Former Dodgers Catcher Mike Piazza emerges from a cave to stick his foot in his mouth.

It has been 15 years since Mike Piazza was traded to the Florida Marlins for a bunch of overpaid trouble makers and a bag of baseballs. As a Dodger fan I have never been able to get over the trade. The trade after all, was the Fox ownership trading our souls to the devil and forever submerging us in mediocrity destined to playing second fiddle to the World Series of 2002, 2010 and 2012. Should I explain who won those World Series? The “Curse of the Italiano” lived on! How could we trade our pride and joy? How could we be so foolish? Must be Karma? It still hurt, that is till yesterday when excerpts from his book was released.

Until yesterday most Dodger fans lived with the idea the Dodgers were in the wrong in trading Piazza. Frequently among the Dodger faithful you would hear “If only we hadn’t  traded Piazza!” and “It all went wrong in 1998!”. Dodger fans used the trade as a crutch to lean on when they were not successful. Until Frank McCourt robbed us fans of our team, Chase Carey(The Fox Guy who traded Piazza) and Rupert Murdock were our villains. And after McCourt made a mess of things we totally forgot who the Fox guys were.

Piazza was held in positive light as a victim with most Dodger fans because we held on to the delusion he wanted to be a Dodger. After all why wouldn’t he want to be? The Dodgers were the only team that gave Piazza a chance and that was because his Godfather is the Dodger Godfather Tommy Lasorda. If it wasn’t for Lasorda, Piazza would be selling used Kia’s in Philly? Right? If it wasn’t for the Dodgers throwing away their last pick to sign a family member no one would know who Piazza was? So how could he not want to be a Dodger? 4 Million Dollars is the reason why he didn’t want to be a Dodger.

Since the trade happen most forgot the reason why the team traded Piazza to Florida. But thank you Piazza for refreshing our memories of your greediness and self serving personality in your recent book. The Dodgers offered him a contract extension of 7 years 76 million, which would have made him the highest paid Catcher in the game. Piazza counter offered with 7 years at 80 million and the team declined and left the 7 years at 76 million on the table. Piazza declined and the team made a business decision and traded him.   So although the Dodgers saved him from $40,000 a year he wouldn’t budge on 4 million, nice. I guess goodwill for drafting him doesn’t buy you $3,960,000.00 in 1998.

Former Dodger  Brett Butler once said to the LA Times that Piazza “moody, self-centered ’90s player” well you can add the 2000’s to that as well. How else can you explain why he blamed Vin Scully for turning the fans against him before the trade? Hey Mike, the fans weren’t against you! You were a big pampered baby and Fox gave you a lesson in life. Scully had no part in the trade, your greediness and self serving personality was the reason you were traded. And that is why I now applaud Chase Carey and Rupert Murdock for shipping that overpaid backstabber to the East Coast. Thank you

Piazza if you ever get a chance to look in the mirror please don’t dream of you “Karate Kicking Roger Clemens” and tell yourself how you were wronged by the Dodgers. Tell yourself how you were lucky to play for the Dodgers, Marlins, Mets and A’s(Forgot that one huh) because your life could have been a whole lot different if it wasn’t for the generosity of people like Lasorda, Scully and an organization named “The Dodgers”.

Butler also said another thing in 1998 and Dodger fans can take solace in this “Mike Piazza is the greatest hitter I’ve ever been around, but you can’t build around Piazza because he’s not a leader.” Spoken like a true Dodger.

Should Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier lead the Los Angeles Dodgers into a new era of baseball?

It is hard to imagine the future of Dodger Baseball without the two players who have led them over the recent years, outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. But as the Dodger organization will be starting anew with a different owner, one has to wonder if it may be a good idea to start with a fresh attitude. A attitude clear of controversy. A attitude free of celebrity rumors. A attitude free of inconsistency. The decision will have to made this offseason because both players are in their last year of arbitration eligibility.

This may be blasphemous speaking of the great Kemp and Ethier in this way and I’m prepared to take my hits from the “Dodger Nation”. But before you decide to corner me in Chavez Ravine and hurl baseballs at my head please hear me out about the Great Debate of Kemp and Ethier.

Ethier: Ethier has been a great player for the Dodgers over the years. In fact, many regard him as the greatest move Ned Colletti has made in his tenure as Dodger GM. Ethier has been known within the Dodger community as a gritty player who has the knack of getting the big hit when the team needs it.   It was Ethier who gave me one of the my favorite memories as a Dodger fan when in  2009 he hit a bases loaded double against the Philadelphia Phillies to win in the bottom of the ninth.   Good memories. Allot of good memories and success with Ethier. So why is he so chappy?

Many people speculate Ethier’s “Chappyness” or “Attitude” is the reason why he is able to rise to the occasion with the big hit. He is able to focus, bare down and crush the ball when no one else is able to do so. That is what sets him apart from the rest. So what happened last year?

Ethier was injured allot last year and that may have been a factor in his production decline. After all if you cant physically play, you cant produce, right? But that doesn’t hold water with me because Ethier has played injured throughout his career.  If injury wasn’t the reason why his production slipped then what was the reason? My best guess is his attitude or you could say, emotions.

Out of the whole team it was clear the Dodger ownership situation effected Ethier the most. You could see it in his body language and it was reflected in his play as his power numbers quickly disappeared. He started flipping off media members. Then there was rumors that he wanted to go play for the Boston Red Sox with his friend Justin Pedroia, what?! No one knows if it was true but it did leave a empty feeling in my stomach in regards to Ethier. Thanks for backing the organization that gave you a chance to begin with Andre.

Do the Dodgers need to have player so emotionally unpredictable as Either? Is it wise to entrust the future and stability of the team around Ethier? Should they trade Ethier? Should they sign him? I will conclude later.

Kemp: Kemp was clearly the MVP during the 2011 season. There was no player more productive, consistent or dominant than Kemp. And unless the MVP voters have a brain aneurysm Kemp will win the award. He did everything right during  the year and had arguably the best season ever by a Dodger. Then what is the debate? Why don’t the Dodger sign him to a 5 or 6 year deal?

True Kemp had a monstrous year and is clearly the most talented player in the league without question. But it wasnt long ago Kemp was running into walls and forgetting to wear his sunglasses during day games. It also wasn’t long ago he would swing at “ANYTHING” the pitcher threw in the direction of home plate. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago he couldn’t buy a stolen base dispite his blazing speed. Didn’t  it seemed like yesterday he couldnt concentrate on his career because he was under the umbrella of Rihanna? How quickly we all forget.

Kemp is extremely talented and could be a Hall of Fame player. He could fulfill his potential but he needs to have his mind focused on baseball which is something he has done for only 2 seasons,2009 and 2011.  And in those years he wasn’t the focus of attention because in 2009 Manny Ramirez was the team leader and was suspended because of steroids. Then in 2011 the media was focused on Frank McCourt and the ownership issues. No one visited  Kemp those two seasons and he went on with his business and played great.

In 2010 Kemp was the focus of media attention because of his large contract given by the Dodgers and his relationship with Rihanna. With the added pressure Kemp floundered and his career took a nosedive. He stopped producing, started crying that the coaching staff was too “hard” on him and focused more on his relationship with Rihanna than his relationship with his career. It was a mess.

Should the Dodgers entrust Kemp to lead the Dodgers despite his unpredictability? Should they thrust him in the spotlight one more time despite his failures in the past? Should they trade him?

Conclusion: Either is a solid player with a solid resume. A resume that can receive allot of attention on the trade market. The Dodgers should trade Ethier for a power hitting third baseman. It is clear Ethier is over Los Angeles and he will leave after the 2012 season. Trade him now and receive value. Plus the team can start anew without a potential bad attitude with Ethier has shown he possesses.

Kemp, sign him now to a 5 year 90 million deal and cross your fingers. True Kemp has been immature throughout his career and he has been inconsitant in both attitude and production. But Hall of Fame players rarely  come so sign him now and hope Davey Lopes can guide him in the right direction. Lopes was a tremendous help to Kemp in 2011 as he helped Kemp focus and keep his mind on baseball. The results were phenomenal so sign Lopes to 5 years to.

