04/23/24
October 15, 2009
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie, the team's chief executive, have separated: raising questions about the potential effect of their rift on the ownership of the franchise as the Dodgers prepare to start the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies today at Dodger Stadium.
Frank McCourt getting divorced? I thought he was already dead.
Angela's Ashes. What? Oh.
posted by owlhouse at 10:25 AM on October 15, 2009
Now that it's front page news in the L.A. Times, I thought I'd upgrade it to an FPP.
Still no reaction from T.J. Simers.
posted by cjets at 10:26 AM on October 15, 2009
After all the battle hardening that Torre went through with the Steinbrenner family, this is no big deal to him.
He's just going to keep managing the ballclub.
posted by beaverboard at 11:13 AM on October 15, 2009
I'd heard Padilla was a divisive character in the clubhouse, but if he can get all the way to the top of an organization in this short of time, his powers must be far greater than feared.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:26 PM on October 15, 2009
Do they split the players in the divorce?
posted by dbt302 at 12:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Manny: I was ... um ... thinking we could hook up after all this.
Jamie: I don't date players. And it's pronounced "Pagniacci".
posted by smithnyiu at 01:35 PM on October 15, 2009
I wonder how well the kids will play now that mom and dad are splitting up and dad has moved out of the clubhouse?
posted by irunfromclones at 01:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Probably not a huge deal for this team, but you hate any potential distraction to the players at this time. I doubt there will be any great distraction though, since it is in both Frank & Jamie's best interest @ this point to not to make a big deal of this.
Now whenever the Dodger's season ends . . .
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:50 PM on October 15, 2009
since it is in both Frank & Jamie's best interest @ this point to not to make a big deal of this.
If that's the case, why not wait to make the announcement until November.
If the dodgers make the World Series, I think this story will get a lot of play.
posted by cjets at 03:00 PM on October 15, 2009
Between the ball club and all those multi-million dollar homes, a lot to divide up, I'm sure the lawyers are drooling over their potential take.
Good reason why you should never involve your spouse in your business. I've seen this play out too many times in the restaurant industry, when both parties are heavily involved, it's impossible to make a clean break. If only one is involved in the business it's easier for the other to walk away. Of course, they have to be bought out, but the business doesn't lose one of the key players.
You would think they could have waited another three weeks to make an announcement, however, I can't imagine a player giving a rip either way.
posted by dviking at 04:00 PM on October 15, 2009
Good reason why you should never involve your spouse in your business.
Not really. The business they built together is a great baseball team that reached the NLCS two years in a row. If you're afraid to run a business with your spouse because of the cost to the business if you break up, isn't there a bigger issue to worry about there?
Now if you're afraid to run a business with your spouse because it might hurt the marriage, that I can understand.
posted by rcade at 04:27 PM on October 15, 2009
rcade, my point is that relationships often go in different directions (not just married spouses, but also best friends) and the break up affects the business as well. How long have they been at odds with each other? Did that affect any of their decision making? Did their situation make others feel uncomfortable, and perhaps cause others to alter their actions? I could go on. In business school, it is often discussed that one should think twice before going into a business with best friend or a spouse as a partner. Just too hard to separate the business from the relationship, and since any good business plan has a solid exit strategy, a relationship makes that difficult as well.
They obviously were successful at it for a while, but now they'll pay the price.
posted by dviking at 11:32 PM on October 15, 2009
That's why God created the prenup.
posted by BornIcon at 09:47 AM on October 16, 2009
Here's Simers on the break up from today's L.A. Times:
AS FOR the McCourts, I would guess the nickname the Screaming Meanie probably hits a little too close to home, but I can hardly go with the one I used previously, Frank's Old Lady.
With all that has been written about them on Page 2, there's never been the suggestion here they are bad people. They might be great parents and dear friends to those who know them.
As for running the Dodgers, they were learning on the job, too often appearing clueless. But right now they are people with troubles, and no one likes to see such a thing. Their timing, though, remains horrendous.
Here are two people who wouldn't acknowledge for weeks and weeks they were going to be the owners of the Dodgers, ignoring the criticism but suddenly going magpie with their personal problems just hours before the Dodgers were going to make their pitch for a World Series invite.
For two people who spent an inordinate amount of money going through image makers the last five years, when they needed someone the most to whisper in their ears to just shush up for a few more weeks, their last hire was already out looking for work.
WHEN THIS McCourt business is finally resolved, I just want to know, who gets custody of Lasorda?
posted by cjets at 12:27 PM on October 16, 2009
What a time to announce a separation. I think Manny Mota is to blame.