Dodgers derby loses some players, gains some

Late last week, Mark Cuban of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and longtime sports agent Dennis Gilbert were dropped from the group of finalists who will be allowed to bid for the Dodgers. Now Bill Shaikin of the Times reports that the finalists include a team of Santa Monica financier Tom Barrack and Leo Hindery, a New Yorker and founder of the Yankees' cable channel. At least eight potential buyers have survived the first cut, Shaikin says, among them St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Shaikin is also reporting that local billionaire Ron Burkle was not an initial bidder but may join either the bid of Rick Caruso and Joe Torre, or the one headed by Stanley Gold and the family of the late Roy Disney.

OK, now we're caught up.