You don’t see family members go at each other in a high-profile court case like this in Los Angeles since the Chandlers gave up the LA Times. So nostalgic. Yes, the epic struggle for control of the Dodgers begins on Thursday, as Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt square off to contest assets in their divorce. “Who needs two? Got tickets in the second row, middle, right opposite the bailiff. Who needs tickets?” “Red hots! Get your Dodger Dogs!”

Of course Jamie McCourt is attempting to get back her job as Dodger CEO after being fired by club owner and husband Frank. The plot thickened when Frank accused Jamie of secret naughty Paris hi-jinks with her “security advisor,” Jeff Fuller. The court will hear arguments from Jamie as to why she should be reinstated, and why the Fuller accusations should be withheld. Frank will contend that Jamie is a detriment to the team, and the entire National League. Vin Scully will call the action. Read more…

TMZ gets its hands on Jamie McCourt’s official divorce filing today, and it’s a doozy.

(We all had the same reaction)

First off, Jamie lists the date of separation as July 6, 2009. Here are some of the things Jamie is demanding in the settle with husband Frank:

- travel by private jet
- 5 star hotel accommodations
- travel expenses - Unlimited
- business dinners 5 nights per week
- business lunches 5 days per week
- making Dodger Legends available for events without charge
- access to team doctors for McCourt family members
- access to the owner’s suite for Dodger home games and non-baseball events at the stadium
- Tickets to All-Star games and playoff games — even if the Dodgers aren’t playing
- a pass to all National League games

That’s not even the best part. Read more…

More fun with the McCourts’ freakshow divorce today, as TMZ reports on the events following a 911 call Jamie McCourt made to police about Frank.

(Oh god no. This guy.)

Frank’s version:

Mr. McCourt was living alone at the residence in West Los Angeles and his wife was residing in Malibu. That morning, Mr. McCourt left the house and went jogging. When he returned home to the West Los Angeles residence, he found his wife (Jamie) swimming in the pool and her personal “security assistant” Jeff Fuller, was also at the residence.

Jeff Fuller? The same Fuller who is now romantically involved with Jamie, but only started seeing her after the McCourts’ breakup?

Meanwhile, Jamie’s side has a very, VERY different account of the events. Read more…

TMZ posted photos today it claims are of Jamie McCourt and her new boyfriend, a gent named Jeff Fuller.

(Jeff on the left)

We got these pictures of Jamie yesterday, lunching in Malibu with Jeff Fuller — the new guy in her life. Now, in the awkward department, until recently Jeff was the Director of Protocol for the Dodgers.

We’re told Jamie and Fuller began seeing each other after she split with Frank. Fuller was fired from the Dodgers in omid-October.

So Fuller just “recently” left the Dodgers and only started “seeing” Jamie after her split with Frank McCourt? Their timing is uncanny!

Read more…

UPDATE: SI is now reporting Jamie McCourt has been officially fired, within the last two days. (LA Times confirms.)

LAT also offers:

Jamie McCourt is believed to be lining up investors for a possible effort to buy out her husband and gain sole control of the team. In addition, she is believed to have started calling prominent baseball figures, with the intention of arranging meetings to discuss the direction of the team.

This is getting good. A week after the news hit that the McCourts were divorcing, SI reports today that “Frank McCourt is seriously considering firing his wife Jamie as CEO.”

Frank McCourt is chairman of the club and highest ranking officer of the franchise. Jamie is the second-highest ranking officer.

More: “Both McCourts have expressed an interest in owning the Dodgers separately.” Read more…

It’s been fun following the media coverage of the McCourts’ separation today. Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com broke the breakup while adding that Jamie McCourt is “better positioned” to buy the team outright than her husband Frank.

(#F—ME)

That put Frank’s lawyer Marshall Grossman, who is also Erin Andrews’ attorney, on the defensive with the L.A. TIMES:

“Frank McCourt is the owner of the team. He has always been the owner of the team,” Grossman said. “There should be no change at all with respect to anything the public is used to.”

(Let the Dodgers’ inter-office cold war begin!)

Grossman said Jamie McCourt remained the Dodgers’ chief executive officer for now but could not say whether that would continue.

“That is up to the Dodgers organization,” Grossman said.

Wait, didn’t Grossman just say Frank owned the team? So with that, wouldn’t he decide if Jamie stays or goes?

And why didn’t the Times get Jamie’s lawyer’s side?

Answer: In the Dodger press release about the separation, all reporters were directed to contact Frank’s lawyer about the case.

 (Only time I approve of two natural-born boobs being reduced)

So we didn’t get Jamie’s spin until hours later. But it was just as delightful. Read more…

With the NLCS starting today, the Dodgers announced that team Owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are separating. (Nice timing, little narcissistic of them?) Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has inside details on the separation:

(Will Jamie get the team in divorce settlement? Frank’s lawyer claims, “N-O”)

The divorce will not be amicable, one source said.

“They’ve already ‘lawyered’ up,” the source said. “They’re trashing each other terribly. It’s going to be World War III.”

Let me translate that for you: Jamie McCourt wants the team.

As CEO of the club, Jamie McCourt is the highest-ranking woman in Major League Baseball. Prior to that, she had been club president since Aug. 12, 2005. Community property laws in California provides Jamie McCourt half of Frank McCourt’s share of the Dodgers and his personal assets. The couple’s estimated net worth is $1.29 billion. Read more…

Last Friday here in Los Angeles, I was talking to a local, longtime baseball fan who has attended dozens of Dodger games over the years. I asked him if he planned to attend the Cubs-Dodgers series this weekend and he replied, “I’m never going to that ballpark again. The fan behavior has gotten out of the control, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen it and the Dodgers apparently aren’t interested in stopping it.”

(Dodgers newest advertising spokesman already has a friend in the film room)

The increased violence at Dodger Stadium in the past few years has been well-chronicled, and loss of life has not been uncommon in the parking lots. I myself attended a game in the left-field bleachers recently and while not encountering any undue conflicts that night, you don’t have to be a genius to figure out that there was a potential criminal element in the seating area immediately around us.

(The first 10,000 kids under 12 get an “Opposite Day!” t-shirt)

So how are the Dodgers combating that very real perception of Dodger Stadium amongst those not fortunate enough to be esconed in the press box?

Read more…

The McCourt family (makers of fine decisions like hiring Ned Coletti and treating Manny Ramirez like dirt but still feeling violated when Manny earned a suspension) have recently discovered that women are an untapped market that should be nurtured, just like Spanish-speaking peoples and others with disposable cash.

(At least one woman figured out Dodger fandom without pressing the ’sports-to-woman’ translation button on her remote)

Therefore, in a kind-hearted and sensitive fashion, Jamie McCourt has fired up a special women-centric broadcast for Wednesday home games for the rest of the season. Jeanne Zelasko and Mark Sweeney will break down baseball because “as a mother, (Jeanne) will be able to bring a unique perspective.” What does that mean? Do wombs break down the infield shift better?

Read more…

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is no one’s fool.  He knows who to hire and who to sign. He knows how to get free money and make himself look like the hero for doing so.  He knows how to negotiate.  He’s a winner.

Therefore, Frank’s more than a little peeved at Manny Ramirez making him look asinine for signing him as Manny sits at home.  Frank McCourt demands action.  Now that he’s spoken to Manny himself, he wants Manny to speak to his Dodgers teammates.  Apparently, walks of shame are now inspirational.

Read more…