Bud Says No To Fox Deal

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has rejcted a proposed deal between the Dodgers and Fox Sports.

From MLB.com:

Commissioner Bud Selig informed Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on Monday that he would not approve a lengthy extension to a media rights deal between the ballclub and FOX, placing his ownership of the historic franchise in jeopardy.

Selig said he'd given the contract -- reported to be as high as $3 billion with a sizeable upfront payment -- a great deal of consideration, but in the end it didn't conform with the best interest of the ballclub or Dodger fans.

"Critically, the transaction is structured to facilitate the further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr. McCourt," Selig said. "Given the magnitude of the transaction, such a diversion of assets would have the effect of mortgaging the future of the franchise to the long-term detriment of the club and its fans."

Selig can do this within his authority based on the debt-service rule, which doesn't allow franchises to borrow on future assets in order to pay current bills. Under the rule, owners must sell equity in the team to raise revenue, decrease spending or both.


Major League Baseball took over the day-to-day business operations of the Dodgers this spring and has been investigating its finances. That report is due by the end of the month. At that point, Selig will determine whether McCourt must sell the team.


Last week, McCourt and his ex-wife, Jamie, reached an agreement out of court, which was contingent upon Major League Baseball's approval of the between the Dodgers and FOX. With Monday's ruling by Selig, that agreement is null and void and must now go back to divorce court in Los Angeles.


McCourt repeatedly has said that he needs the upfront payment from the TV deal to pay his bills. A payroll of $30 million that includes $8 million in deferred payments to ex-Dodger Manny Ramirez is due by the end of the month.
Selig said that he's sent McCourt a letter on Monday that detailed the reasons why he could not improve the media deal.


"Mr. McCourt has been provided with an expansive analysis of my reasons for rejecting this proposed transaction," Selig said. ""As I have said before, we owe it to the legion of loyal Dodger fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future. This transaction would not accomplish these goals."

We're one step closer to Franks departure.

Dodger News And Notes: MLB Takeover

Some Friday night links:

Steve Garvey, Ron Burkle: Dodgers owner? The former Dodger great says he has an investment group put together that would like to buy the team. That group now includes Ron Burkle. So, who is Ron Burkle? Well, he's rich. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.2 billion. He's also familiar with purchasing a sports franchise. He teamed up with hockey legend Mario Lemieux in buying the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 1999. Garvey says he has six to eight other investors in his group.

Colletti and McCourt haven't talked takeover. Ned Colletti said Friday that he's been in communication with team owner Frank McCourt, but only through texts. They've only discussed roster moves, injuries and on-field issues. They haven't met in person since MLB took over the team, and they haven't discussed the takeover. Ned Colletti says he still considers Frank McCourt his boss.

Selig has support of MLB owners. From Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports:

Selig’s seizure of the team is being guided in part by the concerns and frustrations of many of McCourt’s fellow owners, who fear the devaluation of their own franchises through McCourt’s financial and operational ineptness, sources said Thursday.

Whatever the assurances by McCourt that the Dodgers are not trundling toward ruin, and whatever the assertions by McCourt’s new vice chairman Steve Soboroff that Selig is a misguided, uninformed bully, Selig’s greatest authority lies in the consensus of The Other 29.

Selig spends large portions of his days conferring with owners of the 30 MLB teams, and McCourt’s ownership practices have been picked over by baseball’s executive council, which consists of eight owners, four from each league.

It doesn't seem like the rest of baseball's owners are happy with McCourt's situation. What happens in LA, as well as other major markets, can affect the rest of the league.

MLB To Take Over Operation Of The Dodgers....WooHoo!

According to the LA Times' Bill Shaikin, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says he will appoint a trustee to oversee the team's business affairs while investigating the 'operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities.'

Commissioner Bud Selig:

"Pursuant to my authority as Commissioner, I informed Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt today that I will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the Club. I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the Club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball. My office will continue its thorough investigation into the operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities during the period of Mr. McCourt's ownership. I will announce the name of my representative in the next several days.
"The Dodgers have been one of the most prestigious franchises in all of sports, and we owe it to their legion of loyal fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future."

