Jamie McCourt Speaks For First Time Since Filing For Divorce
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McCourt Says She Has A Plan
To Buy The Dodgers |
Former Dodgers CEO Jamie McCourt in her first public comments since filing for divorce from her husband Frank, the team's Owner, said that she has a "plan to buy the team and 'absolutely' sees herself as owner" of the team, according to T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES. Jamie in the divorce proceedings has been "portrayed as someone with no ownership claim and not fit for duty." But she said, "I don't need to be the controlling interest, I just love baseball that much and want to stay a part of it and lend my expertise any way I can." When asked about Dodgers President & COO Dennis Mannion's recent assertion that she was not "fit" for the team's CEO role, Jamie said, "I wasn't surprised so much as I was floored and saddened. I hired him. None of what he said was true." Jamie in divorce filings claims that she was the "face of the Dodgers," and yesterday she said, "When I became CEO, Frank used to say, 'Go be the face of the Dodgers, go be the external brand (in the community).'" Jamie indicated that she would not discuss details of the divorce, and since she was "described as an 'at will' hire by Frank McCourt in a letter terminating her services as the team's CEO, there was no apparent need in either case to detail any alleged wrongdoings." But Jamie said, "To read everything that's been said is devastating, and my kids are pretty upset about it. I want my kids to look back and say she took the high road. It's hard, but that's what I'm going to try and do." Jamie now has "no standing with the Dodgers," and Frank reportedly since firing her last month has "gone on a purge, dismissing as many as 15 or 16 employees considered loyal to Jamie." She said, "I take it very personally. ... It bothers me that people not working for tons of money in most cases were let go when all they cared about was helping the Dodgers to get a ring. It really upsets me." Meanwhile, Simers reports the Dodgers "hired a corporate strategist four years ago to evaluate the whole organization, including the relationship between Frank and Jamie." The report said Frank "doesn't value her talents, listens to her only on his terms and shows little respect/acknowledgment for her in public" (L.A. TIMES, 11/11).
DODGER BLUES: Longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully yesterday said, "On the present incident taking place, as someone who holds in gravest sanctity the issue of marriage, it breaks my heart. That's all I have to say on that" (LATIMES.com, 11/10).
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