Kudos, Mr. Selig

by
June 20, 2011

Today, Bud Selig issued this statement:

“Mr. McCourt has been provided with an expansive analysis of my reasons for rejecting this proposed transaction. Critically, the transaction is structured to facilitate the further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr. McCourt. 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. 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.”

If you’ve read this link, you probably understand why I’m applauding Selig’s decision. If you haven’t read that link, go do so now. I can’t vouch for the accuracy of everything contained within, but it doesn’t have to be 100% correct for the general point to remain – the McCourts have been and are still attempting to actively devalue a Major League franchise for their own personal gain.

I’m sure McCourt will sue, and we’ll get months of legal haggling over the rights of the commissioner’s office versus the rights of a team owner. I’m also pretty sure, however, that this will all end in Frank McCourt losing control of the Los Angeles Dodgers – a team he should have never owned in the first place – and Major League Baseball will be better off with him and his family out of the sport.

The commissioner’s office is notoriously picky about what kinds of people they allow to own Major League Baseball teams. This is why. No owner should be allowed to drag down an entire franchise without recourse, and in this instance, the only way to keep the Dodgers from being further devalued is to eliminate the McCourt family from the decision making process.

Pay them off, throw them out, fight them in court – I don’t really care how it happens. I just want to never have to think about Frank or Jamie McCourt ever again. Kudos to Bud Selig for taking one more step towards ridding us of them once and for all.





 

Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.

55 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Alec
12 years ago

I hope their experience with the McCourt’s causes baseball to be more embracing of potential owners like Mark Cuban, who, for all the faults people find in him, undeniably cares about the teams he owns and building the best quality product.

54
Deadpool
12 years ago
Reply to  Alec

The fact that the comish’s office wants to be able to kick out the McCourts of the world is why Cuban will never be embraced. Any chance at all he could have held his tongue during all of this with the Dodgers?

-3
Dave
12 years ago
Reply to  Deadpool

Why should he have held his hypothetical tongue? (wow alliteration) Isn’t all the turning of blind eyes and lack of accountability the reason things got here in the first place? Moreover, I have a hard time believing the McCourts are the only owners benefiting from scenarios this. Other owners may not be as bold in so far as they aren’t using every trick in the book like the McCourts did, but I’m sure every franchise has it’s share of Remoras fattening up while tagging along for the ride.

1
Antonio Bananas
12 years ago
Reply to  Deadpool

Dave, what about the Pirates owner? Nutter or Nutty or whatever his name is. He obviously doesn’t give a shit. He’s operating a low cost and making profit probably off shared rev alone. Plus he swindled the city of Pittsburgh to pay more than enough for the stadium (claimed infastructure fees or something). If anyone needs their franchise taken away, it’s that guy.

1
CircleChange11
12 years ago
Reply to  Alec

Mark Cuban … a native of ….. Pittsburgh.

Oh, just imagine.

This is why you sell an MLB team to one with “cash”, and not all of their wealth tied up in properties … that can go up/down significantly with the market. But, the bottom line is that MLB seeks owners that will go along with each decision and not speak up.

Mark Cuban is far too progressive for MLB. Unfortunately.

4