The Collected Sins of the Frank & Jamie McCourt Era
June 30, 2011 at 9:46 am | Posted in Frank McCourt, Jamie McCourt | 202 Comments
The McCourts, as I hardly need to remind you, continue to take their battle against each other and Major League Baseball to new and ridiculous heights. Or lows. Every day, it seems, they or one of their cohorts are either saying something humiliating or backpedaling against new allegations of past improprieties. You don’t want to say it’s to the point that nothing else can shock you… but it’s hard to think that it’s far off. Really, does anyone have any respect whatsoever for these two any longer?
In fact, the list of moments in which they’ve embarrassed the Dodgers and/or the fans has grown so quickly that it has become very difficult to keep track of it all. Today, we rectify that, by collecting all of the events which have caused us to cover our faces in shame. It hasn’t been all bad, of course, and you can point to some positives during their tenure, but not nearly enough to compete with the horrors they’ve visited upon us.
Two caveats here. First, this is just about the activities of the McCourt family and their immediate cronies, not of the entire organization, so unless you can find concrete evidence that McCourt ordered Ned Colletti to give Juan Pierre $44m over Colletti’s objections, it doesn’t belong here. Second, I’m not including two items that many will see as glaring omissions. Vladimir Guerrero signed with the Angels before McCourt officially took over in 2004, and the Carlos Santana trade may not have been as much about money as we like to think it was. Frank McCourt has done enough awful things to this franchise, so no need to fabricate any others.
This is intended to be a living list, which I’ll link to on the sidebar and update as needed, so if you think I’ve missed anything, do let me know – but be able to back it up with proof. If I’ve misstated anything here, I’m happy to hear that feedback as well. Unless noted otherwise, all items here are Frank’s. The list is presented in rough, though not absolute, chronological order.
- Purchased Dodgers almost entirely on debt. (Yes, MLB deserves a huge amount of the blame for allowing this to happen in the first place.)
- Split team and related properties into a tangled web of entities which pay into themselves, the ramifications of which are only being realized now.
- Charged the Dodgers rent to play in their own stadium, money which went to one of his many holding companies.
- Allowed incumbent GM Dan Evans to twist in the wind, claiming he was a candidate for his own job, before firing him just prior to spring training in 2004.
- Fired CMO Lon Rosen and VP of communications Gary Miereanu less than a year after McCourt had hired them, the first in what would be a long string of front-office departures.
- Conducted managerial search behind GM Paul DePodesta’s back, as DePodesta was interviewing his own candidates.
- Fired DePodesta a month after an injury-plagued 2005 season, after having allowed him just one offseason to make moves, most of which – Derek Lowe, Jeff Kent, J. D. Drew – worked out well.
- Placed two sons on the payroll despite neither having an identifiable position with the club.
- Unveiled plans for massive upgrades to Dodger Stadium, to be completed for Opening Day 2012… most of which, you may have noticed, never took place.
- Paid Vladimir Shpunt, an elderly Russian self-proclaimed “faith healer” who knew little about baseball, approximately $600k to send the team ”V Energy” from his home in Boston. Yes, that’s a thing which really happened.
- Allowed merchandise/advertisements to be produced which celebrated both the 1962 and 1966 World Series championship seasons and the career of former catcher Lou Campanella, who wore #42 with the Dodgers. (added 7/18/11 – thanks, Luke)
- Forced out VP of communications Camille Johnston, who announced she was leaving just two weeks after Charles Steinberg was hired. At the time, in December 2007, she was the fourth communications chief to leave since the McCourts purchased the team.
- Make that five, since Steinberg left when the divorce was announced, along with the firing of six employees who Steinberg had brought on. (One of whom, admittedly, was a roommate of mine in college. He made out with a friend of mine who later joined a convent. Still don’t know how to feel about that.)
- Announced separation hours before the start of the 2009 NLCS, creating a public distraction at the worst possible time.
- Fired CEO Jamie and changed the locks on her office hours after the 2009 NLCS ended.
- Planned to reduce payroll while doubling ticket prices over the next several years.
- Asked Dodger fans to choose between talented ballplayers and fields for poor children. (This one, and the next four, are just on Jamie.)
- Reportedly engaged in an affair with a team employee, bodyguard/driver Jeff Fuller.
- Sent said employee to Taiwan, where he claimed to represent the Dodgers on a bizarre marketing trip…
- …but not before taking a European vacation with Fuller on the Dodgers’ dime.
- Asked for nearly $500k per month in spousal support, including flowers, hair and makeup, free tickets to all NL games, and access to a private jet.
- Reduced draft pick spending in 2008-09 to the lowest level of any team in baseball.
- Allegedly fired 40 employees days before Christmas 2009, which at least one employee says was made public knowledge at the team Christmas party.
- Fired team president Dennis Mannion, who had experience in all four pro sports, in addition to three of Mannion’s employees – and replaced him with Geoff Wharton, who had only a real estate background.
- Paid Howard Sunkin, a Frank associate and head of the Dodgers Dream Foundation, a salary commensurate with a charity nearly 90 times as large. (The money was later repaid.)
- Repaid over $100,000 to the charity that had improperly went to Jamie McCourt.
- Reduced international spending on prospects to the lowest level of any team in baseball.
- Took at least $100m out of the team for personal use.
- Considered plans to eventually run for president. (Jamie)
- Saw at least 22 front-office employees either quit or be fired between September 2009 – December 2010.
- Attempted to procure a $200m loan from Fox in February 2011 to meet expenses, which was rejected by Bud Selig.
- Borrowed about $55m from Fox on a personal loan to meet early 2011 expenses, circumventing Selig.
- Fired security chief Ray Maytorena and left post unfilled for four months, a period in which Giants fan Bryan Stow was nearly beaten to death in the parking lot.
- Waited days to respond publicly to Stow incident.
- Sued by his former law firm, Bingham McCutchen.
- Reportedly investigated by the IRS for not paying taxes.
- Hired Steve Soboroff, who quit barely two months later after a disastrous stint that included an outright lie about security, which McCourt was forced to apologize for.
- Watched as MLB appointed Tom Schieffer to monitor the team.
- Went on New York media tour pathetically trying to drum up public support.
- Attempted a second deal to sell future television rights to Fox for below-market value, which was also rejected by Selig.
- Sued by the family of Bryan Stow.
- Claimed, falsely, that not a penny of Fox deal would go to settle divorce case. (See next item).
- Announced sham divorce settlement that was not only untenable because it depended entirely on Selig’s unlikely approval of Fox deal, but confirmed that $173.5m would actually go for personal use.
- Stated that he lived in a one bedroom apartment, which is really a $30,000/month luxury hotel.
- Met the May 30, 2011 payroll by getting sponsors to pay in advance at a heavily discounted rate.
- Threatened to sue MLB, despite having signed a document agreeing that he would not when he took ownership.
- Claimed that the MLB takeover was the cause of low attendance, as opposed to criminal ownership, horrendously bad PR, stadium security concerns, or an underwhelming on-field product.
- Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Barred MLB-appointed overseers from Dodger Stadium. MLB responded by demanding that their people be allowed back in.
- Lined up an incredibly lousy deal ($4.5m fee, 10% interest) on a loan to make June 30, 2011 payroll. (7/1/11 update – it gets worse. The $4.5m fee is upon completion of the loan, and is separate from a $5m upfront fee to make the deal.)
- Included in bankruptcy argument that since the Dodgers beat the Twins 15-0 shortly after filing was announced, “I think this convincingly disproves the argument bankruptcy is bad for baseball.”
- Bounced checks to Dodger Stadium security guards and ushers. (Added 6/30/11)
- Reportedly attempted to take an additional $20m out of the team in April 2011, even after the concerns about making payroll had arisen. (Added 7/6/11)
- Failed to convince a judge to accept McCourt-arranged financing in favor of MLB-provided loans, with the judge noting “previously undisclosed financial stake in the Highbridge financing had compromised [McCourt's] judgment.”