If the Dodgers do these moves they will be stable for years  to come. A veteran third baseman will help solidify the infield and give the Dodgers power in a power position. Jerry Sands can get a shot in right field as the new young guys guide the team for years to come.

How high on the horse does the NCAA Infractions Committee sit now? Probably not that high now and I would imagine their ”behinds” might be a little chapped. Because if they thought they had issues with “Institutional Control” with USC, Ohio State and University of Miami they have another thing coming to them.

The timing couldn’t be worst, after all the NCAA just through USC under the bus for monetary reasons. For mistakes made primarily by underprivileged 18 year old’s and they’re families.  Then the NCAA made a big deal about some tattoo’s and memorabilia with Ohio State. And the “U”? We will see. All mistakes made by kids, not grown adults. Crimes against the NCAA? Yes they were, but what about crimes against humanity? Kids or football?

We all seen where Penn State and Joe Paterno placed their priorities after failing to report the rape of innocent child to the police. Now we will all see if the NCAA has any “Balls” when it comes to a true money maker like Penn State. Will they do what is right? Or will they wait till this all dies down and move on with life? I know of some children who will never be able to just move on with “life”.

So what is the right thing to do? What is the moral thing to do? And does the NCAA know what the right thing is to do?

The right thing to do is to completely shut down the sports program at Penn State for the next 5-10 years. Seems a little harsh? Well the crime is. After all, Penn State knowingly had a sexual predator on campus for at least 13 years and did nothing. In fact, they gave him a vehicle to carry out his assaults for years. They enabled and in enabling you are encouraging. Distgusting.

The moral and legal laws that were broken by the university is incomprehensible and cannot be reversed. The damage, emotionally, that was done to the victims and their families will never be undone. It will redefine them in ways they may never figure out and will live on for generations to come. Thanks allot Penn State.

The crimes committed against humanity leaves the NCAA no option but to strip Penn State of its athletic department because it was the school DIRECTLY. Not some students. The school KNOWINGLY allowed these crimes to continue with their silence. And since the school could not control its employees, Sandusky, by not stopping the abuse by calling the police, shows the worst type of “Lack of Institutional Control”. If Penn State was any other type of business it would not be allowed to operate any further under law. In allowing a haven for sexual predators the school is liable and deserves to be punished. No more Athletic Department because clearly the school can not handle the responsibility. Revoke.  So whats the deal?

The moral thing and the right thing to do is to revoke the Athletic Department at Penn State. But will the NCAA do it? NO.

Penn State is a true money maker in college sports and the NCAA likes money, that’s it.  So they may do some light sanctions against the university but it will not be the death sentence. Which is extremely sad because they are so money hungry they don’t know what to do but chase the dollar. Football over kids? Football, right NCAA?

Joe Paterno was held on a pedestal so high most thought it was impossible for him to fall off. After all, he coached Penn State for 45 years and was the face of the organization now and forever. He would live in lore well after his death by the university for all his accomplishments and the dignity in which he carried himself.  What a long fall it is off that pedestal, right Joe?

Paterno is now stuck in the middle of a scandal in which no one could or should survive. A scandal that involves sex abuse, children and a blind eye.  The mere writing of that sentence makes my stomach turn. Hopefully this is the last article I will have to write about this subject and you should have to read.

But here we are talking about the subject because it intertwines with sports. Sports, the one haven a troubled “At-Risk” child should have. Sports, where adults relive when they were innocent and life was pure. Sports, where we all wish we could do forever and achive glory. Sports, was used as a vehicle of abuse for former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky at Penn State.

For those of you who don’t know the allegations facing Sandusky let me inform you. Sandusky allegedly raped 8 young boys over a 15-year period at Penn State while guiding the youth under a non-profit organization for “At-Risk” children. Sandusky had access to Penn State and it’s facilities during the abuse. In 2002 a grad student witnessed Sundusky having sex with a boy in the shower and reported it to Paterno. Paterno then notified his superior, Tim Curley, and Sandusky was asked not to return to the campus but he did participate in Penn State sponsored satillite  camps after the incident.

