreement and killing Dodgertown, hoping to gouge us for more money by moving the team to a shared facility with the Sox.

[MaxWest27]

Would be interesting to identify the 10 signatures on Steve Soboroff's ill fated op-ed piece submitted to the Times last year promoting Frank McCourt. Who are these 10 supposed "civic leaders" that comprise the good 'ol boys club.

[The Brooklyn Superbas]

Tom Thompson,

A lot of that success was DESPITE Frank Mccourt. In a relatively short time, 7 years, he made the front office a laughingstock. Let's not forget when the Boys were so close to taking it to the next level, Frank refused to spend on a pitching ace. Why??? Where was the money???

[California Sun]

Hilary hit the nail on the head.

[jason]

Tom..If you know anything about the Dodgers you would know that the team full of prospects was intact before McCourt bought the team. Dan Evans, then the GM was doing a heck of a job and was fired. He and Logan White were responsible for loading up the system. Kemp, Kershaw, Billingsley, Loney, Martin and another 60 players who have been traded away. Do you really think he had a hand in player personel choices other than limiting what our GM's could do? The Dodgers used to put money back into the farm and international scouting and all that has gone by the wayside, why do u think Coletti has to make desperation trades and such over and over again. It's also why Coletti has not had high end prospects to really make impactful trades..The roster, aside from those young players who were in the system before McCourt arrived are turned over year by year. There is no franchise player the team is being built around. Our biggest trade was a player who came free and then a player resigned simply for the gate and not really for the betterment of the team (Manny). The GM has overpaid for B, C and D level free agents just to keep things interesting. Much of the reason we made the playoffs was a weak NL West. And then we were swept aside by other teams never even making a legit threat at a WS...And alot of these guys were still paying for cause Ned had to defer payments over years. Jones, Nomar, Manny..u take them off the books and our payroll is less than the Twins. Does this excite you?? He has done all this while trashing Dodger tradition. Even now, today..Why can't he say to the press..this ownership stuff is private and business, what I am excited for and what I want to talk about is Andre Ethier's 24 game hit streak! How about that, it's incredible! 24 straight..OR DOES HE EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT???

[Mulholland]

What is this?!

"Peter O'Malley and 2 investors are in place to purchase the Dodgers."

http://www.am570radio.com/pages/vassegh.html?article=8502302

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

Jamie McCourt also ran the club.
Jamie McCourt found and used Vladimr Schpunt for her own eye problem then unleashed him on Jason Werth's broken wrist.
Jamie McCourt is co-owner of the club.
Jamie McCourt explored a run for the Presidency of the United States.
Jamie McCourt bought all those houses.
Jamie McCourt took the Dodgers names off their backs, changed her mind and wanted to put them back, the league said no, not for a year.
Jamie McCourt repainted the Dodger seats pastel yellow as they were originally. The reason they were changed originally is that our outfielders could not pick up the ball. When our outfielders complained under Jamie McCourt's rule she let them remain pastel yellow.
Jamie McCourt put a woman trainer in the dugout simply because she was a woman.
Jamie McCourt committed adultery with her security guard Jeff Fuller then flagrantly flaunted Fuller in Frank's face game after game after game. ( I personally saw them canoodling on the escalator way before the scandal broke and pointed out to my friends that they were having an illicit affair - one year before the divorce announcement. )

Is Frank McCourt ultimately responsible? Yes. But surprisingly this wicked witch of the Western division has somehow disappeared from media view as well as media scrutiny.

[StanL]

Just wondering.
Are those two clowns that do the Dodgers pre and post game show going to have the new overseer on their show like they did the McCourt kowtowing at the start of the season?

[neoncactus]

I get that we have made the postseason several times under McCourt, and that just makes him a better owner than Fox, which few would dispute. But I can't get over thinking why is he now opening his mouth and apologizing to the fans and asking for a second chance when he could have done that at any point over the past year? Why was he so silent then. Ask him about the Dodgers and all he'd do is point at the postseason record. No apologies, no asking for forgiveness. My guess was that he didn't want to say anything that Jamie could use against him in court...which I also would guess why Selig is ducking his calls, especially when Frank and MLB reps have significantly different versions of their meeting.

