Dennis Gilbert, long a fan favorite to purchase the Dodgers, gave that quote to ESPN Los Angeles' Tony Jackson yesterday. He offered it with the proviso, "As far as I know." And he's right in that regard. The team is no more for sale today than it has been at any point since Frank (and, depending on which side you take, perhaps Jamie) McCourt purchased it several years ago. Gilbert, unlike the McCourts, would have one key advantage in the hearts of Angelenos. Jackson:
In addition to running his high-end insurance firm, Gilbert also presently serves as a special assistant to Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Gilbert is a regular presence at Dodger Stadium, as he holds season tickets in the front row of the Dugout Club, directly behind home plate. Gilbert and a group of investors he organized recently failed in their bid to purchase the Texas Rangers.
If Gilbert was to end up with the Dodgers, the symmetry would be simply delightful. Frank McCourt fails to acquire his desired team, ends up three thousand miles away in a completely alien culture. What if the end game is Dennis Gilbert fails to acquire second-choice team, ends up owning his first choice all along? I have little doubt he'd have the fans' support; first, he's a local, and second, he's not a McCourt.
But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let's watch how this Rangers auction plays out. It features former California/Anaheim Angel Nolan Ryan bidding against another fan favorite for Dodgers ownership, Mark Cuban. The significance is that the court seems to be allowing a sale to Cuban without subjecting him to Major League Baseball's approval process. It's entirely possible the McCourt litigation ends up in a forced sale of some manner. The issue will be the degree to which the sale would be under judicial control; Judge Gordon could order a sale outside the court, or facilitate one within it.
---
I'll be on ESPN Radio 710 out of Los Angeles at 2:42 with Steve Mason and John Ireland to talk Dodgers. Hope you can tune in!
---
Posts
I thought he was only Commissioner Gordon, not judge, and thus his only real power is calling the caped crusader!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though love the blog and the insight to what is going on. Keep up the good work!
If there was a forced sale, what potential owners be out there: Cuban(if he fails in the rangers), Gilbert, Eli Broad, The crazy russian billionare of the nets, the O'Malleys again?
Heard the Mason and Ireland interview... I was floored when they mentioned the Shaikin piece from the LA Times. I looked it up and was amazed by what I read... Bring back FOX into the ownership equation?! Has he lost his mind?! Granted, the idea seemed to support getting FOX's money behind McCourt's direction and ability to waste less money... But I can't even begin to wrap my mind around some amalgamation of two equally reviled ownership groups! I'm no expert on who is best suited to return the Dodgers to their former glory (be it Gilbert, Cuban, or someone else)... but at this point anyone anyone with funds for success and a desire to win would be welcome with open arms by myself and most of LA.
ReplyDeleteFront row, behind home plate, the old bald chubby guy to the right? Or the guy with a suit towards the middle i see from time to time? lol
ReplyDeletere anonymous from August 4, 2010 9:40 PM:
ReplyDeleteSay what you will but the core that's winning now, that foundation was laid by Fox. Fox's ownership was IMO really marred by 2 things, 1. Peter Chernin's trading of Mike Piazza (Chernin is now no longer with Fox), 2. the hiring of Kevin Malone (and who knows where the Sheriff is now!) Fox hired Dan Evans who brought in Kim Ng and Logan White. I don't necessarily see a problem with Fox reentering the picture in a minority role.
Josh - the thing that I am curious about is, if the bankruptcy court rule the sale in favour of Cuban (and skirting MLB owner approval,) doesn't that open up a pandora's box so far as future team sales? Does the bankruptcy court judge have to take these sorts of things into mind when he rules?
thank you for sharing its very informative
ReplyDeletePakistan free classifieds site