So how is Paterno “Morally Bankrupt”? He should have seen the prosecution of Paterno throught till the end, but he didn’t. Paterno should have made it his “Crusade” to see Sandusky put away for life. Further blocking Sandusky from ever having the opportunity to abuse again. But he didnt. In fact Paterno and Curley, who was arraigned Monday on charges of perjury and failing to report abuse to authorities, went on with their lives while Sandusky continued his life and abuse.

Paterno did tell his superiors about the abuse…. silent clap. But how would Paterno feel if it was his grandson, son or himself as a child that was being abused? How would he react? I doubt he would turn a blind eye. So why did he do it? Why let Sandusky live free to prey on innocent children? Ego and Legacy.

If Paterno stood up like a man and identified this demon then he would have to admit he was wrong about him. For the people with amnesia, Sandusky was long believed to be the heir apparent to Paterno. He used to be the defensive coordinator, played for Paterno and was a mainstay in the organization. So to admit he was wrong about Sandusky is to admit he was wrong, period, and when is the last time a coach done that?

Besides Paterno’s ego being bruised he may have felt the organization his tenure would forever be tarnished with the scandal. So he swept it under the rug and lived his life as a Penn State immortal while the young and innocent had to heal their wounds. His legacy couldnt take a beating and it was evident because he wouldn’t step down before the scandal.

So while Paterno and Curley celebrated Christmas, Easter and Penn State irreversible damage was done to the lives of eight children. I’m glad you had your eggnog Joe. I hope you enjoyed Easter Egg hunts with your grandchildren Joe. I hope it was all worth it because your closer to the end than the beginning and the Big Man upstairs might be a little upset with you after 84 years of experience you still couldn’t tell right from wrong. The worst part is the mistakes of these men will permanently harm the innocent kids involved. Think about that Joe in retirement.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have some financial flexibility soon. But do they need to go for the “Free Agency Home Run”?

It is 1998 and the Dodgers are coming off a season where they have traded away team icon, Mike Piazza, in a failed CEO experiment.  The fan base was unruly as the new owner, Fox, made some iratic personel moves with the roster and the front office. The team needed to do something so they signed all the “Home Run’s” on the free agent market: Pitcher Kevin Brown, Outfielder Devon White and Manager Davey Johnson. Do I need to tell you how it all ended?

Well for the Dodger fans with amnesia I will remind you how it all worked out. Brown pitched well but never lived up to his contract. White didnt materialize as a consistent outfielder for the Dodgers and the “3-Run Home Run” management style of Johnson never fit the “Pitcher Friendly” Dodger Stadium. Horrible year and mediocre 5 years after the signings.

Since the 1998 offseason the Dodgers have never been in the market for the top free agents. Most of it had to do with Frank McCourt and his liquidity issues but some of it had to do with the fact a majority of the top free agents who sign for the top dollar amount rarely fulfill the value of the contract. However for the record if Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee would have been signed or acquired by the Dodgers there would be another World Series trophy at Chavez Ravine. So signing the biggest free agent  is warranted in the right situation but should not be the norm.

So what do the new Dodger owners do now? It is assumed the new owner will have supreme financial stability in comparison to the previous regime. What else is certain is the payroll starved Dodger fans will be pushing for the top free agents to be signed. It will be like when you receive your first paycheck and you go out to buy the one thing you always wanted only to find out it was a disappointment and you are broke again.

Now that there is some assumed financial stability is this the right situation to sign Albert Puljos or Prince Fielder? The Dodgers are in need of a power hitting corner infielder and making a big splash would boost the moral of the community.  Either one of those players would be a fixture at first base for many seasons to come which could bring some star power continuity to the team.  But the last time I checked niether player could play catcher, third base or pitch. And the reality is the Dodgers need those positions filled before a guy who can hit 500 foot home runs.

The needs of the Dodgers are bigger than a occasional home run can fix. They are catcher-less and I don’t want to bare another season with Jamey Carroll playing the hot corner. So what do the Dodgers do?   Play to the strengths the “Dodger Way” with pitching and  defense.

