Dodgers Feel Like Dancing Even Without the Fox Trot

Fox fired Fred Claire, fired Bill Russell, fired Reggie Smith, fired Mark Cresse, fired Charlie Hough and fired Bob Graziano.

On Thursday, Fox fired itself.

Peter Chernin, president of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., announced that it has sold a minority interest and turned over control of the Dodgers to Robert Daly, former Warner Bros. chairman.

Although Chernin added that the transaction does not signal that “Fox is trying to retreat,” it was hard not to notice the big white flag he was waving.

He acknowledged that the franchise has suffered on and off the field since Murdoch acquired it from Peter O’Malley at the start of the 1998 season and said Fox accepts responsibility.

So Fox gave itself a pink slip. It’s only fair.

But wait a second. Is Fox really relinquishing control, and, if so, how much? Daly is a 5% owner--he can increase his share to 10%-- which, even with my limited math skills, I figure means that Fox still owns 95%.

If Daly decides that the Dodgers should sign Alex Rodriguez or Ken Griffey Jr. or both as free agents, can he open his desk drawer and write a check? Or does he have to ask Chernin and Chase Carey? More important, how will they respond?

These were the types of questions I meant to ask during the news conference at Staples Center’s City View Terrace, but it didn’t seem appropriate at such a festive occasion. With the possible exception of the New York Yankees, there wasn’t a happier team in baseball Thursday than the Dodgers.

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Not since Kirk Gibson’s World Series home run in 1988 have I seen members of the Dodger organization so euphoric.

Vin Scully was silent in the aftermath of Gibson’s home run, allowing the crowd reaction to speak for the moment. On Thursday, Scully was leading the cheers.

“Welcome to an excellent chapter in the history of the Dodgers,” he said in his opening remarks. “If I can inject a personal touch, it is a memorable, wonderful moment.”

Scully is a close friend of Daly and often travels with him in his private jet to and from Vero Beach, Fla., during spring training. The Hall of Fame broadcaster, who will turn 72 this year, hasn’t spoken publicly about his future. But two members of the Dodger organization said Thursday they believe he was so disenchanted with the Fox stewardship that he would have retired after one more season. Now, they said, he might remain in the booth as long as Chick Hearn.

Tom Lasorda, another close friend of Daly, was equally elated.

Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone has relied heavily on Lasorda. There is no tension between them, as there was between Lasorda and Fred Claire. But it’s safe to assume that Lasorda will have even more influence in the baseball operation under Daly.

Steve Brener, the team’s longtime publicity director who unfairly took the fall for Al Campanis’ fateful “Nightline” interview in 1987, had been invited to Staples Center to supervise the news conference. Although he has his own successful public relations firm, it is not inconceivable now that he could return in his old role as protector of the Dodger image.

He is needed now more than ever. The Dodgers haven’t been the same since Campanis left. No one would defend the remarks he made to Ted Koppel, but, as the man who literally wrote the book on the Dodger way to play baseball, he provided even more of a link to Branch Rickey and the Brooklyn legacy than O’Malley, Walter or Peter.

Daly, Brooklyn born and a Dodger fan since he was 6, has vowed to restore that link.

“Not only is my heart in this, so is my wallet,” said Daly, who will pay at least

$15 million for his share in the team. “I will do everything to bring the Dodgers back to the position they should be at.”

What does he know about running a baseball team?

His fans within the Dodger organization answer that question with a question. What did he know about making movies before his celebrated 20-year reign at Warner Bros.?

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It is far too early to know what legacy Fox executives left, but even their thick corporate hides had to be stung by the knowledge that the most popular move they have made so far is to announce they are leaving.

They are not easy to like, as evidenced once again Thursday when Chernin tried to shift the blame for the Mike Piazza trade to Claire. That is unconscionable.

From what I’ve heard of Daly, he will be more accountable. If the Dodgers win, he will have earned the credit. If they lose, he will be saddled with the dubious distinction of being the man who paid millions to take the blame for the Fox executives. Shouldn’t they be paying him?

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Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com.