L.A. leaders stunned by Dodgers takeover
Los Angeles leaders said they were stunned by Major League Baseball's decision to take over the finances of the Dodgers.
“It’s not a good day for the Dodgers, and that means it’s not a good day for L.A.” said county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “It’s rather extraordinary.... I don’t know if it’s deserved, particularly in the way that it’s happened.”
“In terms of the civic health of our region and many of the communities of which the Dodgers have been a part, it’s most unfortunate. This is a brand that is practically inseparable from Los Angeles’ identity,” he added.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has been an occasional presence in the McCourt box during games, declined to comment. But City Controller Wendy Greuel voiced surprise at the day’s events, saying she spoke to the Dodgers’ newly hired vice chairman, Steve Soboroff, earlier in the day and was given no hint that Major League Baseball was about to take action.
“I’m disappointed that the situation has come to this,” Greuel said. “As a lifelong Angeleno and a Dodgers fan, I would hope there would be stability so the Dodgers can focus on winning the World Series.”
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced Wednesday that his office would assume control of the financial operations of the Dodgers. The move comes after Dodgers owner McCourt needed a personal loan from Fox to meet the team's payroll.
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-- David Zahniser
Photo: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, talks with Dodgers owner Frank McCourt before opening day at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Our politicans onnce again out of touch with reality!!! This is a great day for Dodger fans
Posted by: Down2000 | April 20, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Surprise... out of touch politicians.
Posted by: tamer Abdelaal | April 20, 2011 at 07:40 PM
L.A. leaders stunned by Dodgers takeover? Shows you how much they're paying attention to what goes on in their own city! Mr. Ridley-Thomas is obviously not a baseball fan otherwise he would know that the action by MLB has been a long time coming.
Here's to a well-deserved future for my team sans parking lot attendants!
Go Dodgers!
Posted by: bethechange1 | April 20, 2011 at 07:45 PM
You've got to be kidding. This is a great day for the Dodgers and Dodger fans. Angelenos spoke and MLB listened.
Posted by: Tom Andrews | April 20, 2011 at 07:45 PM
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “It’s rather extraordinary.... I don’t know if it’s deserved"
REALLY?!!! Obviously you haven't been following the Dodgers on TV, radio, newsprint, online, at the stadium, or even spoken to anyone who's a fan lately.
You're WAY outta touch if you were "stunned"
"don't know if it's deserved"????
The McCourt's aren't fit to run a little league team.
THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR LA
Posted by: patrick | April 20, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Ridley Thomas is an idiot! This is a GREAT DAY in LA! The McCourts are done!!!! And the Mayor hides his head in the sand! Coward!
attaboy Bud Selig! ATTABOY MLB
Posted by: Dodgerfansince1965 | April 20, 2011 at 07:49 PM
Is it any wonder that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, in LA thinks that this is a glorious day, except for the elected officials? Politicians are backwards. I mean, Ridley-Thomas probably thinks this is what people want to hear, but is too out of touch to know different, or even worse he actually thinks this is a bad thing. Either way, he's out of touch with reality, if not the people.
Posted by: Marvin | April 20, 2011 at 07:55 PM
THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR LA..TELL McCOURT TO GET ONE MORE HAIRCUT AND THEN GET THE HECK OUT OF TOWN
Posted by: Inspector 71 | April 20, 2011 at 08:16 PM
“It’s not a good day for the Dodgers, and that means it’s not a good day for L.A.” said county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Are you kidding me? This is the best thing that could have happened to this franchise and to the city. McCourt has been so desperate to fill the stadium that recently (this past weekend) they've taken to putting free Dodger tickets on parked cars on Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park. I say HOORAY and finally!!!!!!
Posted by: truthclaw | April 20, 2011 at 08:17 PM
If someone will loan me the money, I'll buy the Dodgers.
