May I assume you have never been through a divorce Haeger?

Some basics – if you are going through a divorce it is already probably obvious that financial problems seem to pop up and/or grow. Exposure is not only mandatory it is penetrating and it is relentless. What to do?

A. This one is simple…… reduce, reduce, reduce. Reduce your overhead expenses by reducing or eliminating expenses that are superfluous. There is a difference between wants and needs. Granted, the McCourts are in a different league, but the rules are basically the same for them. They WANT to field a team of All Stars and HOFers and win the Championship. They NEED to reduce their expenses.

B. If possible, access the equity you already have. A recurring problem during divorces is accessing equity and cash in property and formerly shared banking accounts, stocks, bonds, and other assets. Often, pending the divorce, access to the shared assets are frozen or inaccessible. Sometimes one of the spouses had complete control over checking and savings accounts and now refuses to relinquish the control until forced by the divorce decree. Agreements are made between the parties for tax purposes and those agreements will be challenged if necessary. None of us really know what is going on behind those closed doors, but I must assume that until further notice, assets are probably frozen, or at least being chilled. And, we know the McCourts borrowed heavily to get into this ownership and leveraged property to do so. Property values have tanked. What assets are left to split?

C. Other options to reduce expenses and increase cash of course exist during divorce proceedings. While things can become hectic and confusing during your divorce, it is important that you stop, evaluate your finances, quickly measure your options, and then take action as soon as possible before all of your best options are no longer available.

I am sure the McCourts are being advised to put a hold on all expenses, or at least, make a visible attempt to do so. They will do the PR work of professing that it is business as usual, but anyone who has been through a divorce knows that “business as usual” is an impossibility.

If you want an example of what a divorce does to a Major League franchise, all you have to do is look at San Diego:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/lee_jenkins/10/16/dodgers.mccourt/index.html?eref=si_mlb

Towers was saying all the things that Colletti is saying, and Moores’ wife’s attorney said the same things that are being said now – “everyone has the Padres best interest in mind – blah blah blah” and then the Padres were stripped down to make them more attractive for sale. Their payroll went from over $70 million to $30 million. Now I am not saying that WILL happen to the Dodgers, but all of us should be prepared because it COULD happen.

I anxiously await a move that will show me it is business as usual. I doubt anything happens until December, so in the mean time, what is there to talk about?

As far as the legalese, you’re right…. I just won’t read it.

This is going to play itself out however it plays itself out. I don’t think it’s as bad a situation as the naysayers say it is or as good as the yaysayers say it is. It’s definitely somewhere in between.

The divorce is going to get ugly, that’s for sure, but I truly believe the McCourts are too ego driven and self-centered to allow the product on the field to fail regardless of how bad their life together has failed…. because they care more about how they look in other people’s eyes than how they look too each other.

You guys kick ass on the legal stuff, I know egocentric people. I work in TV news. McCourt is Mother Teresa compared to them.

Put down the Molson and back away slowly!