On a day that the LA TImes’ Bill Plaschke reported sitting “sad” and “lonely” in a nearly empty Dodger Stadium with only six fans in the right field bleachers pavilion with him, the news pops that ”certain state-owned investment
institutions of the People’s Republic of China” are ready to put up big chunks of cash up to cover a $1.2 billion offer to get the McCourts to leave town. 
sovereign funds, overflowing with all that money we ship back in the empty
cargo containers that fill up our stores with cheap merchandise, have teamed with Bill Burke, the politically-connected former LA Marathon owner, to make the offer to Frank McCourt for his bankrupt team — a record price for a Major League franchise, fully one-third more than what the Chicago Cubs sold for two years ago.
The Times barely concealed the fact that the group led by Burke, husband of former County Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, was the source of the leak of the letter offering the $1.2 billion for the team, the real estate and, most of all, the broadcast rights which could equal the purchase price whether Fox or Time Warner end up as the broadcaster.
With that kind of money even the McCourts should be able to sort out their troubles and live out their lives of self-indulgence.
For the rest of us, new ownership — particularly with the prospects of a two-billion person farm club across the Pacific training new talent at pitching and hitting — could offer hope of a return to the Dodgers glory days.
Surely, it gives new meaning to the immortal quote from the movie “Chinatown,” words intended to cheer up a beaten Jake Gittes, the Jack Nicholson character.
It’s all in the inflection and context, Try it upbeat, as in “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown. The McCourts are gono. The Dodgers got game again.”
Plaschke wrote the obituary for the McCourts reign after Wednesday afternoon’s game played before a crowd of 27,000 — half the capacity — with only about 8,000 people in attendance.
They were there free or at sharply discounted prices what with the gate from home games down from $2.5 to $3 million in the good old days to half that or less these dreary days.
“It
looked and felt as though the McCourt era had finally, resolutely bottomed out,’ Plaschke wrote.
Good timing, Bill.
Maybe, one day we’ll accept that harkening to a previous era is over. LA has changed and most people don’t care about football or baseball enough to fill stadiums. If Lakers start on a losing streak, they will meet the same fate. There are too many other things to enjoy & sitting in stadiums for hours cheering losing teams with over-priced players is hardly pleasurable. That LA will pay a heavy price for getting muddled up with AEG is a given. That stadium will be a serious losing venture & will cost us millions more from lost revenues in conventions as recently demonstarted, even as most become anachronisms. As long as we continue to project the future based on yesterday’s paradigms, we’ll pay the price.
This deal has a long way to go, especially with the down attendance, lower ratings, and the lack of working capital. But it will sure make for some interesting conversation.
To the first commentator – including last year, the Dodgers enjoyed the highest attendance in baseball – about 3 Million tickets per year were sold.
By the way, if this deal goes through as presented in the press – the McCourts stand to make a $200 Million Dollar profit each – or $400 Million Dollars. Will they take the money and run? And, what does this deal mean to the 13 separate entities McCourt created when he took ownership, i.e., the parking lots, the stadium, concessions, etc. What about the development entitlements? Is that part of the deal?
I am worried that no matter what deal goes forward, it appears that the McCourts could retain control over very costly assets. In other words, they shouldn’t have been allowed to separate team ownership from all the other revenue generating sources that make up the complete Dodger operation.
I PRAY THIS WILL LEAD TO CHINA BUYING CALIFORNIA–SO I CAN BE PAID TO LEAVE THIS FUCKING STATE! BE SURE TO PUT INTO THE ESCROW INSTRUCTIONS: FUNDS PAYABLE IN GOLD BULLION! The Chinese can have the Dodgers, City Hall, San Francisco, Staples Center, The Angels, The Lakers, the Clippers, USC, UCLA, Bell, Maywood, Vernon, and the whole thing! They got the Cash, They own all our IOUs, they got all our Jobs, all of our Companies, pretty damn much the whole thing ANYWAY. In 10 years, here’s the kicker—THEY’LL SELL IT ALL BACK FOR 10 cents ON THE DOLLAR when they figure out that everyone who lives or arrives in the U.S.A. BECOMES A FAT, LAZY, SLOB! It’s just the way it goes. They’ll flee back to
Asia to save themselves—or become FAT, LAZY, SLOBS. The Japanese became Americanized, and they blew their economy. China will become Americanized and suffer the same fate. Why? Because stuffing your face with fast food, having a 50″ T.V. with 200 channels, and having a car to drive everywhere you want to go is just far too tempting vs. living in a mud hut and working for 90 cents a day! BUT WHILE THE DUMBASSES IN CHINA ARE BUYING, SELL, SELL SELL NOW BABY!
LOL at the rich jew from Encino, whining like he’s a poor blue collar worker from mid city who can’t pay his bills
Wayne, move already. If you’re not happy living in the richest part of the Valley, get the fuck out
Some of the media reporters are saying they’ve heard this can well be a set up by Frank McCourt to help with his bankruptcy. If the court thinks someone is willing to pay a billion for the team then Frank did a good job with the Dodgers. With Bill Burke in the mix this deal smells fishy. Remember how he got the LA Marathon then made a lot of money with sponsorships something the dumb ass City should have done. The last Dodger game only 8,000 attended. Angelenos are sending a strong message to McCourt that we don’t want him.
I would make an exclusive deal for 3 Billion Dollars with the Chinese. Hell, even the Mexicans won’t go see the Dogers once they know a their team is not owned by an American. The American past time becomes, baseball and DIM SUM
William Burke? That old rascal makes Mcourt seem like a good citizen. That guy traded votes on the AQMD for contracts.
