How Much More Popular Can McCourts Get?

Messy front-office decapitations, silly micromanagement of things such as plane tickets, blustering and inane public statements -- and no on-field improvements.

The McCourts are Steinbrenner without the wallet.

Roger Bloom

Huntington Beach

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If Frank McCourt thinks a conference call is going to fix all his new problems, he is sadly mistaken. When you have three top executives leave, practically all at once, you’re dealing with a lot more than disgruntled players and their salaries. I guess Frank missed that day in business class.

Daniel V. Shannon

Burbank

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So, Jamie McCourt thinks 3 million people cheering on the Dodgers aren’t enough. Four million is what she wants, and she wants “accountability” for those “no-shows.”

Well, Mrs. McCourt, let me give you a little background on your new hometown. The average income in Los Angeles is around $21,000 with over 750,000 living below the poverty level. Not too many $15 tickets and Dodger Dogs can be eked out of those salaries. And, Mrs. McCourt, let’s talk about transportation. Unlike Boston, Los Angeles’ public transportation system doesn’t allow one to leave work or home, jump the “T” and get to the park. Also, do you realize that over 700,000 Angelenos have a commute ranging from 30 to 90 minutes? Not too much free time left to add to your required numbers.

A lot has gone on since your purchase of the Dodgers, but apparently you haven’t learned much about the city that supports your new investment. Maybe it’s time to stop traveling and get to know about the socio-economic issues that might keep those extra million people away from the old ballgame.

Shondell Spiegel

Los Angeles

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I can’t agree with Bill Plaschke’s March 17 description of the McCourts as “more naive than nasty.” Ever since this pair of Boston carpetbaggers managed to leverage and finesse their little deal with Fox and Major League Baseball, they have shown themselves to be consistently arrogant in their posturing and empty talk.

They make only the slightest pretense of being here for any purpose other than putting our baseball team to sleep so that they can further their real estate plans for Chavez Ravine. There seems to be a real meanness to Frank and the not-so-charming Jamie, in the classic sense of that word.

Maybe it’s time for them to start listening instead of talking so much. Perhaps then they’d realize that we don’t really like what we’ve seen of them so far, and don’t believe that they like or respect us, the baseball fans of Los Angeles.

Shel Willens

Los Angeles

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We’ve seen some real winners in L.A. (Donald Sterling, Al Davis, Fox, etc.) but the McCourts take the cake. They’ve done nothing to help the team and are driving away key personnel from the front office. These people can’t understand why L.A. is upset?

If they want to sell more tickets, give us McCourt Bobble-head Day. That’s something I’ll pay money to see.

Steve Ozawa

Gardena

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Jamie McCourt’s rant on the need for a “new culture” for the Dodgers clearly points out the contrast between what the Angel and Dodger fan has to look forward to.

Artie Moreno came in and quietly showed a positive attitude by mixing with the fans. The McCourts come in with a lot of noise and bluster and no action except to show us the disruption and discontent they have generated through the wave of resignations and the hint of more changes. Further, they engage in big talk and promises that they now blame on the press because “you guys remember everything and write everything down.”

As a longtime Dodger fan, I can only be left feeling that what has been bad will only be getting worse.

Ken Marcus

Los Angeles

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Now that she and her husband have owned the team for all of 20 minutes, I’m sure Jamie “Yoko” McCourt qualifies as a baseball expert.

Instead of remaining cautiously silent and allowing us fans to judge the new regime on the basis of results rather than rhetoric, the McCourts have chosen to voice their opinions on pretty much everything having to do with the Dodgers -- from team culture to fan base to stadium aesthetics.

It’s too bad they didn’t focus a little bit more on that other topic -- team offense.

David Macaray

Rowland Heights

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It wasn’t until I read Jason Reid’s account of the interview with Jamie McCourt that I realized that the true owner of the Dodgers is Rachel Phelps. The power hitter the team desperately needs will probably end up being a guy named Cerrano who practices voodoo in his locker. Look for Tracy to be replaced by Lou Brown in 2005.

Craig Kisro

Granada Hills

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I have been a Dodger fan my whole life. I don’t attend many games, but I try to see them when I am in town. I follow them in the paper and over the Internet. I supported them when they let Garvey go to the Padres. I supported them when News Corp. bought them and traded away Mike Piazza. I try not to think about the Delino De- Shields fiasco.

Every year, I believe they have a chance to make the World Series. I don’t care so much about the front-office issues and mainly focus on the games, especially against the Giants. However, after reading about the McCourts, I am incensed. I could never understand how fans in other parts of the country hated their owners with such venom. Now I understand.

They talk about restoring pride to the Dodgers, yet they give Fernando an economy ticket. How can you spend millions of dollars on a team and not know its history? Now I have two things to root for this year: the success of the Dodger players and employees, and hoping that the McCourts pack up, sell the team and move back East.

Toshio Tsurunaga

Turin, Italy

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Dear Frank McCourt,

I have an idea to put an end to all the attacks on you and your incapable leadership as Dodger front man. Why not lower the price of beer to 50 cents? This way all 3 million fans that pack your stadium can afford to get drunk and forget just how pathetic the Dodgers really are.

Stanley Alvarez

Baldwin Park

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Jamie McCourt contends she won’t discuss her husband’s promise to sign a hitter for the Dodgers before the season begins, because all the L.A. reporters “remember everything and write everything down.”

Jamie should like T.J. Simers. He only remembers what he wants and writes nothing down.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster