A huge sigh of relief in the Southland today. Frank McCourt, the embattled owner of the Dodgers, has agreed to sell the team. Bill Shaikin over at the Los Angeles Times broke the story on Monday evening that a plan was in the works between McCourt and Major League Baseball.

An agreement was reached late yesterday. The team will be auctioned off  with the approval of  U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The sell-off will include Dodger Stadium and the surrounding parking lots. McCourt reportedly bought this package deal for $421 million in 2004. It’s expected to sell this time for “… two to three times as much.”  More on the deal and possible bidders for the team on the L.A. Times website here.

Major League Baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig, turned thumbs down on a Fox TV deal  for the Dodgers today — a move that kills the Frank and Jamie McCourt diivorce settlement.reached last Friday.

Once again the ownership of the Dodgers is in limbo. Details here on the  Los Angeles Times website.

The battling McCourts announced a divorce settlement today –  but it depends on a TV contract  between the Dodges and the Fox network .So it’s not quite a done deal for Frank and Jamie. Details here on the Los Angeles Times website.

“Green Lantern” burns red hot in theaters

The “Green Lantern”  made a ton of green at theaters today. Nikki Finke over on Deadline.com says the superhero flick’s opening day haul is around  $24 million — with an estimated weekend take of  $60 million.  More about the weekend movies here.

Los Angeles Dodgers owner, Frank McCourt, joined Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Los Angeles Police Chief, Charlie Beck, at a news conference today to unveil a new hard-line policy against disruptive fans. Mayor Villaraigosa said,” violence will not be tolerated” and that “public safety is number one.”

Police Chief Beck praised the Dodger organization eagerness to embrace all of a series of new security recommendations, among them,” increased LAPD presence” at all Dodger games, no drinking in the parking lots, improved lighting, and close security TV.

 Dodger owner Frank McCourt announced the new security measures would be in place for the next home game, Thursday, April 14. McCourt called the recent attack on San Francisco Giant fan, Bryan Stow, at Dodger Stadium “criminal behavior” and not the actions of true Dodger fans.

Stow was viciously beaten after the season opening game between the Giants and Dodgers on Thursday, March 31. The paramedic and father of two suffered a brain injury and is in a coma. A $100,000 reward is being offered in the case involving two male suspects. The Los Angeles Times website has sketches of the suspects, along with more details on the new crackdown on unruly fans and troublemakers.  

Also, the Dodgers put out a press release today about a fundraiser for Bryan Stow and his children, on Monday, April 11. Several organizations will be on hand to help collect donations at a “drive-through” event for a Bryan Stow trust fund. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lot 1 of Dodger Stadium.

The Bryan Stow Fund is accepting donations at www.sfpcu.org as well.

A fan-favorite returns to Dodger Stadium tonight. The dazzling eye-popping Friday night fireworks are back this season and kicks-off tonight, after the Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants. Fans can watch the fireworks show from the outfield grass.

Pizza Hut is sponsoring this series of fireworks shows on Friday nights from now through the end of summer. Here is the schedule: April 1, April 15, April 29, May 13, May 27, June 17, June 24, July 8, July 22, July 29, August 26, and September 16. Also, the fast food chain is offering specials to fans who attend games on those Friday nights.

For more information on 2011 giveaways and the Dodgers’ schedule you can visit Dodgers.com

Yesterday, the boys in blue opened their 54th season in Los Angeles with a 2-to-1 win over the defending World Champion, Giants. Also, it was a debut victory for former New York Yankee star/now rookie Dodger manager, Don Mattingly.

Dodgers go for a second win against the Giants tonight. Game time 7:15 p.m. Dodger Stadium.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking for new talent. You don’t have to be able to throw a fastball or hit a home run. The baseball organization is accepting applications and resumes right now for the part-time seasonal union position of Ticket Seller.

The qualifications include excellent verbal communications, outstanding customer service, and at least a high school diploma or GED. For more requirements and details on the position click over to dodgers.com   and check under job opportunities or call Human Resources at (323) 224-1547.  The deadline to apply is April 5, 2011.

 The Los Angeles Dodgers announced some special arrangements today for the grieving family of  the youngest Arizona mass shooting victim, Christina Taylor Green. The 9-year-0ld nicknamed, “Princess,” by her father, is the daughter of Dodgers scout, John Green, and the granddaughter of Dallas Green, a major league executive who’s a former pitcher and manager as well. 

Photo: The Arizona Republic/The Los Angeles Times -- A victim of that mass shooting in Arizona on January 8, 2011, 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green. Her father is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

When a gunman sprayed a political gathering with bullets last Saturday, young Christina was hit in the chest. She died later at a hospital. Five others were killed in that deadly attack, more than a dozen wounded, including the alleged  target, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head. Giffords is recovering, but is still in critical condition.

In a press release today, the Dodger organization revealed it had received “… overwhelming offers of support for the family of Los Angeles Dodgers scout John Green.” So today the club announced several developments. First, the creation of an e-mail address “…where family, friends, and members of the community can share their thoughts and feelings on the tragic passing of  Christina Taylor Green.”

Condolences, thoughts, and memories can be sent to greenfamily@dodgers.com  Those e-mails will be compiled into a memorial book for the family. Instead of e-mails, you can send letters to: Dodger Stadium c/o the Green Family, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90090.