- Cited by Vero Beach, FL, for improperly maintaining a team-owned plot of land and vacant house, with terms such as “nuisance” and “eyesore” thrown around. (Added 7/27/11)
- Sued by the Dodgers own broadcasters, Fox Sports West, for attempting to sell television rights before Fox’s exclusive contract is over. (Added 9/28/11)
- Countersued the two men accused of beating Stow, claiming they should be held liable for the attack rather than McCourt, which is fine – but which included comments by McCourt lawyer Jerome Jackson indicating that Stow shares liability for the jumping that ended with his head split open in the parking lot, which is much less fine. (Added 10/29/11)
So we start off with 50 items. How large will this list need to grow to before this nightmare is over?
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Wow, very well done MSTI. I can see this list being the target of many a hyperlink on the internet before too much longer.
It’s a very comprehensive and depressing list, though I would include the Vlad Guerrero debacle in there. I’ve read somewhere that McCourt nixed the deal BEFORE he officially became owner, but I’m not sure how accurate that is.
And what about the hiring of Ned Colletti, whose tenure as GM has been anything but successful? And what about approving those horrific long-term deals that Colletti created? Ehh, I’m just piling on.
Comment by Shmolnick— June 30, 2011 #
Hmm, I could be wrong on the Vlad thing – I wasn’t paying nearly as much attention in 2004 as I am now – but I thought he signed with ANA like a month before McCourt had any say.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
I think Dodger Divorce had something on the Vlad issue last year….
Comment by Steve— June 30, 2011 #
Here it is. December 1, 2009, from Dodger Divorce:
Well, in the most immediate sense, the transaction cost the Dodgers Vladimir Guerrero. McCourt’s business plan, according to insiders, projected the Dodgers’ payroll to be in the $65-$75 million range, allowing reasonable increases as the market advanced. An annual commitment of $10+ million to Guerrero would screw up Frank’s projections and jeopardize the sale.
That’s how close it was. Think about that for a moment. The sale of a $430 million dollar asset would fall apart if another couple million bucks hit the payroll. Nevermind the obviously stone-age mathematics behind this; we, as a baseball community, had yet to accept that we could assign dollar values to performance. Just consider that Frank had so little room to spare on the financing that he couldn’t project his payroll $10 million higher (Guerrero would cost more than that, but deduct the cost of carrying another player) and expect MLB to approve the sale. Scary, right?
Now consider that the Dodgers’ opening day payroll was over $92 million. Without Guerrero.
It’s awfully easy to jump to some pretty aggressive conclusions here. The plan approved by Major League Baseball figured for $65-$75 million in payroll. The Dodgers could not pursue Vlad Guerrero, who would make $12.5 million for the Angels in 2004, because it would alter the financial projections so dramatically as to jeopardize the McCourt bid. After McCourt had sufficiently convinced the owners’ group to approve his bid, and free of the strictures of the approval process, McCourt still authorized an opening day payroll $17-27 million higher than he believed Major League Baseball would approve.*
Comment by Steve— June 30, 2011 #
UGH … imagine putting Vlad’s production on that team that finished 1st anyways before losing to the Cards and having a 3-4-5 of
3. 3b – Beltre 48 HR 121 RBI
4. RF – Vlad 39HR 126 RBI
5. 1B – Shawn Green 28 HR 86 RBI
and looking back at the moves they did make that year, there could be some drastic franchise altering things…
+ Traded a player to be named later and Franklin Gutierrez to the Cleveland Indians. Received Milton Bradley. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Andrew Brown (May 19, 2004) to the Cleveland Indians to complete the trade.
++++ This trade probably does not happen
+ Traded Juan Encarnacion, Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota to the Florida Marlins. Received Hee-Seop Choi, Bill Murphy and Brad Penny.
++++ This trade happens but also might happen sooner giving a full year of Penny
+ Traded Reggie Abercrombie (minors), Koyie Hill and Bill Murphy to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Received Steve Finley and Brent Mayne.
This trade made it easier to make this deal
+ Traded Dave Roberts to the Boston Red Sox. Received Henri Stanley (minors)
++++ Now this deal may/may not still happen but with Vlad offense isnt as needed so Roberts I think stays and the Red Sox don’t get the steal against Rivera
Comment by Scott— June 30, 2011 #
Well, yeah, but if you don’t get Bradley, you don’t get Ethier. And while Bradley was a giant asshole, he was productve as a Dodger.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
Mike – great list. I’m gonna recommend this on facebook. A couple questions: I thought Colletti signed Kent? And check #9: it isn’t 2012 yet, so that reads a little funny.
Comment by Kyle— June 30, 2011 #
Thanks, Kyle. Kent got two contracts from the Dodgers. The first, in the 04-05 offseason, was DePo, worked out great. The second was given by Colletti… and it worked out a lot less well.
For #9, the original announcement was that all of the work would be ready for Opening Day 2012.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
Gotcha. I had forgotten Kent was signed to two separate contracts. But other than the questionable off-field crap we all heard about in ’08, Kent still put up some very decent numbers during that second contract. A full season in ’07 at age 39 with 20 jacks and a .302/.375/.500 line with a 61/57 K/BB ratio is nothing to spit at. But I know this isn’t about Kent, so I’ll shut up about him. :)
Comment by Kyle— June 30, 2011 #
Kent was signed by Depodesta and #9 is the whole restaurants and nightlife at Dodger Stadium year-round thing that was supposed to be completed by 2012. So unless he has some Gremlins working for him will never get built,especially by 2012.
Comment by Chewdogg— June 30, 2011 #
#51 (and probably the most embarrassing of all) Once rocked this hairstyle: http://a.espncdn.com/i/mag/blog/2010/0713mccourt1.jpg
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— June 30, 2011 #
Ha, well played.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
It might explain the full-time hair stylist.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— June 30, 2011 #
Forget the hair, Frank is wearing clogs in that picture. That should have told us all we needed to know. (Not acceptable unless he was working in a hospital or a Mario Batali restaurant)
Comment by Latlated— June 30, 2011 #
It’s Weird Frank McCourtovitch!
Comment by McColletti BeGone— June 30, 2011 #
Also, finding all of these links has convinced me more than ever that Bill Shaikin of the LA Times not only needs to win the Pulitzer, the entire award needs to be renamed after him.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
“Some security guards and ushers who work at Dodger Stadium were told this week by their banks that their latest paychecks had bounced.” Dylan Hernandez
Comment by Rich— June 30, 2011 #
link?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/la-sp-0630-dodgers-fyi-20110630,0,6666202.story?track=rss
Got it. Adding.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0630-dodgers-fyi-20110630,0,224039.story
Comment by Rich— June 30, 2011 #
I heard from some of those ushers who’s checks bounced.
Comment by Emma— July 1, 2011 #
#52 Uceremoniously firing Ross porter after 28 years as a Dodger broadcaster and hiring Charlie Steiner.
Comment by Chewdogg— June 30, 2011 #
Well, yeah, but now at least we get to listen to Steve Lyons’ honest non-homer commentary on away games.
Comment by Rich— June 30, 2011 #
Ditto on Porter.
Comment by Warren— June 30, 2011 #
Agreed. This was my first thought upon finishing the article.
Comment by ThtsaPaddlin— June 30, 2011 #
I will happily take one Porter for a Steiner/Lyons/Broadcaster to be named later
Comment by Ted Jackson— July 2, 2011 #
I couldn’t agree more. Listening to Porter on the radio especially during Spring training (recall when they used to have radio broadcasts all spring?) made the post 88 years much more bearable.
