Ohtanis translator fired for stealing

[Twalk1975]

The fact that he hasn't said something along the lines of "trust in God that the truth will come out" has me feeling pretty good about this for Ohtani. Also, no neck tattoos.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by Twalk1975

The fact that he hasn't said something along the lines of "trust in God that the truth will come out" has me feeling pretty good about this for Ohtani. Also, no neck tattoos.

Ah I see we are back to neck tattoos bad

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by Stifle

I wonder if Ohtani, err the interpreter stiffed a bookie ?

The bomb threat specifically targeted at Ohtani before the game yesterday may make more sense...

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

This story is so wild. I'm of the belief that Shohei was paying Ippei's debt and nothing more than that. However, wiring the money directly from his account to the illegal bookie was a mistake. On the surface, that looks really, really bad, so Ohtani's camp needed Ippei to fall on the sword.

Racking up 4.5 sheets in gambling debt is genuinely impressive. Did this dude ever win a bet? I have serious remorse when I lose a $50 bet. I can't imagine dropping hundreds of thousands at a time.

A recent story came out about Bruno Mars racking up 50 sheets in gambling debt with MGM...let that sink in.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

The bomb threat specifically targeted at Ohtani before the game yesterday may make more sense...



A recent story came out about Bruno Mars racking up 50 sheets in gambling debt with MGM...let that sink in.

The Bruno Mars news came out to be false...

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by awz50

The Bruno Mars news came out to be false...

MGM Resorts issued a public statement about it. Of course they're going to deny it publicly as it makes them look bad.

I would trust the original "source" rather than an MGM press release.

The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle.

[Stifle]

Originally Posted by packman80

No matter what invovlment Ohtani had MLB will make sure it's covered up. Way to much money to lose for everyone for him to be found doing anything even close to shady.

100% ! It’s already occurring within the story. Bizarre is as close to what has been explained so far.

Is gambling legalized for players in Japan ? Gambling is extremely addictive and can happen to anyone.

Maybe he will leave baseball for nearly two seasons while playing basketball ?

I guarantee Vegas is checking to see if huge bets were placed before the story broke on the Dodgers on the under in wins ! That trail may define this story, imo.

[onenineeightsix]

If Ohtani made direct payments to the bookie then there's no way to differentiate who made the bets. If you make the payments on the bets, you essentially made the bets. I doubt any "paperwork" will arise from said bookie to prove that otherwise. This idea that he was stolen from by his interpreter is obviously a pretty poor cover story. This guy had access to his accounts? Doubtful. He's fully expected to take a fall to save Ohtani's image and potentially his career. Don't see how, at the moment at least, that Ohtani comes out of this clean. Also, anyone saying that he "doesn't seem like that guy", or "wouldn't expect this from him" is just wishful thinking. Few athletes of his magnitude and value have played their personal life as close the vest as he has.

[cbeauch87]

"Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, according to an MLB official, nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league."

https://twitter.com/FabianArdaya/sta...82890495799297

[Giroux]

So if we think the theft story is a cover, which it does seem like, what about the criminal charges for Ippei? Is Shohei gonna let this best friend go to jail for "stealing" his money? Hopefully he'll have a nice bag waiting for him when he gets out to take to Vegas or Macau

[Funkster]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

"Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, according to an MLB official, nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league."

https://twitter.com/FabianArdaya/sta...82890495799297

lol shocking I tell you.


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[JRX]

Can't get suspended if there's never an investigation.

Sent from my SM-A546U1 using Tapatalk

[cnewby]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

"Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, according to an MLB official, nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league."

https://twitter.com/FabianArdaya/sta...82890495799297

He's their cash cow.....for now.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by cnewby

He's their cash cow.....for now.

Apparently his translators too.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by JRX

Can't get suspended if there's never an investigation.

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"Rules for me, not for thee." MLB investigates every rumor of cheating, domestic violence, and anything else that hits the news, but they are not going to investigate this? If I was part of the MLBPA union, I'd be complaining. Or is the negative press not loud enough yet for MLB to start one?

