Hey Dodgers! I Want A Divorce!

In 1994 I was at Dodger Stadium when Larry Walker of the Expos made one of the most infamous plays in Dodger Stadium history. You've probably seen the clip where he makes a catch and hands the ball to a fan, only to discover it's the second out of the inning and not the third. His frantic attempt to retrieve the ball while Jose Offerman runs the bases is part of baseball lore. I actually saw the whole thing on TV, standing next to Kings owner Bruce McNall while waiting for drinks at the Outfield Bar.

I didn't know it at the time but both McNall (on the verge of bankruptcy and prison) and Dodger Stadium (a few years from being sold by Peter O' Malley to the Fox News Corp.) were headed for big changes. One of them was the Outfield Bar, up on the club level but open to the public. The one place the average fan could get a cocktail and freshly popped popcorn. Served up by bartenders straight out of "The Shining." It sat next to the cafeteria, where a big chef in a big hat would carve out a roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side. All for $8.00, or about the current price of a beer. In 2000, Fox installed private luxury suites on the club level and razed both the cafeteria and the bar. So long average guy, hello big spender.

The 21st century brought more changes, and none of them worthwhile. How about the blanket fiasco, where fans were given a nice bit of fleece saluting the championship teams of 1962 and 1966, even though the Dodgers won in '63 and '65? This was the start of the Frank McCourt era, and hopefully it will end soon.

This carpet bagger raised the price of parking to $15.00 and raised ticket prices so high that many season ticket holders relinquished seats they’d had since 1962. He instituted a police state where cars are directed to specific spots by stern-faced attendants and fans are searched upon entry. Its like going to the airport but not quite as fun! Whatever joy I felt when going to Dodger Stadium has been completely drained by McCourt’s actions, and of course, the public embarrassment of his divorce trial. Now we know Frank and his wife were just using the Dodgers as a personal ATM machine to buy expensive homes instead of expensive players.
This year on fan appreciation day only 20,000 fans showed up and most of them ending up
booing any mention of the McCourts. Its a sad situation.

It’s a crazy world when the Oakland Raiders allow tailgating but the Dodger security force will order you to leave your car immediately. Don’t even think about having a quick beer before going inside. I have traveled all over the country for sports and concerts and never been treated this way! Thank goodness for Vin Scully, the only reason to remain a Dodger fan. When I was growing up, everyone I knew listened to him. At the beach, at home or at the stadium, Scully's voice was synonymous with summer. Now Vinny only does three innings of radio and I’m not sure who the other announcers are, but I know they don’t hold a candle to Ross Porter, who was fired a few years ago for no reason.

Since my first game in 1965 I have been to Dodger Stadium at least 500 times. This year I’ve been once. I will never go again as long as McCourt owns the team.