Id also add leaving Vero Beach, a place rich in Dodger history, for an unremarkable shared stadium in the desert.
Comment by dodger_dog— July 2, 2011 #
I think that the firing of Ross Porter and the hiring of Charlie Steiner. Two Unforgivable sins!
Comment by Chris— June 30, 2011 #
I think my favorite is number 50. It really shows how inapt he is.
Comment by ramo— June 30, 2011 #
A couple of more and I may not have them exactly right but you get the gist:
1. Promised not to sell naming rights to Dodger Stadium nad then submitted proposal to MLB to sell them.
2. Promised to keep payroll in top third of MLB while having written plan to reduce payroll below top third.
Comment by Latlated— June 30, 2011 #
1 – I don’t recall him formally requesting to sell the naming rights.. link?
2 – somewhat included in #5.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
Awesome list, Mike.
Comment by DoppelgangBang— June 30, 2011 #
This was awesome. I’m too going to recommend this on Facebook.
Comment by Julio Nievas— June 30, 2011 #
Fisher has a lot of stuff on his site regarding how McCourt got as leveraged as he is. My least favorite McCourt item (other than the faith healer) is the memo that came out in the divorce which stated that the Dodger payroll only needed to be about $85 mil to compete in the NL West. All the while, he would raise ticket prices.
This family is such a joke. While I’m happy that Frank and Jamie are splitting as it ultimately will help the Dodgers, these two have no business getting a divorce. My logic is simply that nobody else wants to deal with them. In that sense, they’re perfect for each other. Who else will put up with the other person’s crap?
Comment by The Count— June 30, 2011 #
Jeff Fuller for one.
Comment by Latlated— June 30, 2011 #
$85 mil would be plenty to compete in the NL West. Just not with Colletti running the team.
Comment by Warren— July 1, 2011 #
How about the lack of communication to season ticket holders that LAT wrote about yesterday? Didn’t Frank say that he would always return calls?
He also promised to renovate/modernize the concession areas and aisles behind the seats, in addition to the restaurant/multimedia project behind center field. As far as I know, he promised to do one section each offseason, did the field section, and stopped there, so only those who purchase higher-priced tickets benefited.
Great work on the list, this can get to 100 by the weekend methinks.
Comment by Aris— June 30, 2011 #
[...] the Dodgers blog Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness has put together a list of the top 50 sins the McCourts have co… against the Dodgers, their fans and common [...]
Pingback by Must-click link: The collected sins of Frank and Jamie McCourt | HardballTalk— June 30, 2011 #
Making your way to NBC sports!
Comment by The Hatch— July 1, 2011 #
Good job (as usual) MSTI!! The only correction I would make is item #7….you seem to go rather easy on DePodesta and intimate that he shouldn’t have been fired. Did you forget that JD Drew (aka DL Drew) was anything but spectacular, and he basically gave the money Adrian Beltre should have gotten to stay with the Dodgers and gave it to Drew. I remember being relieved when Drew opted out of his contract. And who could forget Hee Seop Choi?!? Another DePodesta move. If you are going to pin this on McCourt I would say the real error in judgement was hiring DePodesta in the first place over the legendary Pat Gillick.
Comment by Mike H— June 30, 2011 #
….Gillick went on to craft the current Phillies dynasty.
Comment by Mike H— June 30, 2011 #
I didn’t like DePo, but the way he was fired was so unprofessional. He should have had more than one offseason to build up the team. In hindsight, DePo does look a lot better than Ned.
And soon to be sins: Letting Matt Kemp walk in free agency. I get sick thinking about the 2012 offseason. McCourt may not be the owner then, but who knows what’s gonna happen?
Comment by Juan Pierre— June 30, 2011 #
Mike, I don’t want to rehash the entire DePo war here, but Drew hit .284/.399/.505 as a Dodger. I’ll take production like that 10 days a week.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
Yeah, Mike, the list could look like “War and Peace”. The hairdresser was happening from the beginning. On the McCourts’ brief appearances at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Jamie would take her morning swim in the Olympic sized pool, and have a hairdresser in her suite at Dodgertown to make sure her hair was perfect. Not sure why, since she let it be known that everyone in Vero was a bunch of dolts.
One of my happiest moments in their tenure was during the sold out Red Sox game, where presumably some of their Boston acquaintances were in attendance, a torrential downpour came out of nowhere and ruined her perfect coif. The image of her looking like a drowned rat lives with me forever.
Comment by SamAdams— June 30, 2011 #
I think trading Beltre was great. He traded him at the height of his value after a totally unsustainable year. Look at Beltre’s numbers. He’s only had two good years. The rest has been good defense and bad hitting — not worth the money he’d be getting after hitting almost 50 home runs.
Comment by Bip— June 30, 2011 #
Beltre was not traded. He left as a free agent.
Comment by WBB— June 30, 2011 #
Well, regardless, I maintain that it’s good he didn’t resign Beltre.
Comment by Bip— June 30, 2011 #
I agree with Bip. He vastly underperformed his Seattle contract.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 1, 2011 #
I couldn’t disagree more. Beltre played in the pitchers paradise of Safeco Field and played in a bad Mariners lineup for most of his time there. Who has filled the void at 3b since Beltre…Wilson Betemit, Casey Blake, Juan Uribe, ugh I could go on… Drew was here only 2 years and had a high OBP and not much else.
Comment by Mike H— July 2, 2011 #
How about the $10K per month for the hair stylist, who later sued for non-payment.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2011/05/27/dodgers_mccourt/
and
http://benmaller.com/2011/04/dodgers-owner-accused-of-ripping-off-hairdresser/
Comment by SamAdams— June 30, 2011 #
Yeah, I definitely could have made those items 100 separate entries, but I tried to consolidate it all in #20.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 30, 2011 #
I know these may not have been McCourt’s personal blunders per se, but it’s worth adding that he at least sanctioned the $47M, three-year deal to Jason Schmidt (equating to roughly $1M/per inning pitched) and the equally insane $36M, two-year deal to Andruw Jones (or, $12M/per HR). With signings like these under his regime, the only real shocker is he wasn’t forced into bankrupcty sooner.
Comment by Jay in L.A.— June 30, 2011 #
Great list MSTI. Can the firing of Porter & the hiring of Charlie “Guess what the score is” Steiner count as 2?
Comment by Scott— June 30, 2011 #
I don’t mind Charlie Steiner, but you’re right. Ross Porter was a good radio guy and should have been kept by the org. It’s a shame that he’s gone.
Comment by The Count— June 30, 2011 #
I liked Porter and actually don’t mind Steiner, but I don’t think letting an announcer go can really be described as a “sin” (unless, of course, we’re talking about Vin Scully). Poor decision? Yes. But not a sin. However, it does show a disconnect with the fans.
Comment by NativeWharf— June 30, 2011 #
Steiner has grown on me. I agree, between him and Mr. Rick Monday, they could certainly give the score more often. But I do miss his old XM Radio show where he interviewed beat reporters for the various teams; that was fun and informative. And if anyone in the current crop of broadcasters deserves to be in the TV booth after Vinny retires, it’s Steiner.
Comment by scareduck— July 1, 2011 #
Can I cast a dissenting voice on Porter? Yeah, he was a nice guy and preferable in many ways to (certainly) Collins and Lyons, but his obsession with numbers always got in the way of his calling the game for me. All that “hitting .325 on Monday nights against left-handers with more than four letters in their last names” drove me crazy.
Comment by Bill Grabarkewitz— July 1, 2011 #
Porter was fired so the Dodgers could put two guys in the booth, boost ratings, and put money in McCourt’s pocket. Yes, it represents a disconnect with the fans, but also a prime example of how willing Frank has been to ditch Dodger tradition to make a quick buck.