You know what they say, "Better late than never."  Let's hope this is the first step toward McCourt's exit and new ownership. The situation in Dodgertown is sad. It's sad to see so many empty seats at Dodger Stadium. It's sad to see such a poorly constructed team take the field for the second season in a row. The divorce and everything surrounding it is sad. I can't speak for every Dodger fan, but I think most of us are fed up with EVERYTHING. Good for Bud Selig.

Dodgers News And Notes

Frank McCourt meets with executives from the commissioner's office. LATimes.com's Bill Shaikin tells us that the Dodgers owner met with several of Selig's lieutenants earlier this week in New York. According to officials familiar with the discussions, McCourt requested the meetings.

It is uncertain exactly what McCourt proposed in his meetings, but he could get hundreds of millions of dollars by either negotiating a new television contract with Fox or selling a minority share of the Dodgers, then using the proceeds to settle his divorce. McCourt has insisted he has no plan to sell any share of ownership.

However, Selig could reject any television contract or partnership agreement. After court documents in the divorce trial revealed how the McCourts diverted millions in team revenue each year for personal use, Selig could cite grounds that such money should be used to improve the team rather than to pay off an ex-wife, one official said.


In addition, the officials said, Selig could refuse McCourt the short-term financing available to owners from MLB.

It is unclear whether such actions could pressure McCourt to the point of putting the team up for sale, whether McCourt would take legal action to stop any such moves, or how any decisions Selig might consider would be affected by Jamie McCourt's contention that she owns half the team.

However, the owner of another MLB club said he doubted Frank McCourt could rally other owners behind him — and against Selig — should the commissioner decide to act.

Dodgers' fourth annual Winter Development Program begins this weekend. The Dodgers' fourth annual Winter Development Program, which helps prepare minor league players for the Major Leagues both on and off the field, kicks off this weekend and will include workouts, community visits, informational seminars and visits to different areas of Los Angeles. Sixteen of the Dodgers' top minor league prospects will be in town for the week-long event and workouts will focus on fundamentals, strength training and conditioning.

Camelback Ranch box office opens. Vin Scully Is My Homeboy gives us the details on Dodgers Spring Training games. Single-game tickets went on sale today in  Glendale, AZ.

How close is Trayvon Robinson? ESPNLosAngeles.com's Jon Weisman gives us all the details on the switch-hitting center fielder.

Dodger in the Dominican and Venezuelan Winter Leagues. Chad at Memories of Kevin Malone gives us a recap on all the Dodgers that played in each league.

What's Going On In Baseball

Let's see what's going in the world of baseball



In response to a Freedom of Information request, federal officials have released the mug shot of Former Giant Barry Bonds. Bonds, is facing trial on perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to a government probe of his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Commissioner Bud Selig said yesterday that he won't reverse umpire Jim Joyce's botched call from the near perfect game on Wednesday pitched by the Detroit Tiger's Armando Galarraga.

The Baltimore Orioles fired manager Dave Trembley. The Orioles have the worst record in baseball and are heading towards their 13th consecutive losing season. Former Dodger, Juan Samuel was appointed interim manager.

Late Night Baseball Links

The home from the movie "Field of Dreams" is up for sale. The 193-acre farm where Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones filmed 1989's "Field Of Dreams" has been listed for sale by its owners after over a century of family ownership. The asking price for the whole lot is $5.4 million.

Fox Sports may make some changes to it's baseball programming. Fox's regular-season baseball next year might largely migrate to prime time — and include more games in each game TV window. Fox is testing prime time with regionalized coverage of four games May 22, led by New York Yankees-New York Mets, and three on June 26, including Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers. Depending on those ratings, Fox could have much more MLB prime-time action next season.

Commissioner Bud Selig today defended baseball’s record on minority hiring and said next year's All-Star Game will remain in Phoenix, Arizona despite the state's new immigration law.

The bobblehead craze is about a decade old, and it's bigger than ever. Jim Caple at ESPN.com's Page 2 visits Bensussen Deutsch & Associates Inc. in Woodinville, Washington, the company that make many bobbleheads for sporting events around the country. The company says it is scheduled to deliver more than 1 million dolls combined for at least 44 promotional dates this season.