Dodger Stadium has a reputation as being a “Pitcher Friendly” ballpark for good reason, because it is a “Pitcher Friendly” ballpark. So would acquiring the biggest hitter on the market be a smart move? Darryl Strawberry should have something to say about that. The fan base needs to stop wishing for the instant gratification of Puljos and Fielder and come back to the “Dodger Way.” After all if was successful for a reason and if you don’t believe me, please drive to Dodger Stadium and go down to the trophy room in the Diamond Club. There you will see World Series trophies built on the principles of pitching and defense.

So who do the Dodgers sign? Should they bloat the current budget on some big names? What is next? Nothing, or at least almost nothing. Contrary to popular belief the Dodgers were a descent team in 2011. Also contrary to popular belief the Dodgers are not dismal at first base asJames Loney has played respectable since becoming a regular. True he doesn’t hit 45 home runs a year but we need to wake up and realize we are not in the “Steriod Era” of baseball anymore. Which by the way is a good thing for the Dodgers.

During the 20 years of the “Steriod Era” the Dodgers became irrelevant in World Series talk. Part of it was ownership issues but allot of it was due to MLB becoming a beefed up on power league while Chavez Ravine wasnt built to compete on that level. With steroids out of baseball the style of the Dodger Way will become relevant again. Just ask the San Francisco Giants who won with our style.

Sorry Dodger fans, with no premier third baseman on the market it appears Juan Uribe will be the best option  third base unless General Manager Ned Colletti can  pull off a trade. As for catcher? Jose Molina, Ramon Hernandez or Jason Kendall will have to be a temporary fix until Tim Federowicz is ready. The pitching market appears a little stronger with Hiroki Kuroda, Mark Buehrle, Edwin Jackson and  Roy Oswalt all available.

If the Dodgers can make the small moves and stay away from the big moves the 2012 season will be entertaining and the 2013 will be the World Series contending year with a better free agent market.. Plus do the Dodgers need to be the Yankees West? I would prefer the Dodgers to be the DOdgers West…..Just no more Brown’s, White’s and Johnson’s as my blue heart couldn’t take that again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have plenty of options to choose from for ownership. But who is the best fit to head the Dodgers resurgence?  

It’s  Friday and you are ready to blow off some steam. You have had a rough week, month, in fact 7 years and today is the day your life has turned around. Today you won the lottery with a cold cash sum of 1.3 billion in your bank account ready to be spent…. What should you do with your money? Travel? Celebrate? Buy something big and historic? Yes, yes and yes…. Maybe add a World Series to that list because today you have the money to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers!

Who should head your ownership? After all you just got lucky and managing billions isn’t what you do. You rather relegate your duties to having fun and going to the games. So you decide to hire someone to lead the Dodgers and head the rebirth of the team you love… Who should that be?

You walk down the street to head into the local bar where everyone you know and want to know is there. That includes Peter O’Malley, Fred Claire, Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Tim Leiweke, Ron Burkle and Mark Cuban. Knowing you will be buying the Dodgers and will need a front man you look at everyone. Who do you go to first? Who is the first person you go to?

Stop, before your heart and logic muddle the decision you make and ask yourself who is the first person that came to mind right off the bat? Who did you decide to pick within those first few seconds of the options being presented? Who?

I ran this scenario through my head many of times and I will divulge my answer at the end. But first lets eliminate who I know I don’t want. Ron Burkle and Tim Leiweke, these men have the money. But the Dodgers are my life so I don’t know if I want my Dodgers run by unfamiliar. And since we are in a quick sales process I dont have time to get to know them. Sorry guys, thanks for coming.

Mark Cuban, thank you for coming as well. Cuban has been a phenomenal owner of the Dallas Mavericks and practically prints money. However, there has been one thing missing from the Dodgers over the last 14 years, Class. I’m not saying Cuban is classless, but he doesn’t carry himself in the Dodger Way: dignified, unbiased and reserve. Do I want a owner who cannot control his emotions and reacts on impulse? Do I want a owner who places a further distance from the new Dodgers and the old Classy Dodgers? Do I want Mark Cuban? No. Money cant buy me love.