Comment by Chris S.— July 2, 2011 #
FIRE CHARLIE STEINER!!!! The guy is BORING
Comment by Mike H— July 2, 2011 #
Bravo MSTI! A few of these i didn’t even know about….wow…..
Comment by DodgersKings323— June 30, 2011 #
I’m really miffed DePodesta didn’t get a legitimate chance. I heard he was fired partly due to pressure form Plaschke and TJ Simers, who hate sabermetrics and Moneyball, in which case I hate the two of them more than I’ve ever hated anything. There’s no way that if DePo had stayed we’d be complaining about his moves with every post like we do with Colletti.
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I hope this list silences those odd comments saying “I think Frank is just a good guy trying to make the best of a bad situation and Jamie McCourt is an evil bitch.”
Comment by Bip— June 30, 2011 #
DePodesta NEVER should have been hired over Pat Gillick. Yes DePo is a sabermetric whiz kid and a Billy Beane protoge, but Gillick is a legend and the proof is the dynasty the Phillies now have (as well as every other team where he served as GM).
Comment by Mike H— July 2, 2011 #
Pod traded franchise player LoDuca. He deserved to be fired. And them some.
Comment by Rick— October 25, 2011 #
False. Loduca was wildly overrated. Great trade.
Comment by Mike— October 25, 2011 #
Now we need Frank and Jamie’s 50 Ways to Leave Los Angeles:
You Just slip out the back, Jack(ass)
Make a new plan, Stan(d) Down
You don’t need to be coy, Roy(al Dick)
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus(ts) of hot air
You don’t need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee(ave Us Alone)
And get yourself free
Comment by SamAdams— June 30, 2011 #
[...] put together a list of “sins” of Frank & Jamie [...]
Pingback by A McCourt Timeline of “Sins” « Bleedin' Dodger Blue— June 30, 2011 #
wow… he’s really a fucked up human being!
Comment by steve— June 30, 2011 #
Mike, while this is a great list, I do want to quibble a bit with 34. Sued by his former law firm, Bingham McCutchen.
Technically, this is not a ‘sin’ that could be pinned onto Frank McCourt, I mean, the Bingham McCutchen lawyer is the one who was billing at hundreds of dollars a hour and he was the one that made the typo mistake that could cost Frank 50% of the Dodgers. Bingham McCutchen sued McCourt in order to head off McCourt’s eventual lawsuit against them should he fail against Jamie in court.
The sins of McCourt, Frank and Jamie both, are many and myriad without going into hyperbole.
Comment by Greg— June 30, 2011 #
It’s still an embarrassment. That one came off of Shaikin’s list that McCourt is simultaneously involved in litigation with Jamie, MLB/Selig, Stow, and B-M.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
Could easily elaborate on Bingham-McCutcheon by saying that Jaime insisted on complex legal planning to split the ownership of the team, then claimed in court that she didn’t understand the documents she signed, despite a law degree, an MBA, and a previous career in family law, which is what lead to the B-M lawsuit.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 1, 2011 #
Ya, this is better ;)
Comment by Greg— July 1, 2011 #
embarrassment yes, sin no. It’s a minor quibble.
Comment by Greg— July 1, 2011 #
Very well done. What a disgrace. But let us never lose sight of the fact Selig made this all possible handing this creep the Dodgers as a consolation prize for not getting his beloved Red Sox.
Comment by Denver Dodger— June 30, 2011 #
Absolutely. Bob Ryan, long time sports writer for the Boston Globe, addresses this very issue in today’s Globe. While expressing his gratitude that the beloved Red Sox dodged the McCourt bullet, Ryan also wonders just why it is that Selig then allowed the scumbag to make the highly leveraged deal for the Dodgers. Ryan is very curious as to why different standards were applied to the potential Red Sox deal than were applied to the actual Dodger deal.
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It’s clear Ryan thinks there was something fishy about the Dodger deal. I agree and I think Dodger fans should inundate Selig with phone calls, emails, etc., asking him just why McCourt was his favored child back in 2004.
Comment by SC Dodger— June 30, 2011 #
Selig has addressed this numerous times. Boston, there were a bunch of bids, here, Franks was the only bid.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 1, 2011 #
Eli Broad matched Franks offer and it was refused.
Comment by brandon— July 2, 2011 #
Broad’s offer wasn’t refused. It came in late, after McCourt had been approved, but before the sales was final, and was contingent on McCourt’s offer falling apart.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 5, 2011 #
When the Dodgers played their first interleague series at Fenway Park some years ago, the McCourts’ self-aggrandizement at being the owners of one of the teams playing was shamefully apparent Everything he said that weekend made it seem as if the most important thing that ever happened in Dodgers history was getting to play in Fenway Park against his (obviously) favorite team…the Red Sox. You never heard him say anything intillegent about Dodgers history during those first few years- no Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson…just that it was extremely cool that the Dodgers got to play the Red Sox. A smart person would have tried to make it look like the team they owned was their actually their favorite team. But then again, Frank McCourt is the dumbest person to ever become rich (outside of lottery winners and professional athletes and musicians).
Comment by R Baird— July 1, 2011 #
TMZ posted one the bounced checks:
http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/30/los-angeles-dodgers-bounced-checks-frank-mccourt-employees-payroll-bank-bankruptcy/
I like Frank’s signature — it could double as a grade
Comment by QFR— June 30, 2011 #
Remember when this report came out? It happened around the same time we found out the McCourts had their sons on payroll.
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/18/more-questions-emerge-in-mccourts-tussle-over-dodgers/
This is $4 million in consulting to a firm that did…nothing. That’s more a single season of deferred money to Andruw Jones.
Comment by The Count— June 30, 2011 #
I hate Frank McCourt
Comment by Kenneth Castillo— June 30, 2011 #
Yes, yes, a million times yes.
Comment by The Hatch— July 1, 2011 #
#52 – Moved spring training site from Vero Beach to AZ.
Comment by EnchantedTheBeav— June 30, 2011 #
Seconded
Comment by Brian R— July 1, 2011 #
Third.
Comment by The Hatch— July 1, 2011 #
Gotta say — this is on the very short list of things McCourt has done right. While I miss the springs where I could spend all day listening to baseball (Dodgers in the morning, Angels in the afternoon), I really do enjoy being able to catch the Blue in Arizona. (Now, about that ballpark…)
Comment by scareduck— July 1, 2011 #
I can’t agree on that one. Moving VB to AZ, while sad, was the right call.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
I’m just sad that I never got the chance to go to Vero Beach and visit Dodgertown.
Comment by Brian R— July 1, 2011 #
I disagree. Frank took all that history and flushed it down the toilet in favor of making what he thought would be a windfall ST profit in Glendale. Scented towels? THAT should be #53. Vero Beach WAS Dodger baseball. Sharing a facility with the White Sox out in the middle of the desert isn’t.
Comment by EnchantedTheBeav— July 1, 2011 #
I’m incredibly torn on this. The history of Vero Beach is undeniable, but I for one had my first chance to visit ST this past March, and would not have been able to had it still been in Florida. It was probably the second best Baseball experience of my life, behind the time my dad surprised me by checking me out of school in the 1st grade to go to a day game, without telling my mom. Moving west makes it far more accessible to the fans, and isn’t that a good thing?
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 1, 2011 #
I think from a purely geographic standpoint to be more accessible to L.A., then yes its better. But being friendlier to the fans of L.A. wasn’t Frank’s motivation, $$$ were, and he crapped all over Vero and its people as well as decades upon decades of Dodger history in order to try and charge people $90 for a premium seat and scented towel in AZ.
Frank doesn’t do anything unless its to his benefit, and he doesn’t care what he has to do to achieve it.
