Letters: Their money’s not on Frank McCourt

Never let it be said the McCourts didn’t make good on their promise to write a new chapter in Dodgers history. What we didn’t know at the time was that after Chapter 11, the fans live happily ever after.

Steve Ross

New York

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During the 2005 Dodger Stadium renovation and seat replacement project, my brother and I purchased a pair of used Dodger Stadium seats for several hundred dollars. Given the fact that Frank McCourt has now declared bankruptcy, does that now mean that we own more of the Dodgers than he?

Donald Bentley

La Puente

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Frank McCourt uses an interesting business plan for the Dodgers:

1. Defer millions dollars of salary and bills to future years in order to reduce current costs;

2. Seek advances from multiple revenue streams in order to meet current obligations.

I’m no Warren Buffett, but that seems like a deeply flawed way to run a business.

Jeffrey Stewart

Eagle Rock

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I guess Frank McCourt just torpedoed his chances for his statue erected in front of Dodger Stadium, huh?

Mark J. Featherstone

Windsor Hills

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It has always bothered me, while waiting in line to overpay for hot dogs and drinks, that a good chunk of my money was going toward Frank’s hair stylist, a Russian psychic and property taxes on Jamie’s numerous homes. My loyalty to the Dodgers and love of baseball always convinced me to overlook it. This latest bankruptcy embarrassment is too much to overcome, however. Starting now, I am withholding my dozen or so visits to the ballpark per year, which includes my discretionary income for souvenirs and merchandise, until the team is no longer owned by the McCourts.

I cannot hit a ball or throw a pitch to help the Dodgers win, but I can help the team by protesting with my absence. I encourage all other Dodger fans to do the same.

Jim Patton

Manhattan Beach

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To be honest, all the off-the-field problems McCourt and the Dodgers seemingly have hasn’t worried me at all up until this point. But then I thought about what Vin Scully must be thinking and what a better time than any it would be for him to quietly slide out the back door, retiring while all the attention is elsewhere. Now I’m worried.

George Metalsky

Redondo Beach

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Thank you, Bill Plaschke, for reminding us that there are some things even Frank McCourt can’t take away from Dodgers fans. That friend and foe alike realize McCourt’s tenure is an abomination in the Dodgers’ storied history speaks to the durability of the Dodgers franchise. Let’s just hope Vin will return for another season to shepherd us out of this nightmare and into the next Dodger era.

Allison Lauterbach

Los Angeles

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I know it’s not a popular view, but I just don’t understand why the Dodgers’ awful play this year is somehow a reflection of their jerky owner. Does he have a bat and glove when he arrives at Chavez Ravine? Do we really care if he bonds with the players? Monetary reasons? Please, believe me, every player will be paid what they’re owed, who cares where it comes from.

Come on! The Dodgers stink because they’re simply a bad team, period! Don’t blame the lame owner, it’s a ridiculous excuse. There’s only a few guys on the team that are hitting their weight. Do you really believe the majority of these players would perform better if they respected their pathetic owner? Of course not.

It has been 23 years since they were in a World Series. Dodgers fans must learn to be more like Cubs fans — love the team, but lower your expectations and be happy with mediocrity.

William Michael

Dana Point

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How is it possible that the Dodgers, profitable and solvent for 45 years without a major television rights contract, are suddenly and irrevocably bankrupt, requiring a monster TV deal to bail them out? There’s only one possible answer: The Dodger franchise is the victim of a mob-style bust-out.

Rhys Thomas

Valley Glen

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Is it possible that Frank McCourt and Whitey Bulger had a joint Boston business connection?

Jerry Selby

Pasadena

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If Frank McCourt is somehow able to keep the Dodgers, and he thinks attendance is low now, he ain’t seen nothing yet!

Ron Gonzalez

Diamond Bar

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They should have a Bud Selig bobblehead night at every stadium including the minors. But have a special edition for the Dodgers. The head can only move from side to side.

