This morning Jamie McCourt speaks in the LA Times: "until now she hasn't said anything publicly since being fired by her husband as Dodgers CEO, being labelled an adulterer in the process and pounded in court filings."
I have to say I am no fan of the McCourts. Frank McCourt strikes me as a bit more than slick. And in the past the Mrs suffered as a result.
But today I find my opinion changed. Clearly she is a beauty, and she is smart. She is also - apparently - very socially astute. Certainly enough to turn LA's record to her advantage.
As she opens: "Jamie says [her children] are the ones who have been really hit hard ... 'I want my kids to look back and say she took the high road. It's hard, but that's what I'm going to try and do.'" "Boys tend to defend their mother, but they're caught between a rock and a hard place." Bringing the kids to her side. Exactly what every good mom (and lawyer) knows to be true: the kids go with the dam.
With every statement, a strike. Jamie (I am now going to presume a first name basis) knows enough to turn each thing to an advantage. Is Mr McCourt going to play the same game? "He will respectfully decline comment." Nice, a one sided fight in the news. I could look forward to seeing her beat him in the press.
How was their marriage? Not quite perfect. "I met Frank when I was 17, dated him for eight years and was married to him almost 30 years." Almost. Nice.
Is Frank retaliating against loyalists in the Dodger's organization? "It bothers me that people not working for tons of money in most cases were let go when all they cared about was helping the Dodgers to get a [World Series] ring."
Adultery? "Absolutely not ... I have never been with another man until the marriage broke up. Ever. Ever." Emphatically qualified. She is born to do interviews like this. She is an animal, a natural. She's been crossed and she is out to get even. "I'm not ever going to talk about my private life, that's craziness."
Love of the game? "I don't need to be the controlling interest. I just love baseball so much and want to stay a part of it and lend my expertize in any way can."
The ostentatious pre-split life? "I'm with you. Frank is a real estate guy."' Nuff said.
On the fans: "I can't speak for Frank ... I like to think that you try to blend what fans can afford with what the game should be and still have quality players."
Future contributions to the Dodgers: "When you have partners and you have equity, you have an opportunity and the wherewithal to have an expended budget for player compensation."
On her contributions to the club: "I was running the team from day to day. I was handling everything from catsup dispenser to whether Joe Torre should be hired." She hired Joe Torre. Very good.
Future of the Team: "Our first order of business is to win the World Series."
Ticket prices: "That wa big fight with me and Frank. I haven't wanted to raise ticket prices for several years. It was a big debate. You don't have to be a brain surgeon to know this isn't the time to raise ticket prices."
Let's be clear. Jamie is worth every cent of $400,000 a month plus flowers. Plus the Maccabiah games. And negotiated swimming time. I'd give her the Dodgers in a heartbeat. As an independent analysis, we are told, found, "It was clear that Jamie believed that the success of the relationship is the key to all doors. She believes that the partnership is at risk because Frank 'doesn't get it.' He doesn't value her talents, listens to her only on his terms and shows little respect/acknowledgement for her in public. Jamie says that she can be a bigger asset to them if Frank could get by this need to dominate the public stage and better understand her business value." Jeesh. They could have been talking about all of us. A guy just can't forget that popularity is the grace of the person standing by him.
No comments:
Post a Comment