Dodgers: Ownership issue far from decided

Jamie McCourt's lawyer said today that he didn't expect arguments about who owns the Dodgers to be heard until sometime next year.

Jamie McCourt's request to be reinstated immediately as the Dodgers chief executive was denied in Superior Court today, and her attorney, Dennis Wasser, said his client was concerned about the direction the team was headed in her absence.

"Of course she’s concerned," Wasser said. "She is an owner of the team. She’s very concerned. This lady eats, lives, breathes Dodgers. She has always wanted to be an owner of the team. Besides her children, it’s the most important thing in her life. Of course she’s concerned about the direction of the Dodgers."

But Wasser said he was pleased that the Dodgers were removed as a participant for the case, meaning that only Frank and Jamie McCourt's lawyers will be arguing the case.

A hearing to determine the amount of spousal support Jamie McCourt will receive is scheduled for Dec. 15.

Frank McCourt's family law attorney, Manley Freid, expressed regret that his client's divorce proceedings were unfolding in such a public manner.

"It’s not something that Mr. McCourt wanted," Freid said. "But we didn’t have much choice because information got out, and we had to respond to it."

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Jamie McCourt. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire

Comments

[Don]

You guys need to run a public opinion poll:

Who is the most self absorbed person in LA?

1. Jamie

2. Frank

3. Antonio

[DODGERBLU]

But does she have a dodger tattoo?

We dont know the true matter at stack here with this couple, but it appears as though she has already moved on and perhaps shes been playing her own game on mr mccourt for sometime now. I say get rid of her shes got a new boy-toy have fun.

Nobody likes an unfaithful woman.

[Jaime]

Oh i just had to comment here. Good she got denied. Where are the OMalleys, can someone help us. The thought of jamie taking over the team reminds me of another person who took a local team and moved it out of town for good. As for Frank, lots of luck, you should have studied California law before you and your wife decided to buy the team and move out here. Maybe he did, maybe he didnt, but i wonder where the Dodgers will be with all this stuff going on during the off season and well into the next. Will next season start off as bad as this season ended. Who is out there with plenty of money to buy out these people?

[slayerfan66]

She doesn't care about the team any more than Frank does. She only cares about the money and the lifestyle that she currently has. And she owes it to the money-making machine that is the Dodgers (and their fans). If the McCourts both truly care about the Dodgers, as a team and as a Los Angeles institution, they will do what's best and sell the team. It kills me that these east-coast types came out here and, without any regard for the fans, continued to put the Dodgers on the same destructive path that was started by Rupert Murdoch and Fox.

[gene]

I have no interest in taking sides in the divorce, but regarding running the team, I have never heard of a single baseball decision Jamie McCourt ever had a hand in making. As far as her public statements, again regarding the baseball side of the team, I recall her making the inane comment about spending money on little league fields instead of free agents. Other than hiring and firing PR people, Jamie McCourt has never even claimed credit (or blame) for specific decisions regarding running the baseball team. I'm not a Frank McCourt fan, but the guy has been blamed for many decisions, mostly involving failing to sign expensive players like Vlad Guerrerro and taken credit for good decisions (hiring Torre) but I have never heard of Jamie McCourt even being associated with baseball decisions.
I have never been impressed with Frank McCourt the owner, but for better or worse, the guy has gotten the credit and blame for the Dodgers' baseball decisions while Jamie McCourt has managed the McCourts' personal PR.

[vinman]

She should make a social consciousness decision: accept an obscene amount of alimony or build a bunch of inner city baseball parks.

Remember last off-season when she tried to guilt trip the fans and offered up that option; either we (McCourts) sign Manny for the money he's asking for or we can build a lot of inner city baseball parks.

[dalegribel]

Don't go away mad Jamie, just go away.

[J]

Yeah, where are the O'malleys? We miss you guys. "Where have you gone Peter O'malley, a Dodgers nation turns its lonely eyes to you."

[The Infamous El Guapo]

So because "She is an owner of the team. She’s very concerned. This lady eats, lives, breathes Dodgers. She has always wanted to be an owner of the team. Besides her children, it’s the most important thing in her life. Of course she’s concerned about the direction of the Dodgers."
So I guess that would explain why she was on a Luxury European Vacation with her boy toy during the PLAYOFFS!!!! With the bill being footed by non other than your Los Angeles Dodgers. If that doesn't scream "I bleed Dodger Blue" I don't know what does.

As far as California Law and the community property rule that people love to throw out there, if what Frank's lawyers say is true and they have documents stating she signed away her rights as owner in exchange for the properties in Malibu and Bel Air...she is pretty much up Poop Creek with out a paddle in leaking canoe.

I hate to characterize her this way mostly because I don't know the woman but she is coming across as a Greedy Witch.
Clawing at every single dime she can before she realizes shes dating a chauffer.

[Brian]

Let's hope that however the McCourt's assigned their community property, the settlement Jamie gets requires the team be sold to pay her off.

We then have to hope for a consortium involving the O-Malleys, or other responsible owners buy the team and not Donald Trump or something. Think of the real estate possibilities, Trump Towers Elysian Park.....

[bob-b]

She might lose the SECOND most important thing in her life, but she gets to keep her baseball allstar player's "salary?" "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! WhaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Wha! wHA! wHA! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Whimper, whimper, whimper ... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!,

[bob-b]

She should actually give up any hopes of being part owner; she's already become a GREEDY and whiny persona that by the time she would receive any type of owner ship she would have to do it in absenta because if she showed her face in the stadium the Mexicans in the crowd would boo the heck out of the SCREAMING MEANIE. That would be a great inconvenience and major distraction to the team, which will be on another championship run. And let's not let THE PARKING LOT ATTENDANT off the hook here people! He better put up a good defense on behalf of our boys in blue, prove himself a good owner and show us all he really cares about his fans.

[Troy]

EFFIGY! EFFIGY! EFFIGY!

[Marti Squyres]

These people are no more fit to run a baseball team than a two year old... and I said it from day one! They are no better than Rupert with the exception that they know what a foul ball is, maybe. I have written the Walter O'Malley web site that Peter set up in honor of his Dad and BEGGED him to take back this team or get his son involved in an ownership group that buys back the team ( Peter's son runs a minor league team along with his cousin).
This is a pathetic excuse for an ownership. I would not be one bit surprised if they both have been involved in some very illegal handlings of the team. I don't know anyone who wants them back next season! I think Dodgers Fans need to come together and make such a stink that they are forced to sell the team! I will lead the way! OUT, NOW!!!

[Jeremy]

If she really was a lady who "eats, lives and breathes Dodgers" then she would not be dragging the team out into the public eye like this. It is ridiculous and I hope she has no part in the team after this.

[thom]

The O'Malleys desert (or is it dessert?) their people in New York, moving the Dodgers and Giants out here, for the sake of bigger bucks. (source: Wikipedia)

That's pretty swell.

Then they sell the team to King Rat Rupert Murdoch.

Even better.

Who in turn off loads it to the McCourts, who have invested one fortune in LA real estate and another one in drugged up baseball stars but fielded a competitive team that has gotten to the playoffs.

So what if Jamie runs off with the chauffeur. God knows what Frank is doing. Maybe they are only trying to fit in with the LA Way -- and giving us a heck of a story as a bonus.

This is going to get better and better.

And who's really whining here? Bunch of bums in the bleachers.

And what are the real problems with the sport?

First, that baseball is boring. Second, that a team willing to spend twice as much as everyone else is pretty much guaranteed the title. Baseball was fixed with ped's; now it's fixed with cash.

You want a team that wins the World Series, Los Angeles?

Then buy one.