Major League Baseball informed Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on April 20 that it was seizing control of the day-to-day operations of the franchise and that it would appoint a trustee to oversee all aspects of the business.
McCourt’s ongoing legal battle with his wife, Jamie, for control of the Dodgers seems to have no end in sight. The proceedings have hamstrung the ballclub financially and reduced the once proud franchise to somewhat of a laughingstock among the rest of baseball.
“I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club,” Said commissioner Bud Selig in a statement.
Two media outlets closely covering the story are the Los Angeles Times and ESPN. Each provided comprehensive coverage in its own distinct way.
ESPN started with a basic news lead that provided the who, what, and where. It left a lot to be desired, but thankfully the nut graf expands on the lackluster lead by explaining how the Dodgers put themselves in their situation.
ESPN includes quotes from a wide variety of sources (12 in all), including Selig, McCourt, and former manager Tom Lasorda.
The ESPN stories’ primary sources are the two statements released by Selig and McCourt, and a lot of reaction from people connected in some way. ESPN does a masterful job of diversifying the variety of quotes and sources, blending in reaction from current and former players, the general manager, purported half owner Jamie, and even a fan.
The Los Angeles Times has a basic news lead that is 43 words long. Although it is longer than the typical lead, it is a lot more informative than that of ESPN. It summarizes the who, what, and why. The nut graf successfully transitions from the lead and further expands on it.
The LA Times story has quotes from a community leader, Selig, Jamie McCourt, and current player Matt Kemp. There is no mention of Frank McCourt’s statement in the story, which is both unacceptable and also boggles the mind. Whoever edited this story really dropped the ball.
Based on this alone, ESPN provided the most complete coverage of this story. The LA Times provided excellent background to explain to the reader how the situation came to be, but not including McCourt’s statement makes it seem like they have some sort of hidden agenda, even if that is not the case.
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