[sauceboy]

Originally Posted by majestik101

Breaking:

Ohtani's new bride Mamika Tanaka's family maybe has connections to the Yakuza

Love to see blatant racism around these parts. Not funny.

Anyway, I'm under the impression that Ohtani was trying to help his buddy Ippei out. Whether Ohtani realized covering Ippei's gambling debt was illegal or not, it's still illegal. He's likely going to get suspended. I don't believe the story that Ippei "stole" money from him at all.

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by Funkster

lol shocking I tell you.


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MLB may be eager to sweep everything under the rug, but the Feds DGAF about any of that.

[Stifle]

Originally Posted by cnewby

He's their cash cow.....for now.

That is s why Vegas is going to investigate anybody who bet huge before the story broke. If anybody bet big, watch your back because baseball and Vegas are as colluded as the HOF and MLB and that’s not a opinion. They protect the elite which is image equalling profit.

The investigation is can this be spun enough to secure harm on the image of MLB & gambling. IMO, it’s about who knows enough of the facts to cover up the truth. If one person had placed huge money on the Dodgers being under, Vegas will do whatever to find out.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by Stifle

who knows enough of the facts to cover up the truth.

much wisdom here ^

[Neal]

Originally Posted by Grave252

Ohtani laughing it up in the dugout with his interpretor and then hours later accusing him of massive theft is quite something.

This story is fishy at the very least.

Is the interpreter a co-owner, or does Shohei just have cash laying around?

Even if Shohei knew about the debts, which I believe is the extent of this, nothing should happen to him. I can't imagine any legit reports indicating Shohei was betting on baseball.

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[bloodwings19]

Simply Ohtani made the wrong decision to use his name to pay for the gambler's debt. A gambler usually goes to horse track, goes to cities with casinos, plays fantasy sports, golfers (Phil Mickelson, Michael Jordan), or open baseball cases. If you barely know English, you surely won't know the rules of football so that is why I believe he didn't bet. Ohtani has always been a generous man, he gave Joe Kelly's wife (Porsche 4 Door) giving him his right to the number. 1 thing for sure the clean image of Ohtani is no longer. Expect a lot of hecklers when Ohtani plays away in games.

[bub838]

Based on the way the story changed there's no doubt in my mind that Ohtani paid off Ippei's debts. Then the story changed to "theft" to protect Ohtani from wire fraud.

This whole thing will 100% be swept under the rug and forgotten about. Ohtani is too rich, too likable and too much of a global phenomenon for anything to happen to him.

As for Ippei? Assuming he's got a clean record he gets a slap on the wrist. Or he just F's off to Japan until the story blows over.

[JRX]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

"Rules for me, not for thee." MLB investigates every rumor of cheating, domestic violence, and anything else that hits the news, but they are not going to investigate this? If I was part of the MLBPA union, I'd be complaining. Or is the negative press not loud enough yet for MLB to start one?

Selective prosecution is the foundation of the legal system

[onenineeightsix]

People thinking Ohtani is "too big to fail" are way off. The Feds love harpooning a whale and making news of their own, and people, for one reason or another, love seeing someone get taken down. Major League Baseball, and Shohei specifically, aren't bigger than either of those ideas.

[imbluestreak23]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

"Rules for me, not for thee." MLB investigates every rumor of cheating, domestic violence, and anything else that hits the news, but they are not going to investigate this? If I was part of the MLBPA union, I'd be complaining. Or is the negative press not loud enough yet for MLB to start one?

I think it likely has to do with the fact that no source exists claiming Ohtani was directly involved in betting.

Ohtani walked through the security line carrying his friends kilo and now the mindless want to pin him as a coke dealer. I imagine a judge when presented with the facts would in fact toss this, and probably should. Fortunately, like everything else in life, the details will emerge.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by onenineeightsix

People thinking Ohtani is "too big to fail" are way off. The Feds love harpooning a whale and making news of their own, and people, for one reason or another, love seeing [whales] get taken down. Major League Baseball, and Shohei specifically, aren't bigger than either of those ideas.

Fixed.

I hypothesize it's because normal people want whales held to the same standard they're held to. "If I'd get in trouble for it, the whale should too."