Los Angeles Dodgers: Frank McCourt Must Go, Soon

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the more storied franchises in all of sports. Dating back to their days in Brooklyn, the Dodgers have won six World Series and 21 National League pennants. But the Dodgers are making headlines these days for all of the wrong reasons.

Just this week, owner Frank McCourt filed for bankruptcy protection after MLB nixed his television deal with Fox Sports. The deal with Fox Sports would have also allowed McCourt to pay off his ex-wife and settle their bitter divorce.

In the past few years, the McCourts have made headlines as every seedy detail of their near 30-year marriage has become public. The former wife, otherwise known as Jamie, not only has wanted the couple’s homes, but the Dodgers as well. Frank meanwhile, said she can have the homes, but he wants the Dodgers.

Seriously, this is what has become of the Dodgers.

Former Dodgers greats from Jackie Robinson to Don Drysdale have to be rolling over in their respective graves.

Some of my fondest memories as a child revolve around the Dodgers. From Fernando Valenzuela and his “Fernandomania,” to Orel Hershiser and his consecutive scoreless innings streak, the Dodgers have an amazing history.

Anyone remember Game 1 of the 1988 World Series? Kirk Gibson, the 1988 National League MVP entered the game in the bottom of the ninth against future Hall of Fame closer, Dennis Eckersley. Gibson, nursing injuries in both legs, came on as a pinch-hitter in what would be his only at-bat in the series and hit a walk-off home run to give the Dodgers the early advantage. They never looked back.

Now, this is the same Dodgers’ franchise that needs the assistance of Major League Baseball in order to make payroll.

Matt Kemp is having an MVP-caliber season, but unless you play fantasy baseball you are unlikely to know. Andre Ethier is having another solid season and Clayton Kershaw is perhaps the best young left-handed starting pitcher in the game.

But, unfortunately for these talented players, their exploits are largely under the radar.

While the Dodgers are not having a good season overall, they are far from out of contention. This is the time of the season where teams start assessing their weaknesses and what pieces they need to add to get stronger for the second half of the season.

With MLB seizing control of the Dodgers, it is unlikely they will be buyers. Players such as Kemp, Ethier and Kershaw are going to be very expensive to keep in the future, and will command expensive, long-term contracts to remain in Dodger blue.

So what happens with the Dodgers from this day forward?

Does MLB run this team as normal teams are run and make trades that benefit the Dodgers organization? Will they trade off some of those valuable assets?

As one would expect, this entire situation has affected the team at the box office as well. Fans despise McCourt and many refuse to go to games until he is officially out. Who can blame them? Fans spend their hard-earned money on their favorite team and they get treated like this?

The Dodgers will recover, but when? The fans will come back, especially to celebrate McCourt’s eventual dismissal. But, in the meantime, the Dodgers have become an afterthought on the field, which is unfair.

The one who should really suffer for the demise of the Dodgers is the rich egomaniac that created this mess. Frank McCourt should be banned from attending any sporting event for the remainder of his life. And if he does attend, fans everywhere should throw whatever they can get their hands on at him. I realize banning him from attending sporting events is impossible, but treating him as he treated this franchise would be vindication.

So what happens next Mr. Selig? You are the same man who essentially blocked Mark Cuban from buying the Pirates or the Cubs. Mark Cuban could be good for the game. Sure he is brash, but he puts the money his teams make back into the team. The Dodgers could sure use that about right now.

Neither I, nor anyone knows if Mark Cuban has an interest in the Dodgers. But if he were to express interest, it would be great for the game. Fans would come back in droves and free agents would flock to L.A.

This is on you, Bud. So far, so good. Just make sure baseball fans, and especially Dodger fans, never have to worry about Frank McCourt making a baseball decision again.

And just think Red Sox fans, the McCourts are from Massachusetts and almost bought your beloved Sox in 2002 until John Henry and company outbid him. Yes, he was the genius who was going to destroy Fenway Park and build a stadium on land he owned.