Dennis RomeroWhen reports surfaced last night that there were a few last-minute details to be hammered out in the Guggenheim Baseball purchase of the Dodgers, we got a bad feeling.
Maybe the universally loathed Frank McCourt was pulling a dictator trick in an attempt to unravel the deal and hold on just a little longer.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case:
It's officially a done deal today. We even got this statement via email:
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC (“GBM”) and Frank McCourt today announced the completion of the sale of the Dodgers to GBM for $2 billion …
Credit: Gaston Hinostroza
It was more like $2.15 billion, but whats .15 billion between friends?
The Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin, master of all things blue, says Guggenheim and company wired their final payment to McCourt today, sealing the deal and essentially earning them the keys to Dodger Stadium.
Unfortunately, it doesn't have that new car smell. (For $2 bil-plus, you'd think it would).
The team stated:
The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful Plan of Reorganization, under which all claims will be paid. The Dodgers move forward with confidence – in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community.
Perhaps Vin Scully put it better when might have said:
I'm going to sit back, light up, and hope I don't chew the cigarette to pieces.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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