Will New Caretakers Do Just That?
Nothing to do now but get used to it.
When the Dodger sale to the Fox Group was approved by major league baseball Thursday, the guy who runs Fox couldn’t even be bothered to show up.
Rupert Murdoch was reportedly in Europe somewhere, presumably tending to something more important.
For Peter O’Malley, was there ever anything more important?
Nothing to do now but get used to it.
Chase Carey, one of two top Fox executives who will be involved with the team, is a native New Yorker who admitted Thursday he was a Yankee fan.
A reporter laughed and said, “You mean you were a Yankee fan.”
No, Carey said.
“I am still a Yankee fan,” he said. “But I will do a good job of dividing my loyalty.”
Comforting words for thousands in our city who take their love of the Dodgers to their graves.
Nothing to do now but get used to it.
Our favorite mom-and-pop operation has been bought by somebody who erects monster malls.
Our favorite fascinating, yarn-spinning, lovably frumpy uncle has been fitted with a silk suit.
One of our last remaining treasures wasn’t simply sold Thursday, it was swallowed whole.
It is impossible to tell whether this will be good or bad, whether the Dodgers will use this new entertainment money to become the West Coast version of the Atlanta Braves . . . or the Los Angeles version of the Mighty Ducks.
It is unfair to judge the people involved before opening-day starter Ramon Martinez has even thrown his first pitch, which will be hit to center field and caught by what’s-his-name.
But it was human to watch Thursday’s transition and want to affix it with a word.
How about “scary”?
Using phrases like “seamless transition,” the new Dodger bosses said they will try to keep everything the same.
Their actions said things will never be the same.
This was obvious when Peter O’Malley stood on a stage here and officially turned the team over to three people who have as much baseball experience as Al Bundy.
There are Carey and “partner” Peter Chernin, two cool Fox executives who do movie deals, TV sitcoms, lunch and, now, the owner’s box.
They will oversee new Dodger President Bob Graziano, a nice and well-intentioned man who has been in the organization for 13 years working with, well, uh, well, everything but baseball.
The entertainment people in this town will love Carey and Chernin, who have worked on stuff like “Titanic” and “The Simpsons.”
The bottom-line people will love Graziano, a certified public accountant who deals in stadium labor issues and fan surveys and feasibility studies.
And the baseball people? What’s in it for them?
Even after listening to everyone Thursday, it was impossible to guess.
The team could use a jump. Remember, even under O’Malley, the team hadn’t won a playoff game in 10 years.
Things were getting stale. Their commitment to spending the money to reach the next level was being questioned.
Will Fox spend that money? Will Fox want to reach the next level?
And will Fox do it with the same manners and grace evidenced by the O’Malley family through six World Series championships?
It is a tough act to follow. Is Fox committed to following it?
Chernin said, “The Dodgers are one of the crown jewels in all of sports; we take the running of the Dodgers very serious. We want to have a successful team on the field . . . while continuing to satisfy the Dodger fans . . . while building for the future.”
But he also said, “We don’t think it’s helpful to have a situation like with the Florida Marlins.”
(Note to Fox: After a 10-year drought, most Dodger fans would take that Marlin World Series championship and worry about next season, next season.)
History shows, even though multimedia conglomerates know that nothing makes money like winning, the conglomerates often care more about the money.
Just look down the road at Disney, whose Ducks are embarrassing and whose Angels may succeed this year only because of budget magician Bill Bavasi.
Or look in the Midwest, at the Tribune Co. and Chicago Cubs.
The only other conglomerate-owned team, the Atlanta Braves, is an anomaly because Ted Turner is still the boss, and Ted Turner still hates to lose.
The Dodgers needed someone like Turner on Thursday. They needed a boss. A face. A voice. Somebody who hated to lose.
They needed somebody stalking to the lectern and promising to do everything possible to return this team to the October spotlight.
Instead, they got three businessmen who sort of looked at one another like, Now how is this going to work again?
You wondered, while the team was barely improving this winter, restrained by strange and unknown forces, were these guys looking at each other the same way?
Graziano did not have to consult his Fox bosses on the signing of Raul Mondesi. That’s good.
He will have to call them on signing Mike Piazza, which could happen soon. That’s understandable.
Will he have to call them when the team needs to spend a quick million to pick up a veteran pitcher in July? When that trade is on the table for only 24 hours? It is hoped not.
Neither Chernin nor Carey, despite having lived in Los Angeles for 19 and 16 years, respectively, has ever had Dodger season tickets. So maybe they won’t come to many games, maybe they won’t meddle.
Then again, they are paying $311 million of Murdoch’s money for the privilege, so maybe they will.
Watching this big company take over the Dodgers on Thursday was like watching the demolition of that homey old building across the street. The contractor’s signs are bright and shiny, promising new and improved.
Yet your stomach rolls a bit because, who is this contractor anyway? And does he understand that whatever changes he makes, he drives away while you and your family must live with them?
Interested? Yes. Excited? Not yet. Watching every push of every shovel? You bet.
For now, the Fox Group said it is keeping Dodgertown, not selling the name of Dodger Stadium, trying to maintain the team’s straw-hat charm.
“Dodger Stadium is truly an amazing place,” Chernin said. “There’s a certain special magic to it. We’re committed to maintaining that magic.”
Well, uh, sort of.
Nancy B. Hefley, Dodger Stadium organist, was summoned recently and told her workload was being cut.
She used to play her Broadway tunes and other favorites 15 times a night, during every break but two, helping to make Dodger Stadium one of the unique throwbacks in sports.
Now, she will be needed about half of that time. The Dodgers want to fill the place with more upbeat music, with more rock ‘n’ roll and dance stuff.
They said the changes are in response to a J.D. Powers survey of fans.
Which fans? Did they talk to you? Did they talk to anyone you know?
It’s starting now, the Fox legacy, and although it’s scary, the Fox Group should know that we will all be watching. Every push of every shovel.
