McCourts Trying to Be Good Club Members

Before we get to the heart of the Dodgers’ idiocy, the megatrade that has gone Majerus on everyone and more dumb comments from General Manager Paul DePodesta, I think it’s important we begin the day with a good laugh.

Page 2 has learned that Frank H. & Jamie McCourt, known best probably as Los Angeles’ poorest so-called rich folks, are seeking approval to become members of the prestigious and swank Jonathan Club.

I was already giggling at this point, but then I noticed they were being sponsored by Raoul Dedeaux, who happens to be Rod Dedeaux, the 90-some-year-old former baseball coach at USC, and seconded by -- get this -- Peter O’Malley.

I immediately called O’Malley and just started laughing.

“What were you thinking when you decided to vouch for these scoundrels?” I asked. “Your family built this respected organization, and now these two are tearing it apart and you want them to join your club?”

O’Malley paused, and said, “I probably would’ve been better to skip this call.” I know a (collect?) call he shouldn’t have taken from the McCourts.

“I can tell you the facts,” O’Malley said. “The McCourts embraced Rod.... “

Well, of course, they did, or how else would they be nominated to join the Jonathan Club. They certainly didn’t wave a stack of cash in front of anyone’s face.

(I got the feeling at this point that it might it might be a while before O’Malley returns my next call.)

“Jamie wanted to swim in the pool,” O’Malley continued, and I would’ve thought a pool would’ve come with the $6.5-million home she bought next to the $25-million home purchased by her husband. I would think a $25-million home would have a pool, and I’d hope he’d let her use it.

“Rod asked if I would second his nomination,” O’Malley said, relieved, I guess that he wasn’t asking him to go swimming with the Meanie.

I recall O’Malley’s name being linked to billionaire Eli Broad when it looked as if the McCourts didn’t have the bucks to buy the Dodgers, and Broad offered to save the day. That would suggest O’Malley knows the McCourts are cash-poor by Jonathan Club standards.

“Here’s what I’ll say,” O’Malley said, and you have to give him credit for hanging in there. “They’re going through a very difficult time.

“Spring training doesn’t begin tomorrow. I like the GM; he knows what he’s doing,” he said, and I can’t remember if he said the same thing about Kevin Malone.

“I was asked to be the second for the McCourts’ nomination, and I said I would. Their application is before a committee for membership.”

I wonder how that’s going.

*

SOMEONE WAS kind enough to fax the Jonathan nomination pamphlet to Page 2 with the pictures of the poorest so-called rich folk in town, and I noticed they weren’t identified as The Parking Lot Attendant and the Screaming Meanie.

The pamphlet has been posted in the Town Club Garage Foyer and at the Beach Club, and at the bottom of the page there’s a notation: “For the best interest of the Club, information regarding the nominees pictured in this publication, whether favorable or unfavorable, is earnestly requested.”

I thought about stopping by Kinko’s and having all my columns bound and shipped off to the membership committee, but come on, you can’t go anywhere these days in town without hearing someone knock the McCourts.

How would you like the chances of the Screaming Meanie’s swimming in the Jonathan Club pool if the Dodgers had gone ahead and gotten rid of Shawn Green and Adrian Beltre in a matter of days?

Anti-Dodger feelings have reached a crescendo the last few days, and the Jonathan Club fate of the McCourts is about to be decided, which might explain why the megadeal collapsed. I know this, it’s a good thing Alex Cora doesn’t get a vote.

*

JUST WHEN you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Dodgers, the Screaming Meanie is talking again. She was a USA Today Internet guest recently, and said, “Certainly among the greatest pleasures I’ve experienced is meeting the fans.”

I don’t know where she’s hanging out these days, but it’s obviously not with Dodger fans.

Later she said, “Our philosophy is to bring in players who provide the most value to our fans, on and off the field.”

I wonder if she’ll invite Milton Bradley to join her for dinner at the Jonathan Club.

*

OK, so the megadeal is off, and according to Associated Press, DePodesta says the Dodgers weren’t looking to trade Green. And we’re supposed to believe anything else he has to say?

The Dodgers had everyone in town excited to the max less than three months ago, and destroyed it all. The initial reaction to the megadeal going sour, of course, will be that the Dodgers are better off -- like starting over again, DePodesta & Co. are going to suddenly start making only wise moves.

Frankly, I’d feel a lot better if the Jonathan Club membership committee were putting the squeeze on the McCourts and calling the shots for the good of L.A. instead of DePodesta. I’ve seen how DePodesta’s computer thinks.

*

TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Cory Privett:

“As a season-ticket holder for the last 24 years, and a Dodger fan since ‘67, I’m frustrated and disappointed with the Parking Lot Attendant’s handling of this team ... The best gift I can think of for a Dodger fan is tickets to an Angel game.”

Knowing Arte Moreno -- he might hand-deliver them.