There might not be any crying in baseball, at least according to Hollywood script writers, but fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers have recently shed tears of a different type. 
Frank and Jamie McCourt met as freshmen at Georgetown University. Upon graduation they were married and embarked on an exciting life together, raising four sons and managing several successful business ventures. A life-long Red Sox fan, Frank attempted to purchase the famed Boston club, but he was outbid. He refused to give up his dream of one day owning a Major League Baseball franchise. In 2004, he acquired the Dodgers for over $400 million. His wife, Jamie, was named chief executive officer.
After only a few years in Los Angeles, though, rumors began to swirl about the couple's marriage. There were charges of infidelity with subordinates and power struggles within team leadership. By the end of the 2009 season, Frank had fired Jamie and the couple announced plans to divorce. For the past two years they've argued over the allocation of family assets. 
Meanwhile, the team's been thrown into a financial and organizational shambles. Former players allegedly haven't been paid. A fan was assaulted and sustained life-threatening injuries in the team's parking lot earlier this season, a symptom, it was suggested by some critics, of cuts to the security budget. Mr. McCourt filed for bankruptcy protection earlier today and Commissioner Bud Selig has seized control of the team.
The writer Pat Conroy once observed that each divorce is the death of a small civilization. He's right. Divorce is like an earthquake, with countless people feeling the strike's impact miles from its epicenter. Marriage may be a commitment between just two people, but as the demise of the McCourt's 32-year union illustrates, the damage caused by divorce goes well beyond the husband and the wife.
If you find yourself contemplating divorce, I would urge you to consider not only the commitment you made before the Lord and each other, but also the consequences that such a move might have on the people you love and those who love you. Our counseling department is available and here to help you. If you would like to talk with one of them please click here or call us at 1-800-232-6459.
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