The embarrassing circus that has been the McCourts divorce trial is now entering the "someone's going to win big, someone's going to lose big" phase.
Unless Frank and Jamie can put their massive egos to the side and come to a compromise.
So, not likely. Not likely at all.
The future of the Dodgers franchise and who runs it -- and if it will have to be sold -- will be decided pretty soon. Either with civility and compromise, or with a judge wielding a sword and playing Solomon. One way or another.
Friday is the last chance for civility.
Judge Peter Lichtman, the mediator in the case, is going to put out what he thinks is a fair settlement to both sides Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The two sides can accept the mediator's ruling -- something that seems highly unlikely considering the hostility between the sides. They could use the Lichtman's proposal as the basis of a settlement, something Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon has urged the two sides to do. If you think that is happening, go back and read the sentences about the massive egos and hostility, then guess again.
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Still, Dodger fans are clinging to the hope that a fair settlement, a compromise, could at least bring this ugly spectacle to a civil conclusion. Then the McCourts could get back to the business of not having enough money to really run a major market MLB franchise.
More likely, on Dec. 28 (his deadline), Gordon will decide for them.
The two signed a prenuptial agreement that leaves the couple's vast real estate holdings to Jamie and the Dodgers to Frank. Jamie wants that invalidated saying she -- an attorney -- had no idea what she was signing, it confused her. Sure it did. Frank wants it upheld but his attorney that drew up the document admitted he changed the document after both parties had signed it. Courts don't find that amusing, and Gordon could strike down the prenup as invalid on that principle alone, regardless of intentions on any side.
Jamie and Frank both have a lot at risk if this decision falls to Gordon. That is where sane people come up with a compromise, to remove some or all of the risk, to get something and move on.
Nothing about the McCourts divorce has been sane. So don't expect a compromise. But it's out there as of Friday.
