Nervous? Frank McCourt Blinks 75 Times/Min.

Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt spent more than two hours answering questions from David Boies this morning. His answers have been concise and direct, and there haven't been any Perry Mason moments yet.

But McCourt sure does blink a lot. On one question, he blinked 24 times before answering. About mid-morning, he was doing 75 blinks/minute. Is he feeling the heat from Boies?

Or is this just normal for him?

I asked T.J. Simers, who is here on his day off, and he said McCourt blinks a lot at Dodger press conferences. But maybe he's nervous then, too.

"I've never seen him when he's comfortable," Simers told me.

We also learned a bit more about the McCourt marriage. After hearing Tuesday about their constant bickering, today we learned what Frank and Jamie talked about in bed. According to Frank, it was the relative value of their assets. See, the rich are different.

Boies is grilling Frank about the drafting of the couple's marital property agreement, the document at the heart of the trial. In the early drafts, which were based on input from Jamie, the Dodgers were expressly excluded from the agreement. That would preserve Jamie's co-ownership in the team upon divorce.

The day before the document was signed, Frank met with the couple's lawyer, Larry Silverstein. At that meeting, the language was changed to include the Dodgers as Frank's property. That was the version that Frank and Jamie signed the next day, and that's what Frank and his assault team of lawyers are trying to enforce now.

Here's the key testimony from this morning on that. Apologies in advance if it seems a bit dry, but at least it will give a flavor of the proceedings.

Boies: The change from excluding to including was one you did not request or recommend?

McCourt: It came up in conversation. I don't have a present memory of whether I caught it or he caught it but it was a change he made.

Boies: Mr. Silverstein made the change, I understand. But who said the change ought to be made?

McCourt: I don't remember if it was he or I.

So, now Jamie's side is arguing that Frank looked at the document and said, "Larry, you idiot, this means she gets half the team. Fix it." Frank's side is saying that the early version was merely an obvious and innocent mistake, and that the later version was what both sides wanted and intended.

On a lighter note, Jamie is wearing a cream-colored suit today. Tuesday, it was sort of a mint green and Monday's outfit was white. She and Frank have avoided interaction throughout the trial.

Also: Did you know David Boies is a die-hard Yankee fan?

Full McCourt coverage:

Day 11:

Wasser The Dealmaker Versus Susman The Carnivore

It Ain't Over Till It's Over

Day 10:

Dodger Execs Circle The Wagons Around Frank

Mediation Day:

A Long Day Ends Without A Deal

Day 9:

A Settlement Looms As Silverstein's Agony Ends

Day 8:

The Screwing of Larry Silverstein

The Return of Silverstein's Boner, In Which Two Interpretations Are Explained

Day 7:

Silverstein's Boner

Reynolds Cafferata's Dodger Dreams

Day 6:

Frank's Four Self-Defeating Arguments

Steve Susman Sharpens His Knives

Jamie Dummies Up

Week 1 Wrap-Up:

The Desperate Hunt For Exhibit A, Or, How To Blame The Conquistadors

Day 5:

The Return Of Vladimir Shpunt

Jamie Takes The Stand

Day 4:

Boies Puts Frank On The Run

The Billable Hours Mount

Day 3:

Nervous? Frank McCourt Blinks 75 Times/Min.

Screwing The Fans

Day 2:

Steve Susman Goes On The Attack

McCourt vs. Boies

Day 1:

Trial Opens With A Win For Jamie

The Screaming Meanie

Even more McCourt:

L.A. Weekly cover story, Dodger Dog, from August