MLB Rejects Dodgers' TV Deal, Proving Frank McCourt Is Delusional

Running out of ways to hate this guy

​Update: Frank "Never Surrender" McCourt will vigorously explore his legal remedies. See below.

Remember that fuss last week about the Dodgers' divorce settlement? Well, forget about it.

Major League Baseball has rejected the Dodgers' proposed TV contract. That renders the settlement moot, clears the way for a bloody legal showdown between MLB and Frank McCourt, and proves yet again that Frank is completely delusional.

Last week, Frank seemed genuinely to believe that there was a decent chance that MLB would approve the Fox TV contract -- which he desperately needs to stay solvent and make payroll at the end of the month. Ten divorce lawyers spent hour after billable hour hashing out the fine points of an agreement that was only operative if Commissioner Bud Selig blessed the TV deal.

This despite every indication that Selig would reject it. It's hard to draw any conclusion from this other than that Frank has lost contact with reality.

And looking back, this has been a problem throughout the divorce case. Whenever a rational person would recognize the weakness of his hand and fold, Frank has raised the ante. Clearly he believes in his own superhuman ability to win unwinnable battles and somehow come out of this as the sole owner of the Dodgers.

So where do we go now? Presumably, back to court. Frank will sue baseball, the divorce case will drag on, and this will just keep going until either Frank wins or he exhausts every conceivable option in defeat.

Update: In a statement, Steve Susman, Frank's attorney,* says he plans to "explore vigorously our options and remedies with respect to Commissioner Selig's rejection of the proposed FOX transaction and our commitment to protect the long-term best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers."

Update 2: Frank thinks that MLB can seize the team, but cannot take the related corporate entities that control the Dodger Stadium parking lot and collect Dodger ticket revenue. MLB thinks that's bullshit, and they'll be taking the whole thing, thank you very much.

Since Tom Schieffer took over as Bud Selig's proconsul in April, it's been all but inevitable that Frank and Major League Baseball would end up in court. The fight will not be simple or quick, but at least we're getting on with it already.  

*Fixed

The full statements from Bud Selig and Steve Susman follow.