Posted on 03/25/2024 1:55:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Ohtani will reportedly read a prepared statement and not take questions from reporters on Monday afternoon
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will speak with the media on Monday for the first time since Major League Baseball opened an investigation into allegations that his longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara -- since fired by the Dodgers -- had placed illegal bets on non-baseball sports and Ohtani's bank account was used to pay an illegal bookmaker. Ohtani will reportedly speak around 5:45 p.m. ET and make a statement. He is not expected to answer questions from reporters, per ESPN.
MLB's policy allows personnel to gamble on non-diamond sports (e.g. baseball and softball) provided that such activity is legal in that jurisdiction. Sports betting remains illegal in California, however. That, in turn, explains why Mizuhara is alleged to have placed his bets with an accused bookmaker at the center of a federal investigation.
The accused bookmaker, Matthew Bowyer, has denied through his lawyer that he ever talked to or met Ohtani, but Mizuhara originally claimed that Ohtani voluntarily paid off his gambling debts. Mizuhara later changed his story, stating that Ohtani was not aware of the situation. A law firm representing Ohtani told CBS Sports that the two-way superstar "has been the victim of a massive theft."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Sunday, including Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, that he thinks it'll be "good" for Ohtani to speak with the media about the situation. He reiterated that he does not believe the Ohtani-Mizuhara story has been a distraction to the rest of the clubhouse.
The Dodgers opened the MLB season last week with a two-game set in Seoul, South Korea against the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers, who went 1-1 in those games, will now close out their exhibition schedule with three games against the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers will then return to their regular season schedule on March 28, with a four-game set at home against the St. Louis Cardinals.
These days it's all about the MONEY.. NOT the "spirit of COMPETITION" or the purity of sports.
Shohei has the reputation of being extremely disciplined and focused. Only concentrating on his craft.
I can see how someone like that could be taken advantage of.
“You mean a translator who makes under $100,000 a year was able to obtain a $4.5 million line of credit from a bookie? The translator was an obvious go-between for someone.”
Exactly. MLB’s $700 million (gambling) man is being aggressively shielded.
Pete Rose won't get in (and should not) because he bet on baseball.
And you think MLB is interested if determining if Ohtahni did ?
They would be if he wasn't a Dodger (or Yankee), and especially if he was an Astro.
Imagine everything was identical except the guy in question was Yordan Alvarez, you know MLB would leave no stone unturned and probably suspend him while he was under investigation because "they have to protect the integrity of baseball and democracy !"
Nah, not buying it. MLB has dropped hammer on big names in big markets for plenty of offenses. Think of the players bounced for PEDs.
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