FanHouse Jamie McCourt

The personal and professional lives of Frank and Jamie McCourt have certainly seen better days. The two had been married since 1979, having four children together. They were working together in running one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, citing irreconcilable differences, the two are going through divorce proceedings -- which appear neither friendly nor ending anytime soon.

While the Los Angeles Dodgers season may be over it appears that team owner Frank McCourt's divorce drama with his wife Jamie is going to continue for a while. The latest story being reported about the estranged couple is of Jamie calling 911 after being startled at home by Frank.

According to the police report that was filed, Frank did not attack Jamie in anyway, but rather came over to the house while she was swimming, which prompted her to make the call.

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, have confirmed to the Associated Press that they have separated a few days after Frank attended the Cardinals-Dodgers game alone. This is intriguing news in terms of how it may effect the inner workings of the Dodgers' front office. Jamie McCourt is the team president and CEO of the Dodgers -- making her the highest ranking female in all of baseball.

If the separation continues and evolves into a divorce, how will all their substantial assets be divided? They've been married since 1979, so the ownership of the Dodgers -- and the job of the team president -- will likely be at stake during proceedings.

When managerial jobs open up, Major League Baseball usually requires that team interview at least one minority for the position. In the case of the Dodgers, though, they're getting a pass in their quest to hire Joe Torre. From the Los Angeles Times (via SbB)

The Dodgers were allowed to skip the interviews of minorities because of their hiring record. Selig issued a memorandum in 1990 directing teams to notify his office of minority candidates they planned to interview for vacancies in decision-making positions.

Assistant general managers Kim Ng and De Jon Watson are minorities -- Ng is an Asian-American woman and Watson is African American -- and president Jamie McCourt is the highest-ranking female executive in baseball.

(Update: As pointed out in the comments, the LA Times is incorrect: Faye Vincent was actually the commish of baseball in 1990.)

While it's true that the Dodgers have one of the most diverse front offices in the game, that's not why they should be given a free pass on this. No, the reason should be because pretending to show interest to another candidate -- no matter what race, gender or creed -- would be an absolute farce. The Dodgers fired Grady Little for one reason and one reason only: to hire Joe Torre. Pausing for a moment so the front office can go through the charade of feigning interest in another guy with a darker complexion would make a mockery of the rule, which is to create opportunities. There is no opportunity, the Dodgers want Torre and that's it.

It's like week of the clubhouse attendant in baseball. First we had a former Mets employee, Kirk J. Radomski, admit to distributing HGH and other steroids. And now, we have former Dodgers clubhouse attendant Dave Dickenson tell Bill Plaschke in the LA Times about all the dirty clubhouse affairs to which he used to attend.

When the star Dodger routinely showed up for day games still drunk from the previous night, the clubhouse guy knew his role.
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Dickenson said he would pour a cup of beer and place it in the dugout bathroom. The star player would sneak there between innings for a drink, and continue drinking throughout the game.
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He said he never saw a steroid at Dodger Stadium. However, he did say that before baseball's amphetamine ban, he would commonly vacuum "greenies" off the floor after games.
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Dickenson said that when a player was attracted to women in the stands during the games, he would be ordered to bring those women the player's phone numbers.

Bones (Dickenson's nickname) said he would do anything to keep the players happy, including what's listed above. Some of the additional duties mentioned in the article were washing cars, doing laundry for player's families, breaking up fights, and entertaining player's children.

Having actually worked with the Dodgers during the 2004 season, I was partially acquainted with Bones. He was quiet, well-liked by the players, and seemed to keep most of the business to himself. Unfortunately Bones was fired by the team last year, and most likely used the interview as a way to get back at the Dodgers for what he feels was an undeserved termination. Bones was told he was fired because he was getting too close to the players. However, the article raises speculation that Dickenson was fired for insulting one of the McCourt's children (Frank and Jamie McCourt own the Dodgers). Whatever the case, Bones' stories have opened a window into the uglier side of baseball clubhouses and they prove that sometimes the people you think least about, are privy to information you never want revealed.

Previously at FanHouse:
Better Know a Steroid Dealer: Kirk J. Radomski
From the Archive: Mets Locker Room Home to Steroids, Too

As reported by the awesome site SportsbyBrooks, Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt will make an appearance in Pasadena on New Years day:

the McCourts will be fielding a Dodgers-themed float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena next year - at a cost well in excess of $1M (the move has yet to be publicly floated, but a source tells SbB it's a done deal).
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The LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS reports that a typical Rose parade float costs around $150K,

Inside sources also tell Brooks that the club no longer provides four tickets per home game to employees, which he thinks is a bit shady given how much they plan to spend on the float.

My question is, will their float look like this?

Previously at FanHouse:
Well, This is One Way to Protest Oakland's Move to Fremont

In this day in age when every Bowl Game, halftime show, and stadium is sponsored by Corporate America, it's nice to know that the Dodgers ownership won't let the naming rights to Dodger Stadium be bought out. From the Rocky Mountain News,

"I can't even imagine it," McCourt, 53, said in an interview in New York. "I don't think you will ever see Dodger Stadium have any other name but Dodger Stadium."

In order to generate stadium revenue

McCourt said the Dodgers would sell naming-rights sponsorships to portions of the stadium, such as parts of the grandstand.

Hmm, maybe that explains why parking went up $5. But if that's what it costs to keep tradition, then Dodger fans should be more than happy to pay it.