They've divided the Dodgers and had one division paying rent to another, they were paying their sons for doing nothing (so sorry, Drew, by taking your allowance money for work you didn't do, you're a crook too). There is no way a team like the Dodgers should plan for a starting left field platoon of Gibbons/Thames. Not to say they should have overpaid for Crawford or Werth, but there were better options out there. McCourt finally sees the writing on the wall and now he comes back pleading to the fans? I don't believe him for one second.

[Airedale]

Steve,
Thank you for the great article. You and your readers nailed the valid reasons that the McCourts need to move along and let solvent ownership take control of the team.

[Joe McIntire]

Dear Frank: May be you should consult your attorneys about your franchise agreement with MLB before you make such moronic comments. You lost great people who were loyal players as well as worked for the Dodgers long before Frankenstein came to town. Dave Andersn left and look at him. Two Minor league manager of the year awards and last year World Series with Texas. He is just one who you people mistreated.

[Tom Thompson]

Listen folks... I get it. I don't like McCourt.... I like his wife even less. The truth is I don't much care for Selig either. So there you have it.... I don't like anyone currently associated with this front office. Nonetheless, I don't believe this "in the best interests of baseball" mantra is going to fly. Do a google search on MLB Revenue Sharing and then take a look at any of the several articles that talk about how many of the teams take money from teams like the Yankees and then make no attempt whatsoever to spend that "free money" on improving their teams. Frank McCourt (ironic that Court thing in his name) will certainly be able to exploit that and I don't see this ending anytime soon. I remember listening to Vin Scully on a six transistor radio that had to be placed just right in my bedroom as a kid just to pick up the games. I love this team. I loved both Walters (Tommy not so much). Believe me I know my Dodgers. 40 years ago my wife and I could decide to go to a game on the spur of the moment and for 25 bucks got box seats on the 1st baseline, a couple of Dodger dogs and sodas. Parking included. More than that we got to watch "Dodger Baseball". Peter was not his father and probably still isn't. (I say again be careful what you wish for.) Fox didn't give a darn about the team and it showed. More than the trade of Piazza I hated that they fired Billy Russell (who had been groomed for years) before he had even had a chance to show what kind of a manager he could have been. For close to twenty years I was depressed by the 1st of August. I'm not sure how much Frank actually had to do with it personally, but I do know this. I haven't been depressed on the 1st of August since he took over the team.

[Scott]

His strategies for the Dodgers have proven to be quite counterproductive. The Dodgers should have been one of the easiest franchises to run. As fans, all we need are reasonable tickets, a well-kept stadium, and a good team. McCourt has failed on pretty much all accounts. Kick him to the curb, Bud!

[16blows]

$150 for THAT haircut?

[elysian]

McCourt says that transparency is an American value. Oh, yes, he certainly was transparent in all of his dealings, including funneling at least $108 million away from the team to fund their lifestyle. And yes, Steve, I would bet that it was much more than that. Just wait until MLB digs deeper into the books--who knows what else they will find?

McCourt and his shill Soboroff claim that he is a "changed man." That is acknowledging that he DID do things wrong! So for McCourt to insist that they followed guidelines is ludicrous, just like everything else that comes from his mouth. He says everyone deserves a second chance. He'd like to apologize to the fans and to baseball and get to show what he is "really" made of. Oh, let's all believe him and let him try again!

We already know what he is really made of. A "mistake" is buying the wrong kind of milk at the store or making a calculation error in your checkbook. A "mistake" is not pilfering money from the team, lying, putting your kids on the payroll, constantly gouging fans, or cutting costs to the point that a human being is nearly killed as a direct result of your greed and incompetence. Those are not "mistakes." They are evidence of a fundamental, serious character flaw.

McCourt said he put his "hard-earned money" into the team. He put hardly anything into the purchase of the team--it was almost all loans. His family's "blood, sweat, and tears" went into the operation. Sure, the kids cried all the way to the bank as they deposited their checks for work they did not provide to the team.

Cry me a river.

