Ohtanis translator fired for stealing

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by kooky4cards

Beans and franks!

[atk825]

Originally Posted by bub838

Nah, nothing new there. Go read about Riviera Country Club and what they do to avoid taxes. No one cares.

Have their land classified forever as Agricultural so they pay a pittance on property taxes?

[rms13]

So now Ohtani's team is asking the police to investigate a massive theft and they told the interpreter to stop talking.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by rms13

So now Ohtani's team is asking the police to investigate a massive theft and they told the interpreter to stop talking.

Seems like a good idea and sage advice.

[hermanotarjeta]

I love the “theft”.

They aren’t fooling anybody.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

I love the “theft”.

They aren’t fooling anybody.

Totally. How could one of the closest employees involved with a really rich person get unfettered access he probably shouldn't have?

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

I love the “theft”.

They aren’t fooling anybody.

LOL

I lost $500 at the Wynn Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

Think I'm going to report the theft.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by majestik101

LOL

I lost $500 at the Wynn Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

Think I'm going to report the theft.

And then a week later, you realized your buddy who you gave your PIN number to a month ago took out another $300 while you were passed out.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by majestik101

LOL

I lost $500 at the Wynn Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

Think I'm going to report the theft.

Yes, someone else in my household bid on that ebay auction and paid for the card accidentally.

I'm going to report theft and return that Ohtani autographed card.

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by atk825

And then a week later, you realized your buddy who you gave your PIN number to a month ago took out another $300 while you were passed out.

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Yes, someone else in my household bid on that ebay auction and paid for the card accidentally.

I'm going to report theft and return that Ohtani autographed card.

Hey, did you go to Hollywood Upstairs Law College too?

[atk825]

Originally Posted by majestik101

Hey, did you go to Hollywood Upstairs Law College too?

Yah. Fraud is totally impossible.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by discostu

I'm going to go with what we know, versus what we can speculate on.

You have no issue speculating on Ohtani, yet refused to do the same with Bauer. Perhaps you should hold both players to a single standard.

Have you even read what I said about Ohtani? Apparently you haven't or you wouldn't have made that comment. I said that I believed he helped his friend out with the money not knowing that it was illegal to do so. The fact that his interpreter gave an honest long interview stating those facts and then it is disputed by Ohtani's agents/lawyers and ESPN says they don't believe him all of a sudden and he changes his story is all I need to pass the sniff test saying his original statement (under no duress or financial gain) was mostly true. I think he didn't know what he said in the interview would possibly get Ohtani in trouble.

I also don't believe I posted anything about Bauer's innocence or guilt, only that it seemed his longest suspension ever was unwarranted when he was never prosecuted much less found guilty for anything.

At a minimum he should be on leave since there is no dispute that the money was wired from his account and that needs to be investigated as to whether he really did it (I tend to believe this) or if somehow his interpreter stole his information and was able to make large wire transfers from his bank to an illegal source without anyone flagging it. If it turns out Ohtani didn't wire the money, he gets re-instated without suspension. I believe they did the same thing for a domestic abuse allegation while they investigated and when it turned out it wasn't true, the player faced no suspension. Again, this is gambling; the holy grail sin of baseball that continues to keep Shoeless Joe and Pete Ross out of the HOF. An investigation by MLB is warranted.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by hammertime

That's assuming the feds investigate all of his transactions. If the bookie is their target, and he has potentially thousands of clients, there's no guarantee they're going after the clients.

Very true. Look at Epstein. How many of his clients are in jail?

[JRX]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

Have you even read what I said about Ohtani? Apparently you haven't or you wouldn't have made that comment. I said that I believed he helped his friend out with the money not knowing that it was illegal to do so. The fact that his interpreter gave an honest long interview stating those facts and then it is disputed by Ohtani's agents/lawyers and ESPN says they don't believe him all of a sudden and he changes his story is all I need to pass the sniff test saying his original statement (under no duress or financial gain) was mostly true. I think he didn't know what he said in the interview would possibly get Ohtani in trouble.

I also don't believe I posted anything about Bauer's innocence or guilt, only that it seemed his longest suspension ever was unwarranted when he was never prosecuted much less found guilty for anything.

