RICK WELTS resigned last week as President of Fox
Sports Enterprises, according to Jerry Crowe of the L.A.
TIMES. Welts: "Much of what I was hired to do has already
been accomplished." Welts had been hired in July "to
oversee Fox's ownership interest in professional sports
teams" (L.A. TIMES, 12/30). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Paul
Bond noted that Welts stepped down after six months "with no
decision as to what he'll do next" except that he would
"like to join a Los Angeles-based sports franchise." Welts'
resignation comes two months after BOB DALY assumed control
of the Dodgers and rehired BOB GRAZIANO, who was dismissed
by Welts in September while the team was "in the midst of
its first losing season in seven years." Though Daly holds
only "a minority position" with the Dodgers, Welts said that
Fox "has basically ceded control of the team to him."
Welts: "What we set out to do here -- get the Dodgers on
track -- has happened already." More Welts: "This is a
happy ending. I'm leaving on the absolute best of terms"
(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/30).
