Jamie McCourt opens up, says accusations are 'devastating'

Times Sports columnist T.J. Simers sat down with Jamie McCourt for an hour this morning, and she gave  her first public comments on the breakup of her marriage and the pending struggle for ownership of the Dodgers.

McCourt -- "creamed," as she said in divorce disclosures -- told Simers, "I'm going to take the high road -- I have four kids -- this is not something I would have played out in the public.

"To read everything that's been said is devastating, and my kids are pretty upset about it."

McCourt made it clear, "I have never been with another man until the marriage broke up. Ever. Ever."

She went on to rebut a number of allegations mentioned in court filings while  explaining comments like "I've been the face of the Dodgers," which have opened her to ridicule.

The McCourts have been separated since July 6, according to court filings, and attorneys for each side have been swiping at the other since word of the separation became public in mid-October. Jamie McCourt has acknowledged being in a romantic relationship, though she said it did not begin until after she and her husband had separated.

Frank McCourt, accusing his wife of insubordination and inappropriate behavior, fired  her as chief executive of the Dodgers on Oct. 21, and Jamie McCourt filed for divorce Oct. 27, laying claim to half of the Dodgers and the couple's reported $1.2 billion in assets.

She also asked that she be immediately reinstated to her position with the club.
 
On Nov. 5, that request to be reinstated was rejected in Los Angeles Superior Court, though the question of ownership of the Dodgers is one that will not be resolved for some time.

Simers' full account will be posted later today.

-- Mike James

Photo: Jamie McCourt, left, talks with Frank McCourt following Game 2 of the NLCS on Oct. 16 at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Comments

[pete]

Dear Jamie: Get what you can and then please go away. Far, far away. Okay?

[Dodger Fan]

Why should we believe either side? Sell the team, let the courts figure out who gets what. Let us Dodger fans move on.

[Rodney]

She should be the face of the Dodgers. She is distinguised in her own right, articulate and it doesn't hurt that she is attractive as well. I don't think the Dodgers could do much better than having her as the face of the club.

[Mary Dawn]

Poor Mrs. McCourt, I think she is confused. In case she diden't know, before she began a new romantic relationship, as a married woman, she should have gotten a divorce first. If she diden't want to upset her children, she should have thought of them before she stepped out in public with her paramour and not gone on vacation to France for two weeks with her bodyguard. In order to protect children, a married man or woman, must ensure that their personal conduct is above reproach.

[MikeOHara]

If I were she, I'd try to enforce the post-nup as written. While a stake in the Dodgers is more splashy, the real estate she holds is the better investment. Then I'd buy season tickets behind home and show up night after night with the richest, hunkiest young dude I could find--maybe a different one each month.

[Dick]

The editor who sent T.J. Simers to interview Jamie McCourt should be fired!!! T.J. is going to have a field day with this one! Unless, by the grace of God, T.J. suddenly develops a "sensitive" side and covers this story with class and respect for what is a painful saga for the McCourt family. I think the odds are better on reversing Global Warming!!!

[Kev Kotight]

Even if that is true Jamie, you don't start fooling around until the divorce is final. Why didn't she file for divorce earlier? Why start knockin' boots before the papers were signed? It destroys all credibility. In the eyes of the law, she was unfaithful given that the marriage is still legit. Just my two cents.

[guy]

It's pretty coincidental that the "face of the Dodgers" happened to begin her relationship with someone just AFTER the news of her seperation. How long did it take Ms. McCourtship, like 3 months???

Stop ruining the Dodgers. You don't deserve the blue. Sto spoing it for us "Face."

[Grandpa]

T.J.
Ask Jamie, if she retains a half interest in the Dodgers, whether she will platoon DeWitt and Belliard at second during her half of the 2010 Dodgers game schedule.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

How does she get this face of the Dodgers I have in my 50 years of fan-hood never look at the owner as the face of the Dodgers. VIN SCULLY has always been the face of the organization, I don't remember listening to her on my transistor radio growing up.
She a typical ME ME women in todays society, looking at vanity over what is write and wrong. She didn't even grow up here what makes her think she is so important to NATIVE southern Californians, go home Jamie please quit shaming the Dodgers and LA.

[TOMMY]

Mark my words- this will ruin our team!

[Ed]

Being a Dodger fan since the mid 80's Iam very dishearted by what is happening. In my personal opinion both McCourts are unfit to be owners given the finances that allowed them to be owners. However Jamie McCourt has no business being an owner of anything that has ties to sports or the public, papers filed in her name have only proved that she is self-centered and really does not care about creating a championship team or even a decent team (she said she couldnt justify paying players but rather build little league fields even though she feels its okay to spend upwards to 40k plus a month on personal grooming). I now hear that eccentric owner Mark Cuban is interested great a damn weirdo owning the Dodgers......man what next

[FT Ernst]

reading about the McCourts is sucking the life out of this board

[jonathan]

If they seperated in July, someone should have told Mr. McCourt -- he's still wearing his wedding ring in that October photo from game 2 of the NLCS ...