Gary McDonough

Riverside

City pride

Chris Dufresne’s June 26 story on the popularity of L.A. sports teams was a nice history lesson. However, it was incomplete as there was no mention of either broadcasters Vin Scully (Dodgers) or Chick Hearn (Lakers) — both of whom were integral to the popularity of their respective teams.

Ken Feldman

Tarzana

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Fred Claire is wishing with his heart and not his head. L.A. will never be a Dodgers town again in his lifetime.

Charles L. Freeman

Baldwin Hills

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Frank McCourt might have disrespected Dodgers’ season-ticket holders by not following up on his introductory lunch, but Kings’ season-ticket holders are still waiting for Phil Anschutz to make a public appearance, address the fans or acknowledge his ownership of the team he bought in 1995.

I’d even settle for an introductory lunch, though the food (like the teams’ playoff success under AEG) might be unrecognizable after 16 years.

Arthur Tabak

Beverly Hills

Not a rout

According to Ben Bolch [June 24], the American League continues to “dominate” the National League in interleague play.

Really? The AL leading in wins, 1,872-1,712, is like a bowling match being won, 187-171.

“Dominate” describes when Notre Dame beat Navy 40, or so, years in a row. And “dominate” is what Navy has done to Notre Dame for the last several years.

I would agree, however, that the AL teams seem to win more often than they lose these interleague games.

Gene Miller

Huntington Beach

Kicked around

The soccer game last Saturday between America and Mexico was surprising and not just because of the victory by Mexico. It was truly disrespectful and downright outrageous for the Mexican fans to boo the American national anthem.

It’s one thing to boo a player and quite another to boo the anthem — especially of the country hosting the event.

Tony Hillbruner

San Gabriel

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It is time for U.S. Soccer Coach Bob Bradley to do the right thing and resign. He had a lead against Mexico and no clue as how to hold on to it. He put in Jonathan Bornstein, who has never ever played well at the international level in a big game. He took out arguably the best player on the field, Freddy Adu, and replaced him with Sacha Kljestan, who showed nothing in this tournament.

The team needs a change of direction and we are not going to get it with Bob Bradley.

Daniel Williams

Hawthorne

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Regarding Bill Plaschke’s positive spin on the booing of the U.S. men’s soccer team in Pasadena. Please have Mr. Plaschke write about California’s budget deficits, its unemployment figures and its immigration problems. I’m sure he can have us all stand proud of those declarations as well.

Adam Sweeney

Sherman Oaks

No and yes

Bill Plaschke asked two questions in his article Friday: Do you like Staples Center and do you like football? Answers: Staples Center is the worst arena in the country if you are a fan. This arena was built specifically for corporate dollars and couldn’t care less about the true fan. True fans sit farther away and higher than any other arena in the NBA or NHL. My seats at Staples Center are in the first row of the 300 level. Those seats would be on the roof of the old Forum. So, no, I don’t like Staples Center.

And for the question of football. I love football. But the simple fact surrounding the proposed stadium is, who is coming to L.A.? If Sacramento could hold on to the NBA’s Kings, do you think another city will lose an NFL team? AEG wants to control downtown. Period. Don’t fall for their rhetoric and snake oil spew.

Geno Apicella

Placentia

Lockout love

Only in America do rich people have the egocentric arrogance to publicly negotiate a bigger slice of the pie.

Paul Manocchio

Van Nuys

Their fault

It’s the same old thing at NBC, even without Dick Ebersol. Instead of broadcasting the Murray-Nadal match live for the West Coast, we are forced to wait through a three-hour delay. Does NBC really think that moving the match from 9 a.m. to noon increases viewership? I can hardly wait for next year’s “tape-delayed” Olympics from London.

Don Geller

Irvine

Peace keeper

Ron Artest is changing his name to Metta World Peace. NBA fans are shocked. It’s the first name change all year that didn’t involve a Kardashian.

R.J. Johnson

North Hollywood

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