Former Warner Bros. co-Chair Bob Daly will be named
Dodgers Managing Partner at a 1:00pm (ET) press conference
today at Staples Center, according to sources of Bates &
Reid of the L.A. TIMES, who write that Daly, one of
Hollywood's "most experienced and respected executives,"
will have "full management control" of the team. Bates &
Reid report that once Daly "takes over," the Fox Group will
have "no involvement in day-to-day operations" of the
franchise. Sources said that Daly's stake in the team is
believed to be about 10%, though it's "still being
negotiated." Another source added that Daly's investment
could be worth about $31M. Daly, who is "friendly" with
both News Corp. Chair & CEO Rupert Murdoch and Fox Group CEO
Peter Chernin, "oversaw such successful" film franchises as
the "Lethal Weapon" and "Batman" series. Bates & Reid add
that MLB execs said that former Dodgers President & CEO Bob
Graziano, who was fired on September 28, is expected to
"accept the position" of President and return to the team
(L.A. TIMES, 10/28). A source, on Daly: "He will be the new
owner in that he'll run everything. He's calling the shots"
(L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/28). BLOOMBERG's Fessler & Bollerman
note that Daly and Terry Semel "quit together" from Warner
Bros. in July when Daly said that he was "ready for a new
challenge" (BLOOMBERG, 10/28). DAILY VARIETY's Chris
Petrikin writes that Daly is "widely regarded in Hollywood
as a fierce baseball fan" (DAILY VARIETY, 10/28).
DANCING IN THE STREETS? In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes
of Fox moving out of day-to-day operation of the Dodgers:
"Wake up, you sleepy head. Rub your eyes. Get out of bed.
Wake up, the wicked Fox is dead. ... It's splendid to hear
that Fox has finally been silenced" (L.A. TIMES, 10/28).
The press conference will be carried live on FoxSports.com.
