Other Sports Dodgers fire Ohtanis long time interpreter, accused of 'massive theft'

Sassy Squatch · 03-20-2024, 04:54 PM

The Los Angeles Dodgers fire Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's long-time interpreter.
Mizuhara was accused by Ohtani's attorneys of engaging in a “massive theft” of Ohtani's funds to place bets with an illegal bookmaker, according to the LA Times.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 20, 2024

Sassy Squatch · 03-20-2024, 04:56 PM

Wrinkle to the story is Mizuhara said yesterday he'd stood over Ohtanis shoulder as Ohtani personally wired the money to the illegal bookie. Now today Ohtanis Lawyers and the Dodgers are saying Ohtani had no knowledge whatsoever.

Initially, a spokesman for Ohtani told ESPN the slugger had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara's gambling debt. The spokesman presented Mizuhara to ESPN for a 90-minute interview Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara laid out his account in great detail. However, as ESPN prepared to publish the story Wednesday, the spokesman disavowed Mizuhara's account and said Ohtani's lawyers would issue a statement.

"In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities," read the statement from Berk Brettler LLP.

The spokesman declined to answer any further questions, and the statement did not specify whom they believe perpetrated the alleged theft

Multiple sources, including Mizuhara, told ESPN that Ohtani does not gamble, and that the funds covered Mizuhara's losses.

ESPN had reviewed bank information showing Ohtani's name on two $500,000 payments sent last September and October.

In the Tuesday interview arranged by Ohtani's spokesman, Mizuhara, 39, told ESPN that he asked Ohtani last year to pay off his gambling debt, which multiple sources said had ballooned to at least $4.5 million. Mizuhara said that he previously had placed bets via DraftKings and assumed bets placed through Bowyer were legal.

"I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting. I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again."

But on Wednesday afternoon, Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts and that Ohtani had not transferred money to the bookmaker's associate.

Mizuhara told ESPN on Tuesday his bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football.

"I never bet on baseball," Mizuhara said. "That's 100%. I knew that rule ... We have a meeting about that in spring training."

After Ohtani agreed to pay the debts, Mizuhara said on Tuesday, Ohtani logged onto his own computer and sent the wire transfers under Mizuhara's supervision in installments over several months last year. They added "loan" to the description field in the transactions.

Asked why Ohtani didn't simply give him the money instead of paying Bowyer's associate directly, Mizuhara said Ohtani didn't trust him with the money. "He didn't want me to gamble it away," Mizuhara said.

Mizuhara, though, Wednesday afternoon, walked back much of what he had said late Tuesday, saying Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling activities, debts or efforts to repay them.

Sassy Squatch · 03-20-2024, 04:57 PM

I think any coverage of this from here out has to start with the fact that Ohtani’s team has already changed its story https://t.co/Z2nM6faCdB
— Barry Petchesky (@barry) March 20, 2024

mr. tegu · 03-20-2024, 05:02 PM

This seems like it could be good. I would have assumed his interpreter was employed, or at least, largely vetted by him.

threebag · 03-20-2024, 05:03 PM

Pete Rose says Hi

Which is an absolute crime he isn’t in the Hall of Fame.

FloridaMan88 · 03-20-2024, 05:11 PM

Ohtani has been in America for like 7 years now... and he still needs an interpreter?

Suspicious.

Learn English already.

Monticore · 03-21-2024, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Ohtani has been in America for like 7 years now... and he still needs an interpreter?

Suspicious.

Learn English already.

Vlad Guerrero JR was born in Canada lived a lot of his life in Canada and US and still uses an interpreter.

MarkDavis'Haircut · 03-21-2024, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Ohtani has been in America for like 7 years now... and he still needs an interpreter?

Suspicious.

Learn English already.

The American pastime just opened its season in South Korea.

WhawhaWhat · 03-20-2024, 05:19 PM

**Rain Man** · 03-20-2024, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

What the - ? Was that the rookie seminar? Why would you expose the rookies to bad influences like Cris Carter and Warren Sapp? Was Michael Irvin the next speaker? Rae Carruth?

WhawhaWhat · 03-20-2024, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What the - ? Was that the rookie seminar? Why would you expose the rookies to bad influences like Cris Carter and Warren Sapp? Was Michael Irvin the next speaker? Rae Carruth?

ESPN fired him for the comments but I think a lot of people knew it was true.

Pitt Gorilla · 03-21-2024, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What the - ? Was that the rookie seminar? Why would you expose the rookies to bad influences like Cris Carter and Warren Sapp? Was Michael Irvin the next speaker? Rae Carruth?

Vonn Miller followed by Bill Romonowski, while Elway led the anti-drinking campaign.

Sassy Squatch · 03-20-2024, 05:22 PM

No shit. Stole millions but was still chill enough with Ohtani to be hanging out with him in the dugout in Korea today.

I don't know what the exact word is, maybe naivety, but Ohtani and Mizuhara may have already permanently ****ed his career permanently by what they've admitted.

Bl00dyBizkitz · 03-20-2024, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

No shit. Stole millions but was still chill enough with Ohtani to be hanging out with him in the dugout in Korea today.