Also, the family has created a charitable memorial fund to honor the life and memory of a spunky little girl, who played baseball and was interested in politics. The fund will be held by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

You can make a donation by doing the following:

• Logging on to the website of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona at www.cfsoaz.org and clicking on the link to the Christina Taylor Green Memorial Fund

• Contacting the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona by e-mail at christinataylorgreenmemorial@cfsoaz.org or by calling (520) 545-0313

• Checks may be sent to: The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, In Memory of Christina Taylor Green, 2250 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ  85719

 A public memorial service for Christina is scheduled for 1 p.m. this Thursday, January 13, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 8650 North Shannon Road in Tucson, AZ.

A Los Angeles judge handed down a legal ruling today that could mean more bad news for the Dodgers. This morning, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon threw out a 2004 marital agreement, between Jamie and Frank  McCourt, that would have given him sole ownership of the team.

Frank is not thrilled with the ruling and has indicated he will continue the court battle with some new strategies — which could tie the Dodgers up in legal limbo for years.

On the other side, Jamie McCourt’s lawyer, Dennis Wasser said in an interview on KNX 1070 newsradio,  that he is pleased with the decision, but a settlement would be in the team’s best interest “… the Dodgers deserve some stability in the front office…”

The battle between the co-owners of the Dodgers has been raging since they filed for divorce back in 2009. This legal fight was a distraction to the Dodgers during the past season and continues to be so in the preps for next year. I think it’s pretty clear that Frank should do what’s best for the team and pay Jamie whatever she wants to get full control of the team — so everyone can move forward.

More on the judge’s decision and McCourts’ battle over the Dodgers on the   Los Angeles Times website.

All sorts of events and celebrations are going on today in honor of American military veterans.  Here are just a few of the special Veterans Day events here locally. 

Veterans Day Ceremony

This morning 11 a.m.,  at the McCambridge Park War Memorial, the corner of Amherst Drive and San Fernando Road in Burbank.  

The event will feature the Burbank Community Band, St. Robert Bellarmine kindergartners, and a flyover by the Condor Squadron. The city of Burbank and the Veterans Commemorative Committee are the sponsors. More information on the Burbank city website. 

This afternoon, around 80 members of the U.S. military will be treated to a batting practice and home run hitting event on the field at Dodger Stadium. Representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard will be participating. 

Others scheduled to attend include  former Manager, Tommy Lasorda, and Ex-Dodger players Roy Gleason (Army Veteran), Steve Yeager, Kenny Landreaux, and Bobby Castillo. The event begins 1:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Dodger organization. 

Laughs and free tickets!

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Flappers Comedy Club at the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and First Street in Burbank

Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank is hostinga Veterans Day benefit set for tonight at 8 p.m. All active duty military personnel as well as veterans will get two free tickets to the show. Civilians are being offered a 2 for 1 deal. There is a two item minimum. 

The event is a fundraiser for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation  — which helps with the education of children of Marines — especially those students whose parents have been killed or wounded in action. 

Also, the scholarship foundation’s Heroes Tribute Fund provides up to $30,000 over four years for the offspring of a Marine or a Navy Corpsman, servicing with the Marines, who has been killed in combat since 9-11. 

More on this evening of comedy, including ticket prices, and talent line-up, on the Flappers Comedy Club website.  The public is invited.

Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun -- Paris Hilton and her attorney David Chesnoff in a Las Vegas courtroom today, September 20, 2010

 Hotel Heiress Paris Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor cocaine charges in a Las Vegas court today.  Hilton got a plea deal: one year probation, $2,000 fine, 200 hours of community service, and she must complete a drug abuse program.  Also, if  Hilton violates her probation she risks going to jail for a year!

The drug charges followed the socialite’s arrest at the Wynn Las Vegas last month. At first, Hilton denied ownership of the cocaine and the purse it was found in. However, today the judge made her admit she’d lied.

More on Hilton’s case and what she had to say in court in this Las Vegas Sun report. Also, on the newspaper website, some nice photos of Hilton looking more like she was attending a fashion show rather than a court sentencing.

Jamie McCourt testifies in court

Some pretty amazing testimony in Frank and Jamie McCourt’s nasty divorce and legal battle over the Los Angeles Dodgers today.  Jamie McCourt took the stand and claimed she didn’t read nor really understand the document she signed in 2004 giving her estranged husband sole ownership of the Dodgers.

 However, Steve Susman, Frank McCourt’s attorney, pointed out in court  – Jamie McCourt practiced law at one time. Hmm, interesting. More on Jamie McCourt’s testimony on the Los Angeles website.

Ben Affleck’s film tops the Box Office

The final numbers came out today and the crime drama,  ”The Town,” easily won the domestic weekend Box Office. Ben Affleck wrote, directed, and starred in “The Town,” which debuted with 23.8 million, to become the new number one film in the country.

The new teen comedy, “Easy A,” racked up $17.7 million, good enough for second place. It was followed by the new horror flick, “Devil,” which managed only $12.2 million, despite being the creation of M. Night Shyamalan. 

Last week’s top film, “Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D” came in fourth with $10 million, and in fifth place, the new animation “Alpha and Omega” with $9 million.