This brings us to O’Malley, Claire, Garvey and Hershiser…. The Boys In Blue return. All great guys with solid ties to the old Dodger Way. But who should I pick? Which Dodger should I shun away? What should I do?

Garvey and Hershiser are great men with good intentions at heart. But how successful have they been in running a business? How much experience do they have in running a farm system? Do they have what it takes now? No. How about in the future? Yes.

So I move onto O’Malley and Claire. Both aged, dignified and posses a energy about themselves. A energy that is pure and backed with experience and knowledge of baseball and history. Who should I pick? Both, together as the same group.

I wish the decision to pick the new owner of the Dodgers was this quick, decisive and easy but it isn’t. There are many factors that will come into play with the biggest being money. Second biggest, which should be the biggest, is class and history.

True O’Malley and Claire dont have the capital to outright buy the Dodgers. But none of these men do. They will have to be backed by some billionaire who isn’t affixed on obtaining glory, sorry again Cuban. What the Dodgers need is some stability and continuity in the front office and they need faces the public can trust. O’Malley can run the business aspect as Claire runs baseball operations. And at 73 years of age is O’Malley going to continue forever running the Dodgers? When that time comes Claire can step into that position and Garvey or Hershiser could run the baseball operations. The Dodger Way would be restored and and the team would once again be the property of Los Angeles.

This formula sounds so simple and right doesn’t it? Sounds like it would work right? Almost a dream come true, second to me owning the team which I’m working on. Ask me in 30 more years and 3 billion more dollars.  In the mean time guys, MAKE IT WORK.

With the NFL season halfway over we break down the surprise teams and give our predictions on how it will all end. 

San Francisco 49ers: Who seen a 6-1 start on the horizon at the begining of the season? Jim Harbaugh? That’s probably the only person who could have predicted the Niners would be this good so far. But the question is was Mike Singletary that horrible of a coach or is Harbaugh that good of a coach? Niether. What has happened to the Niners is QB Alex Smith has finally decided to not cough the ball up and play within his talents. Before Smith was trying to play outside his abilities, which is limited and turnovers was the result. Now Smith is playing a more reserved style of play and the team has benefited from the reduced turnovers. Prediction, the Niners will play as far as the Green Bay Packers allow them. Meaning the Niners will have some playoff success until the Packers provide them with a reality check in the form of a good old fashion butt whipping.

Oakland Raiders: Since the beginning of the season the Raiders have a new owner and a new quarterback which makes them the most intriguing team in  the NFL. The first half of the season the offense was based on a “Run first, pound them and ground them” approach. But as the season has progressed RB Darren McFadden has taken a pounding and the team has acquired a strong arm quarterback in Carson Palmer. Will the Raiders  stay to their guns and play “smash-mouth” football with the running attack? Or will they revert the Raider way of “Vertical” play with Palmer? Will Palmer learn the playbook? Will he learn the names of his wide receivers? Can he still play? All questions that will define the Raiders season and the outcome of the AFC West as they are clearly the class of the division. My prediction? The Raiders will play in the AFC Championship game, beat the Patriots and then lose in the Super Bowl.

San Diego Chargers: Again? Come on guys! The Chargers are used to a slow start to be accompanied by a late season surge. The problem with this year is the second have of the schedule is twice as hard as the first. Plus QB Phillip Rivers is self imploding which spells dooms day and Los Angeles relocation for Charger fan. My prediction? The Chargers will end the season 6-10 and be playing in the Rose Bowl in 2012.

Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs: Thanks for participating in the 2011 season but no one cares, especially other NFL teams. All of these teams are better than was expected which is to be applauded, gently….. quietly. But they will be mere participants in the story line of the Packers Super Bowl season and they will be sent back to the basement pof irrelevance for years to come.   That is my prediction.

Division Winners: 

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

NFC South: New Orleans Saints

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers

NFC Wildcard: Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants

AFC East: New England Patriots

AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South: Houston Texans

AFC West: Oakland Raiders

AFC Wildcard: New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers: The Packers are the most dominate team in the NFL and the only question is: will the Packers go 19-0? My prediction, YES. The Packers are the best team I seen since the Dallas Cowboys of the early 1990′s . They have everything in every position and the scary part is the team is only getting better. I will comfortably say the Packers will reel off 4-5 Championships when they are finally tamed by some rogue team. So sorry NFL fans, the next the coming years will only be entertaining to Packer fans.

