ABOVE PHOTO: Christina and Jeffrey Lurie

(AP Photo)

By Chris Murray

For the Sunday Sun

When people heard the Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, 60, and his wife Christina, 52, were ending their 20-year marriage, the first thing that might have jumped into minds is the split up that occurred with former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt.

In the case of the McCourt's, the dissolution of their contentious marriage led to a big fight over the control of the team that ultimate led to the sale of Dodgers. Jamie McCourt received a settlement of $130-million dollars.

The Luries have pledged that this would not be the case. In fact, they did not disclose the reason for the split and have asked the public for privacy while going through what is normally a difficult situation for both the husband and the wife. The couple has two children.

In a letter, that was published in several local publications, to Eagles employees, the Luries said the divorce would have no bearing on the team's day-to-day operations. The letter also stated that both Jeffrey and Christina would remain friends and stay involved in the Eagles charity ventures such as the Eagles Youth Partnership.

"This was not a decision made easily or without deep consideration for each other, our children and our extended families," the couple wrote in the statement that was published by the Philadelphia Inquirer. "But it is one we have reached mutually and with the greatest respect for each other and each of our roles in our work here at the Eagles."

Unlike Jamie McCourt, who was the CEO of the Dodgers, Christina Lurie was never involved in the football decisions. But did weigh on such things as cheerleader outfits and team colors. According to friends of the Luries, the two are parting as a friends and not bitter enemies like the McCourts.

The Luries' divorce comes as the Eagles are three weeks away from training camp to open the 2012. The Birds are coming into the season with Super Bowl aspirations after last season's disappointing 8-8 finish. The Luries breakup will not be a distraction to the team on the field and it will not have the same type of drama that the McCourts had in their contentious breakup.

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