March 20, 20242 yr So this was Othani placing the bets right? And he's a fall guy? They were literally in the dugout together this morning.
March 20, 20242 yr 2 minutes ago, Buehrle>Wood said: So this was Othani placing the bets right? And he's a fall guy? They were literally in the dugout together this morning. Yeah this is so shady. Ippei originally gave an interview saying Ohtani knowingly helped him pay off his gambling debts. Now the story is that he stole the money. I'm guessing Ohtani's representation doesn't want Ohtani to look like he paid off bookies. At this point, that's probably the best case scenario. The worst case is that Ohtani is Pete Rose and Ippei is his fall guy.
March 20, 20242 yr 5 minutes ago, chw42 said: Yeah this is so shady. Ippei originally gave an interview saying Ohtani knowingly helped him pay off his gambling debts. Now the story is that he stole the money. I'm guessing Ohtani's representation doesn't want Ohtani to look like he paid off bookies. At this point, that's probably the best case scenario. The worst case is that Ohtani is Pete Rose and Ippei is his fall guy. Phil Mickelson II. Now we know why he wanted to defer all that money...to keep everyone away from it. Joking. I hope, for baseball's sake. Embezzlement sounds about right...and Ohtani almost has that Tiger Woods-esque image before everything came crashing down from his hidden life.
March 21, 20242 yr https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39768770/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-interpreter-fired-theft This for now seems to clarify everything... Edited March 21, 20242 yr by caulfield12
March 21, 20242 yr That's not even counting a bomb threat Wednesday to attack the dome they are playing in...Ohtani has had an interesting week, as well as his new wife getting so much media exposure.
March 21, 20242 yr Interpreter will take the hit....go back to Japan and live a discreet life out of public view, sign an NDA and he'll get very generous monthly payments forever.
March 21, 20242 yr MLB Owners mad, want their cut. https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mlb-draftkings-expand-betting-partnership/ https://www.marqueedevelopment.com/our-projects/draftkings-sportsbook-at-wrigley-field
March 21, 20242 yr https://www.yahoo.com/sports/cavs-hc-jb-bickerstaff-reveals-personal-threats-from-gamblers-says-sports-betting-has-gone-too-far-023345598.html
March 21, 20242 yr I am biased, but I have a hard time believing Ohtani would mess up his squeaky clean image on a scandal. The interpreter is 1000% the culprit here.
March 21, 20242 yr I’m not a gambler. I don’t care about others gambling, but this kind of thing seems like the natural endpoint of all these leagues, teams, and individual players/celebrities getting in bed with the casinos/websites. Now the leagues will have to walk a tightrope when these incidents come up. They will have to decide who gets punished and who doesn’t, which will lead to conspiracy theories like the above posts. There will be accusations of hypocrisy. And you know what, they deserve it. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.
March 21, 20242 yr 6 minutes ago, bmags said: I don't see how this wasn't a cover up but also kinda hoping they cover it up. It's either wire fraud for Ohtani sending money directly to gamblers for a gambling debt, the end of Ohtani in MLB for gambling, or Ohtani didn't realize that this dude had access to his bank accounts and was stripping him of millions. I have the popcorn.
March 21, 20242 yr 17 hours ago, Buehrle>Wood said: So this was Othani placing the bets right? And he's a fall guy? They were literally in the dugout together this morning. Shady as F. I’m sure you are spot on but I doubt it ever comes out.
March 21, 20242 yr Just a couple of issues. Othani has an accountant and business manger I assume. Maybe not. Why not have them move the money however you see fit. Especially if you are going to help a brother out. Sounds like Othani transferred the money directly....not a good idea. If this was done in the US there are several issues involving the IRS among others. If this part of a federal probe, it may not end as nicely as MLB would hope. There is a money laundering aspect to this as well. The Dodgers may be out of another long term deal.
March 21, 20242 yr 2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said: It's either wire fraud for Ohtani sending money directly to gamblers for a gambling debt, the end of Ohtani in MLB for gambling, or Ohtani didn't realize that this dude had access to his bank accounts and was stripping him of millions. I have the popcorn. you probably know banks more than me but I can't imagine merely having access to an account would allow you to WIRE millions without it setting off some checks that would have found their way to Ohtani.
March 21, 20242 yr 10 minutes ago, bmags said: you probably know banks more than me but I can't imagine merely having access to an account would allow you to WIRE millions without it setting off some checks that would have found their way to Ohtani. I would 100% agree with that. All of the AML laws and post 9/11 banking changes were made around knowing exactly who was moving around large sums of money. Really everything over 10k is reportable, as are repeated transfers under individual 10k, but adding up to more than that when they are all added up. I can't see any bank just taking their word for it. I find the idea that Shohei didn't know anything about this the least likely scenario vs he knew and was trying to bail out a buddy, or he was gambling himself.
March 21, 20242 yr Author 48 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: I would 100% agree with that. All of the AML laws and post 9/11 banking changes were made around knowing exactly who was moving around large sums of money. Really everything over 10k is reportable, as are repeated transfers under individual 10k, but adding up to more than that when they are all added up. I can't see any bank just taking their word for it. I find the idea that Shohei didn't know anything about this the least likely scenario vs he knew and was trying to bail out a buddy, or he was gambling himself. What are the odds that "a well paid interpreter who is not actually the player himself" (probably a salary in the 6 figures right?) is going to have a bookie willing to let them get on the hook for $4 million in losses?
March 21, 20242 yr Seems almost everyone agrees that Ohtani was gambling. I’m sure we all also agree that the MLB will do everything in their power to ensure he isn’t touched. It will look pretty bad when a marginal player is caught gambling and he’s thrown to the wolves.
March 21, 20242 yr 4 minutes ago, Balta1701 said: What are the odds that "a well paid interpreter who is not actually the player himself" (probably a salary in the 6 figures right?) is going to have a bookie willing to let them get on the hook for $4 million in losses? I don't move in that world, but I have to imagine it is not great.
March 21, 20242 yr 25 minutes ago, Milkman delivers said: Seems almost everyone agrees that Ohtani was gambling. I’m sure we all also agree that the MLB will do everything in their power to ensure he isn’t touched. It will look pretty bad when a marginal player is caught gambling and he’s thrown to the wolves. Imagine if this was someone like Trevor Bauer instead of Ohtani lol they would use every ounce of resources to get him. Edited March 21, 20242 yr by Bob Sacamano
March 21, 20242 yr 14 hours ago, Quin said: This is honestly what I think is going on Big hole in that is, why is a schmuck interpreter getting that level of credit? Would be the dumbest bookie in history.
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