I don't know what the exact word is, maybe naivety, but Ohtani and Mizuhara may have already permanently ****ed his career permanently by what they've admitted.

This sucks big time if true.

Ohtani is the only reason I care about MLB currently.

DJ's left nut · 03-20-2024, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

No shit. Stole millions but was still chill enough with Ohtani to be hanging out with him in the dugout in Korea today.

I don't know what the exact word is, maybe naivety, but Ohtani and Mizuhara may have already permanently ****ed his career permanently by what they've admitted.

HA!

Jesus no.

MLB will move heaven and earth to distance Ohtani from this. He's a golden goose both in the states and internationally. And playing for their present crown jewel franchise.

He gonna be fine.

03-20-2024, 04:54 PM	Topic Starter
Sassy Squatch The man you could post like. Join Date: Oct 2010 Casino cash: $2469655	Dodgers fire Ohtanis long time interpreter, accused of 'massive theft' The Los Angeles Dodgers fire Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's long-time interpreter. Mizuhara was accused by Ohtani's attorneys of engaging in a “massive theft” of Ohtani's funds to place bets with an illegal bookmaker, according to the LA Times. — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 20, 2024
Posts: 37,902

03-20-2024, 04:56 PM	#2
Sassy Squatch The man you could post like. Join Date: Oct 2010 Casino cash: $2469655	Wrinkle to the story is Mizuhara said yesterday he'd stood over Ohtanis shoulder as Ohtani personally wired the money to the illegal bookie. Now today Ohtanis Lawyers and the Dodgers are saying Ohtani had no knowledge whatsoever. Initially, a spokesman for Ohtani told ESPN the slugger had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara's gambling debt. The spokesman presented Mizuhara to ESPN for a 90-minute interview Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara laid out his account in great detail. However, as ESPN prepared to publish the story Wednesday, the spokesman disavowed Mizuhara's account and said Ohtani's lawyers would issue a statement. "In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities," read the statement from Berk Brettler LLP. The spokesman declined to answer any further questions, and the statement did not specify whom they believe perpetrated the alleged theft Multiple sources, including Mizuhara, told ESPN that Ohtani does not gamble, and that the funds covered Mizuhara's losses. ESPN had reviewed bank information showing Ohtani's name on two $500,000 payments sent last September and October. In the Tuesday interview arranged by Ohtani's spokesman, Mizuhara, 39, told ESPN that he asked Ohtani last year to pay off his gambling debt, which multiple sources said had ballooned to at least $4.5 million. Mizuhara said that he previously had placed bets via DraftKings and assumed bets placed through Bowyer were legal. "I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting. I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again." But on Wednesday afternoon, Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts and that Ohtani had not transferred money to the bookmaker's associate. Mizuhara told ESPN on Tuesday his bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football. "I never bet on baseball," Mizuhara said. "That's 100%. I knew that rule ... We have a meeting about that in spring training." After Ohtani agreed to pay the debts, Mizuhara said on Tuesday, Ohtani logged onto his own computer and sent the wire transfers under Mizuhara's supervision in installments over several months last year. They added "loan" to the description field in the transactions. Asked why Ohtani didn't simply give him the money instead of paying Bowyer's associate directly, Mizuhara said Ohtani didn't trust him with the money. "He didn't want me to gamble it away," Mizuhara said. Mizuhara, though, Wednesday afternoon, walked back much of what he had said late Tuesday, saying Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling activities, debts or efforts to repay them. Last edited by Sassy Squatch; 03-20-2024 at 05:03 PM..
Posts: 37,902

03-20-2024, 04:57 PM	#3
Sassy Squatch The man you could post like. Join Date: Oct 2010 Casino cash: $2469655	I think any coverage of this from here out has to start with the fact that Ohtani’s team has already changed its story https://t.co/Z2nM6faCdB — Barry Petchesky (@barry) March 20, 2024
Posts: 37,902

03-20-2024, 05:02 PM	#4
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $1981300	This seems like it could be good. I would have assumed his interpreter was employed, or at least, largely vetted by him.
Posts: 24,059

03-20-2024, 05:03 PM	#5
threebag Snacks Are Under My Apron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Edge Casino cash: $3021660	Pete Rose says Hi Which is an absolute crime he isn’t in the Hall of Fame. __________________ Free DeBerg HayWire Greatest Mod Ever In big nasty kcnut we trust
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03-20-2024, 05:11 PM	#6
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $3172906	Ohtani has been in America for like 7 years now... and he still needs an interpreter? Suspicious. Learn English already.
Posts: 38,230	8 5

03-20-2024, 05:19 PM	#9
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $1591116
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03-20-2024, 05:22 PM	#13
Sassy Squatch The man you could post like. Join Date: Oct 2010 Casino cash: $2469655	No shit. Stole millions but was still chill enough with Ohtani to be hanging out with him in the dugout in Korea today. I don't know what the exact word is, maybe naivety, but Ohtani and Mizuhara may have already permanently ****ed his career permanently by what they've admitted.
Posts: 37,902	1 0