[Tom, Long Beach, California]

was it devasting when you ae banging your driver, using Dodger funds to cheat and then lying about it....go away with your settlement and you will be fine.....LA does not need another Georgia Frontieere and what she did to the RAMS and LA football.....guess we could root for and attend Angel games more....

[SirVipe]

California is a 'no-fault' state. If that loving wife you are married to decides to up and kick boots with all of L.A., it doesn't matter, she is still entitled to 50%. So remember, a marriage contract does not guarantee fidelity, in fact, it protects the woman to get half of everything and she can do what she wants, infidelity-wise that is. Yeah, marriage sounds really really great! 90% of my friends are divorced and paying out to a messed up tweaky freak upwards of half of their salary. No thanks.

[Richard Betty]

If she is soooooooooooo smart and intellectual why does she need 1/2 of his money ? I thought she was a new age woman that could do it all herself. Oh and buy the way I think she is a Skank.

[jONNY rEb]

So if you separate on Friday, but bed another person on Saturday, that isn't infidelity on your part, Mrs. McCourt?

Hey, I get lonely too but I'd keep my yearnings in check if I knew there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Also, Simers is the last person you want to talk to if you want to "take the high road" and keep this out of the public. There's more of a chance I can get fooled by an underhanded-softball toss than this explanation.

In the field of public opinion, Yeeeerrrrr Out!!!

[MikeP]

"I don't want this to play out in public", she says, as she plays it out in public by talking to TJ Simers of all people. Yes Jamie, go far away.

[Anon]

Jamie,
I feel that you are the worst thing that has ever happened to the Dodgers at this moment. You should have waited until the playoffs were over before the news of your Separation was let out to the press. That maybe would have kept the boys in the running for the World Series, which would have made the Dodgers worth more(if that is all you are interested in).
Stop playing the fool and making the Dodgers take the fall. Get on with your divorce and remember you are in LOS ANGELES HOME OF HOLLYWOOD AND ALL THE STARS ARE ONSTAGE ALL THE TIME. JUST ASK THE BLING RING THEY SHOULD KNOW YOUR HOUSES BY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul]

2 things: A) adultery is a sin under any circumstances, and B) it is easier to pass a camel throught the eye of a needle than for a rich (person) to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Just something to think about.

[Steve]

Jamie McCourt is not the face of the Dodgers. She knows even less than her husband about baseball, and that's saying a great deal. This divorce is going to completely tie the Dodger's hands in pursuit of retaining the players they need to retain and getting a real No. 1 pitcher. Please go away Ms. McCourt, and take your millionaire bs with you.

[Michael]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....please both of you..pack up your circus tents and go crawl back in the holes you came out of..you both have sucked All us Dodgers fans of every penney you could gourge out of us..$15 parking...low cost or no cost players...No premier pitchers or Hitters...lots of kids and a bunch of over the hill patches...Oh yeah...let us thank you for fixing and adding new restrooms ..of course only on the Field level where you have raised the ticket prices 300%...so much for true and blue loyal fans who sit in all the other levels....We say..PLEASE..take your toys and go home....Let a true Owner step up and bring our Dodgers back to the top...return to the team to beat in the West......go and take al your trash with you....oh..and don't let the door hit you in the a** on your way out......Good Bye and GOOD Riddance!!

[Jet]

So much said about her (Jamie) what about the idiot who left his wife and kids for her? He isn't a saint by any means! He left his wife disrupted his family for some money and trips and publicity. I say hang him up to dry too! Tell his side of the story...make him realize what a well it won't get printed here if I use the words I want to use. But this is the same man that talked BS when he was just an employee and would sit in the press box and tell everyone what a pain the neck Jamie was now all of a sudden she's worth giving everything up for? Come on Jeff, why don't you step up to the plate and tell use all about the relationship and what you told your wife!

[markjsunz]

Bring back the O`malley family. They never gouged the fan the way the owners do today, they always had solid farm systems, and they would pop up and win the world series every now and then. These two bozos will run this team into the ground. Since McCOURT has taken control of the dodgers he has traded away his best minor league prospects so the Indians and Diamondbacks would pay for the final few months of the traded players salary. He has invested the least amount of any owner in his minor league program and zero for any overseas scouting. This is one of the top revenue producing teams in baseball.These two will take every last cent out of this team before selling it. I dread the fact that kamp and either will become free agents. Then you will no who they are.