Comment by EnchantedTheBeav— July 1, 2011 #
On the VB issue, there’s certainly room for argument on both sides. That means it’s not egregious enough to go on the list, because to many people, it was the right call.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
Put me down for “cashed out the unique asset of Dodgertown and its rich Dodger history, and the pride that it brought to Dodger fans, in exchange for sharing a cheaper Spring Training site in AZ, a move which some fans like because it’s more conveniently located”. Nice. This definitely goes on my version of the list.
Comment by Lovable Slob— July 1, 2011 #
Personally, I like the fact that Los Angeles is 400 Miles from Pheonix, and Dodger fans can now watch their team in Spring Training with ease by driving out for the weekend. It makes complete sense for the Dodgers to be in Phoenix as opposed to Vero Beach, and consequently, does make more money for the team. Can’t fault Frank there, because that actually benefited all of us (Except Mike, you east coaster).
Comment by LA Dodger Blues— July 2, 2011 #
Right – it doesn’t benefit me, and even I think it was the right move, so that’s why it’s not going on the list.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 2, 2011 #
I cant weigh in on this, as I have refused to go to any McCourt owned entity since hi third year of ownership. I am dying to go to Spring Training, but refuse to have anything to do with McCourt-connected economics. While I have a strong emotional attachment to anything linked to Dodger history, ala Vero Beach, I am also wondering if the Dodgers should be sold and a new stadium built elsewhere if McCourt is successful in his attempt to fracture the various components that make up Dodger Stadium. I’d love to see him sitting in his office with a huge, unused parking lot. oops..I forgot..he still would have his monthly flea market.
Comment by Ted Jackson— July 2, 2011 #
Well he sold out the history of Vero Beach solely for the money–not so fans could more easily see the team. By the way, the claim that they can more easily see the team strikes me as only marginally true. First, the difference in travel time is about 2 hours. Its 6 hours to get from downtown LA to Phoenix if you’re haulin. And that’s only possible if you’re not leaving on a Thursday or Friday at rush hour. The cross country flight is about 5:30. Admittedly, getting to and from the airport is a couple of hours each way, but the point is its not like Phoenix is exactly convenient. And while plane tickets are more expensive, take the gas as well as the tripling in the cost of tickets, and the more expensive hotels, and the gaps aren’t as large as they first seem.
Of course the other side of it is that a lot of Dodgers fans who retired to Vero Beach, and many east coasters who visited Vero at least in part because of their proximity and the incredible history of the place. After all, there is a reason that Sandy Koufax, among others, retied there. Camelback is sterile in comparison. Its difficult to tell the Dodgers even train there.
Comment by Dodger Dog— July 15, 2011 #
Great compilation. One more thing – right after the Vladimir Shpunt item, another item should be posted that Frank initially refused to allow Jayson Werth get a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic on his wrist after his first surgery was unsuccessful. The McCourts suggested to Werth that he see Shpunt instead.
Comment by The Dude Abides— June 30, 2011 #
Holy crap. Is this true? I had no idea. If so, I cannot blame Werth at all for catching the first bus out of town.
Comment by NativeWharf— June 30, 2011 #
Not sure if Werth actually saw Shpunt or not. But he did go to the Mayo Clinic on his own.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/10/sports/la-sp-dodgers-psychic-20100610/2
Comment by The Dude Abides— July 1, 2011 #
Allowed the ridiculous “This is my Town” song to play prior to every home game and on every commercial throughout the ’10 season.
Comment by Paul— June 30, 2011 #
Throw in playing don’t stop believing going into every 8th inning.
Comment by Brian R— July 1, 2011 #
And GBA every 7th inning – though I suppose some people wouldn’t see that as egregious, so forget it.
Comment by berkowit28— July 1, 2011 #
Does annoy the hell out of me.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
What about not paying Dodgers employees, most notably Vin Scully? I feel like stiffing Vin deserves its own number.
Comment by NativeWharf— June 30, 2011 #
I don’t believe there have been any missed payments to Vin.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that the money owed Vin in the bankruptcy filing is the money he earned between his last paycheck and the date of the filing. He is owed the money, but it wasn’t due till today.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 1, 2011 #
Additionally, #1 on this list should be the potential for Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw not being extended and lost via free agency, or traded due to financial instability.
Comment by NativeWharf— June 30, 2011 #
Too early for that, but if it happens, then yep.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
You left out the no tailgating policy in the parking lot after he chose to not offer arbitration to any players in 2009 so he could buy portable concession stands. I guess the no tailgating could have allowed the removal of security as well.
Comment by Brad— June 30, 2011 #
There’s so much there that I may have just missed it, but did the list have this?
Took out $140M loan against future ticket sales, using $20M of the money for personal use.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/24/business/la-fi-hiltzik24-2010feb24
Comment by Wil— June 30, 2011 #
It’s MORE than that: He created a separate company responsible for ticket sales, and then took a $367 million loan against future ticket sales, as reported here – http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2011/06/unraveling-tangled-mccourt-web.html.
I read elsewhere that this company was structured to own the rights to sell Dodgers tickets in perpetuity, regardless of who owns the team or where it plays.
“Shell Game” On.
Comment by LBprGuy— July 1, 2011 #
I just read on Forbes that the reason Frank wanted the Fox TV deal so badly is because it would give him a 35% equity share in the channel Prime Ticket.
“Figure Prime Ticket generates about $130 million in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) annually, giving it a valuation of roughly $2.5 billion. That works out to $875 million, for 35%, meaning the cash payments by Fox to the Dodgers would be $2.1 billion, or an average of $125 million a year.”
It would also result in a roughly $60 Million DIVIDEND to Frank Mccourt which would not be subject to MLB revenue share making it the equivalent of $80 Million of MLB revenue.
Basically he is trying to set up another deal where he gets paid without putting the money back into the dodgers.
http://blogs.forbes.com/mikeozanian/2011/07/01/equity-in-prime-ticket-is-what-makes-next-dodgers-deal-with-fox-valuable/
Comment by Gregg— July 1, 2011 #
http://blogs.forbes.com/mikeozanian/2011/06/30/difference-between-mccourt-or-selig-selling-dodgers-200-million/
Another interesting read stating that Frank only went to bankruptcy court to try and make the sale of the Dodgers a court ordered auction to the highest bidder as opposed to Selig selling the team to a friend for a lower price. The Forbes writer expects the difference in selling price being somewhere between $1 Billion if Selig sells compared to $1.2 Billion if it is an auction. Heres to hoping the court just orders the immediate auction sale as quickly as possible!
Comment by Gregg— July 1, 2011 #
Just saw this article that says the loan from Fox also included a “commitment fee” of $5 million. Frank’s spokesperson Robert Siegfried said “the Dodgers did not disclose the amount of the fee because Judge Gross did not ask for details of the team’s financing deal with Highbridge.”
Isn’t part of sworn testimony to tell the “whole” truth?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/los-angeles-dodgers-paid-5-million-for-short-term-loan-mlb-balks-070111
Comment by Steve K— July 1, 2011 #
This is the Highbridge Debtor in Possesion loan ($150 mil to get through bankruptcy) not the Fox loan ($30 mil to make payroll a few months ago) right? That would make the fees for this loan $9.5 mil (There’s a widely reported $4.5mil termination fee) PLUS a horrible 10% interest rate. Damn, that’s expensive money.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 1, 2011 #
You’re 100% right! I accidentally wrote “Fox” instead of the DIP loan…
Comment by Steve K— July 1, 2011 #
He’ll be taking out an auto title loan to make payroll by this time next month.
Comment by Mike in Milwaukee— July 1, 2011 #
In addition to #52 Firing Ross Porter, mentioned earlier, and #53 the hiring of (Jason Collins and) Steve Lyons as the new Dodgers voices, he …
#54 – Allowed VP Communications Derrick Hall, among the most trusted voices by local sportswriters, to resign and leave the organization.
