David Lauterbach

Contributing Writer

Students of Milken Community High School: Do you like Frank McCourt? I know I do not.

With the NBA season currently delayed and with the persistent lack of a Los Angeles NFL team, only two LA teams remain: the Kings and the Dodgers. Since most Milken students do not follow hockey, only the Dodgers remain. One of the key issues with the Dodgers is star power, and fans are curious as to whether Frank McCourt has the resources to lock up the team’s best player for years to come.

Without a star in the lineup every day, are you willing to go watch a bunch of mediocre players? With ticket prices higher than your latest Hebrew book, do you even have the will to go to games anymore? I will admit that, even as big of a baseball fan as I am, I do not know if I do anymore.

The Dodgers franchise is currently in rough shape, thanks to one man: Frank McCourt, the owner of the team. He also happens to be, in my opinion, the worst man to ever be associated with sports in Los Angeles.

In addition to decimating the Dodgers, the Lakers are being negatively affected too. Without the basketball season, who can you really root for on the Lakers right now? Nobody. Instead of reading about the Lakers’ easy win last night, you have to read another article about the McCourt bankruptcy trial.

But what is really going on? Here is a quick summary:

Over the summer, McCourt took the Dodgers into bankruptcy court with him in an effort to prove that the commissioner of the MLB, Bud Selig, has treated him unfairly. However, in declaring bankruptcy he helped prove Selig’s point regarding why he should no longer own the team. Quite simply, if he has been and still is a successful owner, then why does he have no money? Why has he taken money from the team? Why has he refused for over three years to sign a player the Dodgers need? And why is he taking his frustrations out on Selig? McCourt has forced this situation upon himself with his lavish lifestyle and questionable financial decisions. Specifically, he has taken money that was solely to be used for the Dodgers and instead used it to pay various people, including his sons and attorneys, in his countless other lawsuits.

From October 31 until November 4 the Dodgers will state their case against Selig and the MLB as to why they think McCourt should retain ownership of the team. Some of the key issues at hand will include: Has McCourt been treated unfairly? Has McCourt abused his privileges? Does he make decisions based on the best interests of the team? And would forcing McCourt to sell be in the best interests of baseball and the Dodgers?

In conclusion, let us study in the tradition of the Jewish people and in hopes that the Dodgers next season will be the Dodgers that they should be, a team without Frank McCourt as its owner.

Featured image by David Lauterbach.