*Dodgers hire Steve Soboroff to improve fan experience

His title is vice chairman and it sounds like his marching orders will center on being, well, the anti-McCourt - a well-regarded, responsible business leader who could act as the team's public face not only with fans but the community at large. McCourt has botched those responsibilities but good. From press release:

"Steve understands this city as few others do, and his contributions have made Los Angeles a better place," said McCourt. "Not only will he infuse great ideas and energy to the Dodger organization, but he will use his trademark 'get-it-done' approach to extend the Dodgers' positive impact on Los Angeles. It starts with a quality fan experience in the stadium, and extends throughout the Southern California community."

One thing he left out is Soboroff's familiarity with City Hall (he's a former president of the Recreation and Parks Commission and had been a senior adviser to Mayor Richard Riordan). He's supposed to help implement the recommendations of Bill Bratton, the police chief turned private security honcho who McCourt brought on earlier this month to enhance security at Dodger Stadium (but only after the opening day attack in the parking lot generated so much ill-will that he had to do something). It's worth noting that McCourt's spokesman, Steve Sugarman, had worked as the mouthpiece for Soboroff at Playa Vista (Soboroff is the former CEO of the Westside development). It's a small town.

*One more note: I wouldn't be surprised if the Soboroff-McCourt relationship turns financial as well. McCourt obviously could use an infusion of minority investors (he says the team is not for sale), and Soboroff knows just about everybody with a deep pocket. Like I said, a small town.

**Several readers remind me of Soboroffs's strident defense of McCourt in an LAT op-ed last September:

Frank has made mistakes and errors, but he has also delivered big-time when it comes to community benefits and seems to have much more to offer in the future.