#55 – Approved an entire marketing campaign for his team around a 38-year-old leftfielder not named Barry Bonds (Mannywood, 2009).
#56 – Approved an entire marketing campaign around listening to their team’s popular announcer during games, except that announcer only broadcasts three innings on radio (It’s Time for Dodger Baseball, 2011).
#57 – Allowed the Dodgers to initiate the gluttonous trend of All-You-Can-Eat seating.
#58 – Allowed the Dodgers to host the minor-league caliber promotion of Dog Night at the Ballpark.
Comment by LBprGuy— July 1, 2011 #
Eh. The only one there I would even consider is Hall.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
Fair enough. Love your blog.
Comment by LBprGuy— July 1, 2011 #
What is it about Porter’s firing that doesn’t piss you off? After spending 28 years in the booth (he was recommended for the position by Fred Claire and hired by Peter O’Malley), he was unceremoniously fired because the McCourt wanted to put 2 guys in the booth to boost ratings. The decision was absolutely about money, and McCourt fucked over a guy who spent the better part of 3 decades with the Dodgers. This is every bit as egregious — if not moreso — than bouncing checks to stadium employees, which made your list.
I’m 24, so for most of my life I listened to Porter on the radio, and his voice (though certainly not his talent or knowledge) was just as recognizable as Vin Scully’s. He was a voice of the Dodgers for the majority of my lifetime, and the McCourt regime elected not to extend his contract simply to boost revenue. If this greed-motivated decision isn’t a sin, I don’t know what is.
Comment by Chris S.— July 2, 2011 #
#57 is the one redeeming thing he’s done in my eyes (and stomach).
Comment by Bip— July 1, 2011 #
His “one redeeming thing” in my book was the 50th anniversary Coliseum game.
Comment by Chris S.— July 2, 2011 #
Hall was a nice guy. He helped us out with an issue many years ago. I was pissed when they let him go, but Franky had to milk the team of more money by putting his own people in there.
Comment by Dennis S— July 6, 2011 #
(Although, c’mon, you’ve got give me something for All-You-Can-Eat. ;-) )
Comment by LBprGuy— July 1, 2011 #
Another embarrassment: Failing to appoint Kim Ng as General Manager, allowing her to leave the Dodgers for MLB.
Comment by Brian Stuart— July 1, 2011 #
Nice new graphic on the sidebar, Mike, but now how am I supposed to know if Belisario has reported to camp?
Comment by Josh S.— July 1, 2011 #
[...] and foremost: thanks to everyone for the positive response to yesterday’s McCourt sin list. It’s already become the most-read post in the blog’s history, and coming as it did on [...]
Pingback by A Parting Gift For the Weekend « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 1, 2011 #
One of his first projects was to add premium seats down the foul lines at Dodger Stadium. Putting his flunkie sons in charge, the project was bungled and had to be ripped out and re-done after one season. The pitch was too low and fans could not see past the people in front of them, resulting in bad sales. I knew it would be a long slow death for the Dodgers at that point.
A few years later, he doubled parking rates under the auspices of a new, vastly improved parking system. Traffic was atrociously worse for the first month or two of the season. Most of the army of City parking stewards that he hired stood around looking confused and doing nothing while fake traffic controllers managed the gridlock from a fake control center. Today, parking is no better than it ever has been, but parking rates are still $15. City parking stewards still stand around half-asleep.
Comment by R Baird— July 1, 2011 #
The parking is better for our lot, but I don’t know about others.
As far as those premium seats, they still suck. You still can’t see anything. We bought a few games of those and they were terrible. We ended up spending much time in the first base club.
Comment by Dennis S— July 6, 2011 #
Has not his son also been in charge of several promotions that included the wrong number for Jackie Robinson and the wrong years for the Dodger anniversary?
Comment by Ted Jackson— July 2, 2011 #
I don’t recall those stories, Ted. Do you have links to stories?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 2, 2011 #
Dates next to each sin would be great
Comment by John Lucas— July 2, 2011 #
Failed to offer arbitration to Randy Wolf, despite the fact that he wouldn’t have taken it, causing the Dodgers to lose out on draft picks. (I suppose some of this should rest on Colletti, but I don’t think McCourt is completely blameless here either.)
Comment by Paul— July 4, 2011 #
I suspect this is more McCourt than Colletti. I imagin Frank was terrified Wolf would accept and Frank would be on the hook for 10 mil per year or so.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— July 5, 2011 #
Right, but then they traded for Lilly at the deadline, then re-signed him for $11 million per year for three years, and he’s both older and less effective than Wolf.
Comment by The Dude Abides— July 7, 2011 #
[...] Oh sure, last week Daryl turned you on to the new line of Frankrupt gear. However, if you want to see an incredibly well-assembled list of the ongoing sins of the Frank (and Jamie) McCourt error era error, it’s right here at Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness. [...]
Pingback by McCourt: Emotionally Exhausted & Morally Frankrupt— July 5, 2011 #
For the nerds like myself out there, I can’t think of a better analogy for number two than this post.
http://lostangelesblog.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/frank-mccourt-is-trying-to-kill-harry-potter/
Comment by Paul— July 5, 2011 #
I’m a season ticket holder and along with doubling our ticket prices, he has also hugely devalued our tickets by deeply discounting seats near ours. He made a number of promises to us at a meet and greet, and that included improving the stadium experience.
I will say that his changes to the parking lot has made things a great deal better for season ticket holders. I don’t know what it’s like for the general ticket holders but it’s better for season tickets holder. But that’s honestly about the only thing good.
The stadium is starting to show wear and tear. It does not appear that he’s putting back into improvements. The bathrooms on the Loge level have started to smell like sewage. We were promised improved consessions, restrooms, and amenities on the Loge level, but those never transpired. Instead we were met with Stalinist like security when entering the stadium, yet no improvements. I can see he funneled the money into his Malibu homes instead of making the staidum better.
I still enjoy going to the games with my 9 and 6 year old sons, but even they ask why the stadium and the team seem to going down hill. I’ll likely still continue to go to games with my sons because I can never match such time like that anywhere else. I know this goes against the boycott the games campaign, but my boys aren’t getting any younger and the worst day watching a baseball game is better than the best day at work without my kids.
There is one other item that isn’t widely publicized. He has strong armed long time season ticket holders out of their “premium” seats so that he can make them available to his rich millionaire buddies. I know of one individual who has had their seats in their family since the opening of the stadium. They have their seats on the now very small club level. Frank tried to take away their seats to build more suites. These individuals fought him and I believe won because he ran out of money for improvements, but I suspect if he hadn’t run up against tight finances he would have moved them in a heart beat.
It’s also funny, this individual I know on the club level said that the affair between the Limo driver and Jaime was once of the worst kept secrets. The club level people are a very tight group and many have strong relationships with the players. They know many of the front office people as the offices are right there.
Finally, on a personal note, I had one encounter with Jaime in Glendale. She was with her bodyguard (this was before the divorce the first season in Glendale), and I asked her to take a picture with me. She came over and gladly took a picture (which I thought was nice). I noticed at the time that she was quite friendly with her “bodyguard”. She seemed like quite a flirty person, so it didn’t surprise me to find out she was having an affair.
Comment by Dennis S— July 6, 2011 #
Oh and I personally feel another sin is allowing the stadium to be used for monster trucks. That just personally seems sacriledge to me. Anything beyond having concerts there, I just feel it’s a place for baseball. But given the stadium is owned by a different entity, it doesn’t surprise me that Frank is scratching for every dollar he can get. I might be alright with it if they actually put revenue from those events back into the stadium, but they haven’t put a dime back in.
Comment by Dennis S— July 6, 2011 #
Number 6, I think the GM at that time was Dan Evans not Depodesta.
Comment by Ty— July 6, 2011 #
[...] added #52 to the McCourt sin list. Remember, this list will keep on growing as more info comes out. 52.Reportedly attempted to take [...]
