RUPERT MURDOCH'S PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF THE DODGERS COULD BE THE FIRST SHOT FIRED IN A...CORPORATE SPORTS WAR.Byline: David M. Carter LOS Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. is defined by its beaches, earthquakes, and palm trees, as well as its business and cultural diversity. The city is also defined by its baseball team - our Los Angeles Dodgers "Dodgers" and "Brooklyn Dodgers" redirect here. For the American football team, see Brooklyn Dodgers (football). For the Eastern Basketball Association team, see Brooklyn Dodgers (basketball). . But the Dodgers are more than a team; they are a brand, and significantly contribute to Southern California's identity. It is because the Dodgers are such an integral part of Los Angeles that the prospect of Peter O'Malley
The proposed sale of the Dodgers serves as a vivid reminder that sports remains big business. And, as Angelenos, we are concerned that the team - indeed a big part of the city's identity - will become nothing more than a weapon in Murdoch's sports arsenal. The building up of this arsenal results in the sports version of an ``arms race.'' This arms race, fed by Murdoch's voracious voracious said of appetite. See polyphagia. appetite for sports programming, also includes the control of teams, athletes, and the venues in which they play. In short, the arms race is about dominating this critical segment of the entertainment industry. For Murdoch, the purchase of the Dodgers will enable him to use the team - one of the most recognizable sports brands in the world - to further establish his identity as a ``player'' in the sports community while simultaneously increasing corporate profits worldwide. The cultural diversity of Los Angeles, which is clearly reflected in the Dodgers as evidenced by such players as Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. (Japan), Chan Ho Park (South Korea), Ismael Valdes
As a worldwide sports brand boasting such international flavor, the Dodgers will allow Murdoch to generate additional advertising and subscription revenue for his company. This is precisely why we, as a community, should not worry - at least not yet. Any anticipated changes in the way the franchise is marketed - including increases in ticket prices, the building of luxury suites, and an overall catering to sports' biggest fan and consumer, Corporate America - will not likely come quickly because the very appeal of the team is its image, rich history, and stellar reputation. Consequently, Murdoch would be ill advised to make immediate and wholesale changes in the team, as these changes will only tarnish tarnish, n 1. surface discoloration or loss of luster by metals. Under oral conditions, it often results from hard and soft deposits. 2. a chemical process by which a metal surface is discolored or its luster destroyed. the team's goodwill, a significant asset being acquired in the purchase. This race has other critical implications to the entertainment capital of the world. It certainly signals the end of a nostalgic era. Perhaps even more importantly it marks the beginning of a new one, one that will include new venues for football, basketball and hockey. It is here where the arms race takes on added significance for those of us living in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, .Murdoch certainly would like nothing better than to dominate the Los Angeles sports landscape by owning multiple teams, controlling their key venues and surrounding real estate, and dominating the sports airwaves. The potential to corner the Los Angeles sports market can be a reality for Murdoch provided he quickly builds the requisite political and business coalitions. However, the race is on as numerous other parties, most notably Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). co-owners Edward Roski Jr. and Phillip Anschutz, are jockeying to control this same landscape. The result is a high stakes High Stakes is a British sitcom starring Richard Wilson that aired in 2001. It was written by Tony Sarchet. The second series remains unaired after the first received a poor reception. game combining Southern California's two most precious commodities: entertainment and real estate. This is yet another reason the sale of the Dodgers is evoking such interest and emotion in our community - it is both symbolic and real and strikes at the very soul of our community. Ultimately, when the dust settles - both literally and figuratively, we can only hope that the Dodgers - our Dodgers - maintain their role as community, business, and sports leaders. And the new owners, whether foreign or domestic, continue to respect the role that sports plays in the lives of Southern Californians. CAPTION(S): Drawing Drawing: (Color) No caption (business executives duke it out) Jon Gerung/Daily News |
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