Arr, Shohei Ohtani be swearin' on his treasure, the ex-interpreter be tellin' tall tales! 'Tis a peg leg fib!
2024-03-25
Arrr, Shohei Ohtani be swearin' on his sword that he never wagered a doubloon on any sportin' event, while that scurvy dog Ippei Mizuhara be tellin' a tale as tall as the mast! Methinks there be a mutiny afoot in the Dodgers' crew!
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani denied involvement in a gambling scandal with his ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, stating he never placed sports bets. Ohtani expressed shock and sadness over the situation, revealing he only found out about Mizuhara's debt in South Korea. Ohtani's attorneys claimed Mizuhara stole millions from Ohtani to gamble illegally through a bookmaker under federal investigation. Mizuhara initially told ESPN that Ohtani was helping cover debts as a friend, but Ohtani's attorney later called it a "massive theft." In a team meeting, Ohtani realized something was amiss and confronted Mizuhara who admitted to using Ohtani's account for payments. Ohtani contacted his representatives and the Dodgers, leading to investigations by MLB and the IRS. Mizuhara was terminated from his role as Ohtani's translator. Ohtani emphasized he never bet on sports and urged authorities to handle the matter. Reporters were not allowed to ask Ohtani questions, leaving the mystery of how Mizuhara accessed Ohtani's bank accounts.