The Dodgers were a team on the rise in 2004. They had a emerging star in Adrian Beltre and home grown players Alex Cora, Cesar Izturis and Paul LoDuca all playing great baseball as the team was becoming a force in the league. Although they haven’t made it to the playoffs in years it was clear they were on track to finally dethroning Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants who were atop the National League West. With our(Dodger Fans)  minds concentrated on “baseball” talk, MLB was on the fast track to placing a new owner in Los Angeles, Frank McCourt.

With our attention diverted elsewhere Dodger fans were delivered a sucker punch we would not feel for years. Frank was in and baseball’s “best interest” was out. Thank you Bud Selig.

At first glance I didn’t like him. He was from Boston and talked with a North East accent. His wife was in need of a “Extreme Makeover” and they said all of the “right” things while carrying the personality of a robot. And he had absolutely zero business background. All of this, which came to me within 3 minutes of seeing him, equaled he wasn’t to be trusted.

If Selig approved this guy then he is worthy of being an owner? Right? That is what we all told ourselves and let logic get in the way of intuition. We were doomed from the start.

To sit here and go over all the wrongdoings Frank and his wife have done will take too long. In fact I should write a novel on the subject because it is stuff only fiction could create. So I wont do it, instead I will thank him and send him on his way back to Boston where there is a parking lot on the horizon for him to cuddle with.

Thank you Frank for helping me remember how much the Dodgers mean to my family and I. Without you I would have never felt the depression of losing the Dodgers forever. I will forever be indebted to you and your crooked ways in which you took the Boys In Blue and gave them back.

Thank you for not proceeding with this Bankruptcy disaster any further. If you did so the Dodgers would be in limbo forever and may have been in a irreversible situation that Bill Gates couldn’t buy his way out.

Thank you for showing us in Los Angeles what people from Boston are really like, cold. Only someone with a heart of coal would loot a franchise that touted names like Jackie Robinson and Vin Scully. You just reminded us not to trust Boston anymore. So for now on when we say “Boston Sucks” we will really mean it.

And lastly thank you for giving my family, friends and me a chance to celebrate your departure. You have brought sense of unity among Dodger fans that has not been present in my lifetime. The unity is a gift that will keep on giving and will propel us to the World Series one day. Thank you

Frank McCourt appears to be ready to settle with MLB and agree to sell the team. Will it happen today?

The day the MLB decided to takeover the Dodgers I was foolishly optimistic this whole McCourt saga would end and I would be able to attend a Dodger home game again. Then came bankrutcy, debt, more debt, judges, more judges, lawyers and of coarse more lawyers. But something has been happening over the last couple days that has never happened in the 7 years Frank has own the team, he is contemplating selling the team.

We have all been through the highs and lows of the McCourt/Dodger drama and we’re smart enough to not get too excited when good news comes. But this time I’m optimistic for some reason because it makes absolute dollars and sense for the team to be sold. Not that “reason” or “logic” has ever got in the way of Frank’s decision making process before but the sale of the team is the only way for him to avoid working at McDonalds the rest of his life.

So where do Dodger fans go from here? Celebrate. Celebrate because the end is here and all boycotters can enter the Blue Heaven of Chavez Ravine once more. Celebrate because the evil witch is dead killed by the house that is his debt. Celebrate because we can actually cheer for a contender. Celebrate because Frank is on his way out. And celebrate because all the Dodger faithful will have its team back.

Now this may sound overly optimistic but have you ever heard of anything negative coming from optimism?

The news today from LATimes.com is Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has paid 7 million in Bankruptcy cost so far. Which is the same amount future free agent outfielder and M.V.P. candidate Matt Kemp  made last season. This news should make Kemp a little tee’d off since McCourt low-balled him during the last contract negotiation.   Sorry Matty, unless McCourt can come to his sense’s and sell the team, I wouldn’t be expecting big money from the Dodgers anytime soon.