[joe j]

Peter O'Malley sold the Dodgers to Fox.
That's where all the problems started.

[MOCOMAN]

Hola Mr. ATM! Our beloved Doyers are not a bush league organization. I saw on Craiglists a triple "A" team for sale out in Acton right up your alley.

[Marvin]

Selig is "un-American", huh, because he "took" your property from you? Well, Frank, another American value is paying your taxes - you know, contributing to our society - at least paying what you can, and you can pay more than most of us, Frank, but you chose to pay nothing. And learn the concept of a franchise, Frank. Do you think McDonalds would do nothing if the owner of one of its restaurants sold the big glass sign for whatever money he could get, and replaced it with a cardboard sign written in crayon? That's more or less what you've tried to do to the Dodgers.

[elysian]

Other things done under the McCourt regime...

These fools allowed a jewel of a stadium to be filled with ear-splitting, obnoxious, and (at times) foul-mouthed music to appeal to thugs and lowlifes. Foul-mouthed chants started to emerge from the stands in reference to opponents on a regular basis. "Bleacher Beach" sections on weekends were added to appeal to younger, casual (read "beer-buying") fans. Weekend games were turned into frat parties last year. But beer is highly profitable--who cares if it contributes to unruly behavior?

Also, I often listen to the MLB channel on XM Radio in the a.m. Kevin Kennedy is a highly credible, knowledgeable baseball man. If he says something, I tend to believe it. He still has many Dodger connections, and he comments on the team fairly often. He tells it like it is. If there is something to praise, he will. If something merits criticism, he'll give it.

Yesterday, Kennedy said that, in order to cut costs, the Dodgers moved back their official spring training reporting date this year. Instead of having ten days to prepare for their first game, players ended up with five (unless they arrived early in camp--most players do not, of course). This puts players at increased risk for injuries, obviously, because they have had less time to get back into form. This was done to save a total of $300,000.

[Harold]

Can you imagine how greedy and venal you have to be to operate LA's most beloved institution for 5 years and have zero public goodwill?

[Kathi]

What a great article Steve..You said everything I have been thinking. McCourt said he has made mistakes..everyone makes mistakes...But the kind of mistakes he has made with the Dodgers are not redeemable...and this whole city wants him out of LA...The way he dragged this once great franchise through the mud is evidence enough..I love our team and think the new coaching staff is much better because they can relate better to the players, but until McCourt is ousted, I hope Dodger fans continue to stay away from the stadium, so we make it clear how we feel about this guy. I can't figure out how MLB confirmed him as an owner to begin with...seems kinda fishy to me. He never did have the money to run the team properly. LA should be able to get any Alist free agent that we want, but instead we constantly have to settle for the B,C,D list.
I'm tired of it...I say MLB do the right thing and take this franchise away from the man that has disrespected it for too long!!!!

[DonInOregon]

A new quote from Steve Soboroff is worth noting from another article...

"I guarantee you there is no owner or prospective owner in Los Angeles that has a better handle on the community than we do," Soboroff said.

I guess that translates to something like "we have Dodger fans by the baseballs" or something?

[DonInOregon]

I remember when Ross Porter said something to the effect of "I don't anticipate returning to Dodger Stadium while the current ownership is in place" (paraphrased). My hope is to see some fans get a chance to say hi to him when he takes his grandkids in LA instead of Anaheim.

[Native Angeleno]

More and more i'm having recurring revelations Jamie's driver was the Great Dodger In The Sky come down to Earth as Dodger Jesus. Without Him, and his Mysterious Ways, we may never have had the divorce, learned the Truth of the details in black & white, or seen the rear-view of Frank 'n' Skank.

Praise Dodger Jesus! Just before Easter, too.

[joey]

great article. anyone who defends McCourt on the grounds that the team played well in his era as owner needs to read this article. the team has been pretty darn good the past few years, but just think if Frankie would have directed some of his Malibu real estate $ into the team, we probably wouldnt be holding on to the memories of Gibson's fist pump.

[DeJaVoodoo]

Was that Steve Soboroff's son quoted as saying "We need more people like Drew McCourt".......