Pingback by Eugenio Velez, Starting Left Fielder « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 7, 2011 #
#53 Attempted to persuade the NFL to bring football to Chavez Ravine, all while not telling the District Representative of plans to do so. Furthermore, went against civic and city leaders’ plan to bring football back to Colliseum and stated that both can survive in Chavez Ravine while floating idea of demolishing Dodger Stadium and moving it to Downtown, where the Farmer’s Field is being proposed. He said he’d own both football teams, and would want AEG to build the stadiums.
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/29/sports/sp-mccourt29
http://www.fieldofschemes.com/news/archives/2010/03/4084_mccourt_the_nfl.html
Comment by yunghitters89— July 7, 2011 #
*both baseball and football teams, and would want AEG to build the stadiums.
Comment by yunghitters89— July 7, 2011 #
Ventured into the Chinese market and solicited a Bank to help him finance the purchase of a Beijing soccer club and had plans on purchasing an English Premier League Football Club. Abandoned plans once he was denied credit.
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/2901/jamie-mccourt
Comment by yunghitters89— July 7, 2011 #
#54 No longer allowing kids onto the warning track when teams are practicing in order to shag balls in CF.
#55 Took away chance of people sitting above Field to go down and get autographs from players.
My evidence is my own and others personal accounts.
Comment by yunghitters89— July 7, 2011 #
[...] saw this article, I knew it had to be in the links. Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness runs down The Collected Sins of the Frank & Jamie McCourt Era. I especially like #8, because I am a son, who has a father that aspires to [...]
Pingback by Friday Links « Puckett's Pond | A Minnesota Twins Blog— July 8, 2011 #
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2011/07/dodgers-fire-steve-garvey.html
Comment by Rich— July 8, 2011 #
The only thing we could think up to do about this guy was start a movement to oust him….it is here: http://www.facebook.com/56000boycottmccourt.
We have a ways to go but I think we can find 56,000 fed up dodger fans.
Comment by alv2011— July 9, 2011 #
And the most egregious sin of all? Giving Ned the idiot a vote of confidence
Comment by Kho— July 11, 2011 #
[...] to add it yet, but Bill Shaikin’s latest points to another impending addition to the McCourt sin list: Frank McCourt (pictured above) wants the Bankruptcy Court to approve a loan in which the Dodgers [...]
Pingback by Sell, Buy, or Other? Two Weeks Until the Deadline « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 15, 2011 #
[...] added entry #53 to the McCourt sin list. Well, it’s actually #11, since the list is roughly chronological and it happened so long [...]
Pingback by Juan Uribe Should Probably Stop Helping Pitchers Get Him Out « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 18, 2011 #
[...] check out Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness, he recently posted a list of the ‘Collected Sins of Frank McCourt’ it is fantastic and [...]
Pingback by Time for Dodgers to Step Up or Break Up | Lasorda's Lair— July 18, 2011 #
[...] college football blog, EDSBS, linked to this blog post by Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness’s The Collected Sins of the Frank & Jamie McCourt Era. Human filth [...]
Pingback by William World News » Nats visit the bankrupt L.A. Dodgers, which is bizzare to type— July 22, 2011 #
According to the letter obtained by the Times, Selig also learned that McCourt is being investigated by the IRS, specifically his tax returns from 2006 to 2008. In a divorce filing, Jamie McCourt claimed that the couple did not pay federal or state income tax from 2004 through 2009.
Comment by Dodger Blues— July 22, 2011 #
Ordered removal of player names from back of jerseys because he wanted to be more like the Boston team…alienating Dodger fans and demonstrating yet again how out of touch he is…
Comment by Doug— July 24, 2011 #
Hey, I’m an outsider here, so if my concern isn’t related to reality, please forgive me. I am flabbergasted by this one:
“Allowed merchandise/advertisements to be produced which celebrated both the 1962 and 1966 World Series championship seasons and the career of former catcher Lou Campanella, who wore #42 with the Dodgers. (added 7/18/11 – thanks, Luke)”
You mean no one had the balls or even knowledge to correct this?
Comment by Jeff C.— July 27, 2011 #
Sad, isn’t it?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 27, 2011 #
[...] Two more additions to the McCourt sin list: we’re now at 55. [...]
Pingback by Trading Season Heats Up, But Maybe Not For the Dodgers « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 27, 2011 #
Is 54 really a sin? Correct me if I’m wrong, but the sin in it is that he can recoup his losses from the Dodgers. The fact that he has to negotiate a better loan is a good thing isn’t it?
Comment by Rich— July 27, 2011 #
I’ve been using “sin” and “embarrassment” as somewhat interchangable terms here, and getting shot down by yet another court is certainly embarrassing.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 27, 2011 #
True. I guess I’ve become too accustomed to the embarrassment. Way to stay grounded.
Comment by Rich— July 27, 2011 #
I believe Firing Steve Garvey should, no, HAS to be on the list. That’s like firing Mickey Mouse from Disneyland.
Comment by Scott from Virginia— July 27, 2011 #
Garvey was openly campaigning to get rid of McCourt. If anything the surprise is that he didn’t get fired sooner.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 27, 2011 #
One report today said that We got $2.5 mil in the deal for Furcal, which presumably meant we had to take a lesser prospect int he trade than we would have gotten had we eaten that money.
Comment by Dodger_Dog— July 31, 2011 #
While McCourt is tied up in ligation to gain two pennies to rub together, the land McCourt sold to finance his purchase of the Dodgers is undergoing a $3 Billion renovation.
Evidence of McCourt’s poor business sense documented at http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/07/31/mccourts_miss_is_another_developers_home_run/?page=full.
Comment by Nishan— August 5, 2011 #
Hiring goons as ushers?
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/6854574/usher-takes-kid-foul-ball-los-angeles-dodgers-call-joke
Comment by Ben— August 12, 2011 #
Regarding #48. Isn’t it just the Dodgers that are bankrupt? Frank’s not, nor is Jamie. Just the Dodgers.
Comment by Jeff D— August 21, 2011 #
How about the survey the Dodgers circulated asking fans what they thought of Vin Scully?
This is arguably the stupidest thing the McCourts have done.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers-20110824,0,3680136.column?page=2&track=rss
Comment by Jeff D— August 24, 2011 #
Yeah, Mike, you really need to add this one. It was even discussed on national media, and was kinda the definition of “embarrassing”. Otherwise, keep up the great work, and I really enjoy following you on twitter.
Comment by Chris Grizzell (@BBQWino)— October 7, 2011 #
Added #56, being sued by Fox.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 28, 2011 #
[...] to take over the club, before McCourt then took the club into bankruptcy to save his skin, before a list of his many embarrassments became the most-read post in this history of this site, before court dates became more important [...]
Pingback by 82-79 « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 29, 2011 #
I can’t believe the McCourt survey asking season ticket holders to rate Vin Scully isn’t on here.
Comment by Ben— September 29, 2011 #
[...] hearings–I’ve wanted to write something on here about Frank McCourt and how much the sins he’s committed against this team make my blood [...]
Pingback by Frank McCourt Must Go. « Filmic Pulp— October 3, 2011 #
SHOULD HAVE KEPT BELTRE–HOW MANY GOOD 3b ARE THERE IN THE MAJORS NOW?–SIGN MANNY FOR 25 MILLION?–JONES FOR 36 MILLION?SCHMIDT FOR HOW MUCH–McCOURT WAS JUST NEVER ANYGOOD EVER FOR THE DODGERS AND SELIG JUST DIDNT CARE IF THE DODGERS DID GOOD ANYWAY–GET RID OF SELIG AND McCOURT BOTH ARE KILLING BASEBALL!
Comment by Ray— October 4, 2011 #
Um, wow.
