After months and months of controversy and turmoil, the Los Angeles Dodgers have officially declared bankruptcy. Owner Frank McCourt has been embroiled in a battle for control with his now estranged wife, and while we were all hoping for one of Major League Baseball’s to pull through, it is apparent now that the damage has officially been done.
The Dodgers main issue as of late has been their struggle to make payroll. Many high-profile players, both on the Dodgers and off, are still owed serious amounts of money by the team, and the revenue just hasn’t kept up. PLayers include now retired Manny Ramirez, who is owed $21 Million, and Andrew Jones, who is owed $11 Million. Creditors, in total, are owed $74,121,433.
The decision was ultimately made by Frank McCourt himself, and not MLB Commisioner Bud Selig who has taken a big hand in the Dodger’s day to day financial operations. This has been a long time coming, as anyone who follows Baseball knows, but the icing on the cake came when Selig killed a $3 Billion deal with Fox to broadcast games. Not sure why exactly the deal wasn’t made, but hey, I’m no economist. Just a fan.
As far as I’m concerned, The Dodgers have one option: sell to Mark Cuban. I know the owners think he’s too brash for their somehow more-sacred sport (you know, the one with the 2 decades of Amphetamines and Steroids). Cuban, besides being the man, brings fan-fare and intensity wherever he goes, and for crying out loud, just won the NBA Championship!! The Dodgers have as much history as any team in any sport, and frankly, it’s embarrassing that this has gone down this way. They need to sell, and if Cuban is willing, let him have it.
BTW, Mets, you’re next. Sorry guys. That much anticipated 3rd World Series is probably not coming any time soon.
