Bud Selig Scuttles Dodgers' TV Deal, McCourt Divorce

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig gave Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt a major league headache today after putting the kibosh on a proposed TV deal between the Dodgers and Fox—and simultaneously squashing McCourt's divorce deal from Jamie McCourt. Selig said the deal was "structured to facilitate the further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr McCourt." Under the deal, $173.5 million of the upfront money would have gone to the McCourts and their lawyers, notes the LA Times.

Selig did not move to strip McCourt of ownership—though the former couple can't even agree whether Frank McCourt owns the team or whether it is community property—but he could seize and sell the Dodgers if McCourt fails to make June 30 payroll. McCourt has said he's good for it, but was rumored to be banking on cash from the Fox deal. Stay tuned. (More Bud Selig stories.)