MLB: Frank McCourt "looted" L.A. Dodgers

[Auggie]

ESPN.com news services / 10-25-11

Major League Baseball claims that Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt took nearly $190 million from the team in what a court filing termed "looting."

In filings in a Delaware court, MLB said McCourt took $189.16 million from the club -- $73 million in parking lot revenue through a separate company, $61.16 million to pay personal debts and $55 million for personal distributions, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing documents.

"The Dodgers are in bankruptcy because McCourt has taken almost $190 million out of the club and has completely alienated the Dodgers' fan base," the MLB filing said.

The filing said the distributions were akin to "looting."

MORE: http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/7146959/major-league-baseball-claims-frank-mccourt-took-190m-los-angeles-dodgers

The Dodgers have countered the claims. Interesting that both sides cited the Brian Stowe beating in their filings. See link for details.

[joeybee12]

1. Hmm..who to believe Frank McCourt or Selig?

How about neither?

[Jack Rabbit]

2. What does that make McCourt?

Frank McCourt is a typical late twentieth/early twenty-first century CEO.

[Chan790]

3. A Robber Baron...

that making him a typical late nineteenth/early twentieth century CEO too, though they usually called them a company president back then. As Shirley Bassey sang: "It's all just a little bit of history repeating."

Might be time to break out some of those bad-assed Sherman Act violation prosecutions. It took protests to motivate Congress last time too to enforce the law on their bribers.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Of course, Congress doesn't enforce the law

But Teddy Roosevelt did.

President McKinley, TR's predecessor, was as bought any congressman.

[Chan790]

5. The passing of Sherman was largely a response to the 1890 uprisings.

Apparently the Congressmen of that day thought it better to change course and represent their constituents instead of the trusts rather than risk insurrection.

The jury's still out on this modern bunch of duly-elected grafters.

But yes, it took Teddy Roosevelt to enforce the law and McKinley was as crooked as a snake.