Posted by: Kresling | April 20, 2011 at 08:33 PM
'“It’s not a good day for the Dodgers, and that means it’s not a good day for L.A.” said county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.' ... His statement is ironic to say now since he was also quoted, when O'Malley gave up on bringing the NFL to Chavez Ravine by selling the Dodgers, in the 1-12-1997 LA Times article, "Did Aborted NFL Team Bid Set Stage for Dodger Sale?" As stated in the 1997 article, "Ridley-Thomas, who also personally asked O'Malley to defer to the Coliseum effort, said last week that he believed the city's plans to get behind a rebuilt Coliseum for the NFL "had little or nothing to do" with the decision to sell the Dodgers." ... So, while Ridley-Thomas has nothing directly to do with McCourt's situation, we do have him to thank for helping to create the environment for O'Malley's sale of the team and the disappointing ownership ever since that led up to Bud Selig's decision today. “It’s rather extraordinary.... I don’t know if it’s deserved, particularly in the way that it’s happened.” .... No, it's not deserved by us the fans, but those failed NFL Coliseum proposal chickens came home to roost today.
Posted by: Chris | April 20, 2011 at 08:49 PM
The MLB now in control of the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of bloodsucker Frank McCourt. The response from L.A. leaders? County supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is "stunned", City Controller Wendy Greuel is "disappointed" at the turn of events, and our esteemed Mayor Tony is nowhere to be seen. Their reactions now make me suspicious about their relationship with McCourt, as if Ridley-Thomas, Greuel, and Villariagosa are bummed that a gravy train has been taken from them. It makes me tend to agree with "mj" below, that Ridley-Thomas, Greuel and Villariagosa could very well have been receiving major perks from McCourt. And Villariagosa's occasional presence in McCourt's private box during Dodger games is a strong hint that it's probably true.
Posted by: yourstruly1 | April 20, 2011 at 09:13 PM
Honestly----it was expected! Politicos were sleeping on the JOB AGAIN!!! There was NO doubt it was going to happen---wondering why it took Commissioner Selig so long! The McCourts came into town and brought their venom with them...let's PRAY that the LA Dodger get new owner(s) that care for the team and LA Fans too! Bye, Bye McCourts!!!
Posted by: Rosario | April 20, 2011 at 09:51 PM
Correction: This is the best thing that has happened to the Dodgers and their fans. I hope the league takes the Dodgers away from the McCourts and their fiasco.
Posted by: arturo | April 20, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Mark Riddley-Thomas is one of the main reasons why the O'Malley family no longer own the team. If one can recall, the NFL and Peter O'Malley were on the verge of completing a deal that would have given L.A. an expansion football team and stadium to be constructed in the Dodger stadium parking lot. A group in city government led by Riddley-Thomas (with his pipe-dream of a renovated Coliseum) undercut the deal. Essentially, this was the last straw for Peter O'Malley; frustrated, he sold the team and the rest is history. In an alternate reality, we could have had a Dodgers football and baseball team that would both still be owned by the O'Malley's. Instead we've had a Fox ownership group that traded a first-ballet Hall of Famer and McCourt ownership that ran the team into the ground. Thanks for absolutely nothing Mark. We the voters should mark you off as part of the next recall!
Posted by: C-Note | April 20, 2011 at 11:37 PM
lets hope that NOW they move the team OUT of Los Angeles!!!! we don't need a baseball team like this....
Posted by: Borchy | April 20, 2011 at 05:39 PM
I like your thinking!
Posted by: steve999 | April 21, 2011 at 12:03 AM
I am shocked that any one would be shocked! This is one of the greatest days of my life!!! I have been waiting for this day since the McMorons initially purchased the team. I knew from day 1 that this was a scam waiting to happen! I am just sorry that Bud let these demons buy the team in the first place! Dodgers Fans prayers have been answered... now let's get an owner in here that can honor this once great franchise and bring it back to respectability. And let's get Peter O'Malley in here to start the ball rolling!
Posted by: MartiofSoCal | April 21, 2011 at 02:49 AM