Comment by Mike— October 5, 2011 #
[...] Court to order McCourt to sell the team. A Selig victory will be a win for Dodgers fans that have a laundry list of grievances against the owner. MLB alleges that McCourt has used $180 million of Dodgers revenues for personal [...]
Pingback by For Dodgers Fans, McCourt Saga Far From Over | Neon Tommy— October 20, 2011 #
It looks like you missed the most ominous and glaring sin of them all. When most rank and file fans with brains got wind of the embezzlement free fall, McTort and company resorted to implementing a cheesy Doyers ad campaign in Spanish that appealed to lowlife element gangbanger fans and turned Dodgers Stadium into the ghetto ballpark that we know today. This directly led to the near death beating of Bryan Stow and the subsequent empty home games that continue to threaten the future of the franchise. Unless a new stadium is built in a better part of LA, I predict that the Dodgers will be contracted or sold and moved elsewhere. New ownership must move LAD away from the Echo Park/Chavez Latrine ghetto, or else LA Dodgers baseball is surely doomed.
Comment by Rick— October 25, 2011 #
This is borderline racism, right?
Comment by Mike— October 25, 2011 #
Your PC labels can’t beat facts or the truth. And I’m sure Bryan Stow would agree. Home games will remain empty until Dodgers Stadium is raised and a new ballpark is built away from the gang psychos. Most fans who are ignoring and avoiding home games aren’t dumb.
Chavez Latrine is unsafe. Tear it down, build a prison and move LAD to West LA. LOL!
Comment by Rick— October 25, 2011 #
Is this guy serious? I’ve been going to Dodgers games since I was a kid (I’m 26) and yes, granted I do wear the home team colors and I’m 6 feet 200+ lbs, so naturally I don’t feel endangered…but this doesn’t happen ALL the time, and it also happens in other ballparks as well (look at Philthy). Regardless, I live in the peaceful town of Camarillo, and I drive about an hour to the games and I honestly always meet nice people. I don’t agree with Stow getting blamed for what happened, but you can’t ignore the idea that he was heckling the (obvious) gang bangers. Everybody knows LA is a city infested with “cholos” and it’s evident what they look like, and these guys fit right into that category. These guys don’t have any morals or any understanding of what’s right or wrong. If you’re going to sit there, and slap Frankenstein in the face, you’re going to get your ass kicked. This guy commenting is an idiot and a propagandist with no life. I’m sure Stow was purposely injected into that scenario to bring down McCheap and the Dodgers too…right?
Comment by Poop > Rick— October 31, 2011 #
[...] at this type of behavior, but given the history Frank McCourt, I am not surprised. He has a track record of doing shady [...]
Pingback by Frank McCourt is raping an pillaging the Los Angeles Dodgers « thirddowntouchdown— October 25, 2011 #
Sick title of this blog site anticipates MS’s demise and you throw around labels? This team has been outsourced and home games are like a trip across the border into the 3rd world. This is why the stadium is empty and will remain that way. By design, MLB sent this bum McTort to buy LAD on debt on purpose to destroy the franchise. Good riddance. The best that you can hope for is to return to Brooklyn! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!
Comment by Rick— October 25, 2011 #
So you’ve acknowledged you have no idea what the title of this blog refers to.
Comment by Mike— October 25, 2011 #
Time to add #57: through his attorney, announces that he intends to blame Brian Stow for his own beating.
Comment by Ignotz— October 28, 2011 #
Great list. I have a similar one on my blog. This whole situation is being blown out of proportion. McCourt isn’t only hurting dodger fans, but baseball fans all over as well.
Comment by schillingsbloodysock— November 1, 2011 #
The whole situation is being blown out of proportion?
Comment by Mike— November 1, 2011 #
I guess I didn’t clarify enough haha. The whole situation with Fox.
Comment by schillingsbloodysock— December 19, 2011 #
[...] … you know what? Screw it. Just check out this list of 57 jaw-dropping actions taken by the McCourts since they bought the team, meticulously compiled by another excellent blog, [...]
Pingback by Farewell, Frank: Dodger Faithful Have Reason to Rejoice | pokemonsilverrom.com— November 1, 2011 #
Gotta say that, while I agree that the McCourts deserve the scorn that was sent their way, MLB (and the Commissioner) and Fox have avoided the blame that should be shot at them. Remember that Fox sold the Dodgers to the McCourts and that they were so desperate to dump the Dodgers that they became McCourts “enablers” both during the original sale (by extending the financing) and thereafter (by providing the loans). Fox bought the Dodgers to prevent the Dodgers from forming a YES-like network; then when that was avoided and a new local TV contract signed, they dumped them to our schmuck, McCourt.
Comment by John Fricks— November 1, 2011 #
[...] through the current bankruptcy case, with input from MLB. If you need a pick-me-up today, read this insane list of offenses in the McCourt ownership era, and then think fondly of the Cubs’ owner, the Ricketts Family. [...]
Pingback by So, About that Theo Compensation Deadline and Other Bullets | Bleacher Nation | Chicago Cubs News, Rumors, and Commentary— November 2, 2011 #
[...] October of 2009, well before bankruptcies, Russian faith healers, attempted MLB takeovers and over 50 other sins: So when the news of your divorce came out on the day of Game 1 of the NLCS, that was troubling [...]
Pingback by Frank McCourt Gets One More Push Out That Door « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— November 2, 2011 #
[...] League Baseball finally forcing Frank McCourt to sell the Dodgers yesterday, I went back to one of the greatest articles on bad sports ownership of all [...]
Pingback by the abrotion. – The McCourts Were Batshit Crazy— November 2, 2011 #
[...] Taking a larger view, this signing was more important than just baseball, anyway. Sure, locking up your MVP candidate center fielder is fantastic, but as I hardly need to remind you, the last two years have been nightmarish for the Dodgers and their fans. Letting their most marketable homegrown star walk for nothing – or even having to deal with an entire 2012 of “is this Kemp’s last season?” - would have been yet another massive PR disaster after dozens upon dozens of them. [...]
Pingback by Matt Kemp Officially Agrees to New Contract « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— November 18, 2011 #
Damn, Damn, DAMN! I had to go to the medicine cabinet after reading the 28th McCourt Flub! This guy needs a one-way ticket on a nose dive jet! Like Pop-Eye would say,” I’ve read enough, I can’tz readz no more!” I’m going to bed!!!
Comment by bballerjones— December 20, 2011 #
[...] season is probably the most likely chance of keeping the streak alive.) Of course, since one of the many sins of the Frank McCourt era is that the Dodgers have become one of the most stingy teams in [...]
Pingback by For Dodgers, Lack of International Spending Is Beginning to Show « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— December 29, 2011 #
Say, what about hiring his friend who took almost 1/4 the amount the budgeted money that was supposed to go to a children’s charity?
Comment by Lynne— January 4, 2012 #
[...] to keep the parking lots around Dodger Stadium, if he so chose. (You can chalk that up to sin #2 on his large list of offenses, splitting the team and property into a variety of different entities, thus allowing him to claim [...]
Pingback by Frank McCourt Will Haunt Your Dreams Until The Last Possible Second « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— January 18, 2012 #
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[...]The Collected Sins of the Frank & Jamie McCourt Era « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness[...]…
Trackback by Download wii homebrew|learn how to copy wii games|download homebrew software|Flash wii console|Play backups on wii— January 22, 2012 #
Sport is important and nothing more. In a healthy body, healthy mind.
Comment by KR— February 16, 2012 #
[...] never forgive them for. Jackasses.) In the nearly two-and-a-half-years since then, through dozens of sins and probably hundreds of posts on this site, they have bankrupted the team off the field, hindered [...]
Pingback by Seven Reasons for Optimism in 2012 « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— February 23, 2012 #