L.A. COUNCIL ASKS O'MALLEY TO GIVE DODGER BLUE TO THE PEOPLE

          In an attempt to ensure that the team will stay in
     L.A., the L.A. City Council wants Dodgers President Peter
     O'Malley to explore selling the franchise to fans, according
     to Jodi Wilgoren of the L.A. TIMES.  Councilperson Laura
     Chick sponsored a council resolution, approved 10-0,
     "praising" O'Malley for his ownership and asking him to
     consider public ownership.  Although Chick noted full public
     ownership is "prohibited" by MLB, she said, "Rules can be
     changed."  Dodger spokesperson Derrick Hall: "It's not up to
     us, it's out of our hands. ... [I]t is a question for Major
     League Baseball.  At this point, right now, public ownership
     is not allowed."  Sources in L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan's
     office tell Wilgoren that MLB Acting Commissioner Bud Selig
     told the Mayor's office last week that he would not consider
     public ownership "under any circumstances," as the league
     "could not risk setting the precedent, because publicly
     owned teams could tie franchises to smaller cities where
     they are doomed to fail" (L.A. TIMES, 1/16).