His handling of the LA marathonnwas criminal only to be shielded by his, not living in the district, wife.
California lawmakers unveil bill to expedite downtown football stadium plan
http://lat.ms/qJJ8pz Article L.A. Times.
9:56 Traded votes on the AQMD for Contracts: Speaking of “Who Killed the Electric CAR”? http://youtu.be/xMcsKj6kUbk
The common problem with City Legislators is their habit of making laws and breaking higher laws at the same time. Section; 92.15 for example in the City of Los Angeles.
What is the benefit to the public? Revenue. Not to the public but to fund the Cities DEBT. Why so much frustration? Because citizens are being taxed and finded to death because the City and State made bad investments with Retirement Funds in association with Wall Street investment firms. The losses are signicant.
LADWP wants to raise our utility RATES. More Taxes to cover losses. The history and debt of the current Convention Center. During the NFL hearings at LA City Hall, Bernard Parks mentioned concern about the profitablity of the new convention centers.
The City of Los Angeles, the “elected” must continue to apply pressure on AEG on the Convention Centers
I say, make sure the Stadium is GREEN with modern Transportation- But for whom? People avoid downtown because of the Hellish Traffic. This new stadium and Convention Center will CRUSH People during RUSH HOUR. #CASE.
Coincidence or good planning….Where there is a so called loser …there are winners…Chavez Ravine will revert to an enclave of urban dwellings….The Dodger Blue will get out of dodge, and relocate to AEG’s new LACBD Stadium…”There’s more than one way to skin a cat!”
Oh, the lovely Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke. Corrupt pile of scum and her even lower husband bloodsucked this City and County for long enough. Where is a decent DA when you need one?
HERE IS SOME GREAT ADVICE FOR ANYONE LIVING IN THIS CITY AS ONE POSTER PERFECTLY STATED:
By Anonymous on September 2, 2011 1:38 AM
LOL at the rich jew (INSERT YOUR RACE) from Encino (INSERT YOUR PART OF L.A.), whining like he’s(she’s) a poor blue collar worker from mid city who can’t pay his(her) bills
Wayne (INSERT YOUR NAME), move already. If you’re not happy living in the richest part (OR INSERT MIDDLE CLASS) of the Valley (INSERT YOUR AREA), get the fuck out!
SO THE POSTER WOULD WRITE TO KEVIN JAMES:
By Anonymous on September 2, 2011 1:38 AM
LOL at the rich RADIO TALK SHOW HOST from HOLLYWOOD HILLS, whining like he’s a poor blue collar worker from mid city who can’t pay his bills, KEVIN, move already. If you’re not happy living in the richest part of the SUNSET JUNCTION, get the fuck out!
OR TO RON KAYE, TT WOULD SOUND LIKE:
By Anonymous on September 2, 2011 1:38 AM
LOL at the rich NEWSPAPER/BLOGGER from VAN NUYS, whining like he’s a poor blue collar worker from mid city who can’t pay his bills
Ron, move already. If you’re not happy living in the MIDDLE CLASS DECLINING part of the Valley, get the fuck out!
NOW, HERE’S THE PREDICTED ANSWER (AND MINE) TO THE POST:
LOVE TO GET THE FUCK OUT, BUT FIRST THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES HAS TO CUT A CHECK FOR RELOCATION FEES AND DAMAGES SUFFERED AS JEWS CAN’T LIVE IN A CITY LIKE THIS UNDER THESE PLANTATION RULES.
THEN WHEN JEWS LIKE MYSELF, RON, AND KEVIN (IS AN HONORARY JEW) ARE NO LONGER SUPPORTING THE CITY, THE SOUP LINE AT STAPLES CENTER AND THE VACANT FOOTBALL STADIUM WILL BE A POPULAR DESTINATION.
THE JEWS REST.
Hey, this particular Encino Jew got the f@&& out!
Im living in a nice clean neighborhood about 1,000 miles away. Here people do their own gardening and yard work! What a novelty!
No more $$$ to support leaches in LA and CA from me.
I’m with Wayne from Encino and I’m not even a Jew; well I’m not really sure actually since my grandmother came from otofutopus, hu.
Getting to the Stadium could be a bitch. Those plantation CARS don’t go so fast, too many slaves going back n forth to work. The NFL would have to arrive early, the teams early and you dame near need a nice fancy hotel room, rich boy style, and a private JET WALK to get to the Stadium ON TIME
Yes, downtown. You can pass through 7th street on SKID row but on the JET WALK just ride over them like they don’t exist.
Money talks bull shit walks. An NFL is comming but the traffic is going to be god awful so the question is Transportation Systems dueling with day to day commuters, and LAKERS same night.
Great to hear about one Encino Jew who got 1,000 miles away from L.A! Emancipation is really COOL! I especially like the quote above about “the slaves” being stuck in traffic going to work! If the dumb voters would vote out every SINGLE INCUMBANT IN OFFICE EACH ELECTION, those freeways would find themselves DOUBLE DECKED IN ABOUT 5 YEARS! The stolen money used for frauds like “subway to the Sea” and the “Expo Line” would all go to double deck the crappy crap freeways. But L.A. voters LOVE spending 20% of their lives stuck in traffic and LOVE higher taxes, and REALLY REALLY LOVE more unemployment. You see, this all HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT AND GETS US MORE GREEN! YIPPEE!!!
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