At a minimum he should be on leave since there is no dispute that the money was wired from his account and that needs to be investigated as to whether he really did it (I tend to believe this) or if somehow his interpreter stole his information and was able to make large wire transfers from his bank to an illegal source without anyone flagging it. If it turns out Ohtani didn't wire the money, he gets re-instated without suspension. I believe they did the same thing for a domestic abuse allegation while they investigated and when it turned out it wasn't true, the player faced no suspension. Again, this is gambling; the holy grail sin of baseball that continues to keep Shoeless Joe and Pete Ross out of the HOF. An investigation by MLB is warranted.

He could have been lying to Ohtani about all the details, but at some point you would think he'd say "hey why do you keep needing 500k regularly"

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by JRX

He could have been lying to Ohtani about all the details, but at some point you would think he'd say "hey why do you keep needing 500k regularly"

This is true, but I'm trying to give Ohtani the benefit of the doubt until 100% of the story comes out. I know, we haters shouldn't be doing that. Only the fan boyz know his interpreter stole the money via wire transfers from his account as 100% fact.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by JRX

He could have been lying to Ohtani about all the details, but at some point you would think he'd say "hey why do you keep needing 500k regularly"

And on the last part, don't forget athletes are dumb. Barry Bonds had zero knowledge of what the clear and the cream was he was using on his body and Ohtani would never have asked his friend why he needed so much money.

[Triple B]

Anyone got the math handy on if this has affected Ohtani’s card prices?

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by atk825

Yah. Fraud is totally impossible.

Personally I think the Illuminati is involved.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by rms13

So now Ohtani's team is asking the police to investigate a massive theft and they told the interpreter to stop talking.

I guess they need to maintain the illusion for the ever-shrinking number of people who honestly believe the money was stolen. But they better not overplay their hands. The police would interview Ohtani as the victim and you really don't want to lie to them. (Yes he would have the right not to cooperate but that in and of itself raises questions)

Of course, they really don't have any (official) authority to tell the interpreter what to do or what he can and can't say.

[fulltritty]

I'm not sure how can you even believe a word that Ohtani's representatives are now saying?

When Trish Thompson, ESPN’s investigative reporter, started asking around, Shohei Ohtani’s representatives said that it was actually Ohtani’s long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, betting on sports and Ohtani had transferred the money to cover his losses.

Ohtani’s representatives then offered up Mizuhara for a 90-minute interview on Tuesday night. According to ESPN, Mizuhara was extremely open, saying he started placing bets on credit with Bowyer after meeting him at a San Diego poker game in 2021. His losses reached $1 million by the end of 2022 and then ballooned from there.

Mizuhara also said that he promised to pay Ohtani back the money. But after agreeing to cover his friend’s losses, Ohtani wasn’t convinced that Mizuhara would gamble the money away, so he logged onto his computer and sent the money to Bowyer himself.

This is where things get interesting. After hearing that Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani had sent the wire transfer himself, Ohtani’s representatives walked back their previous statement that Ohtani had covered his friend’s losses. Instead, they now claim that Ohtani was the victim of “massive theft” at the hands of his interpreter.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by Triple B

Anyone got the math handy on if this has affected Ohtani’s card prices?

My only Ohtani of note is a Stadium Club refractor /25. I could be out all of $100!!

[Mister2Bits]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

My only Ohtani of note is a Stadium Club refractor /25. I could be out all of $100!!

When you are ready PM me. Depending on the year I might pick that up from you

[JWBlue]

His biggest issue is with the Feds. Transferring money to an illegal bookmaker is against the law I believe. Not sure the gov will differentiate whether it was for a gambling debt or for a friend. Gray area.

I guess it is possible this violates MLB conduct policy which will garner a suspension.

[rms13]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

I guess they need to maintain the illusion for the ever-shrinking number of people who honestly believe the money was stolen. But they better not overplay their hands. The police would interview Ohtani as the victim and you really don't want to lie to them. (Yes he would have the right not to cooperate but that in and of itself raises questions)

Of course, they really don't have any (official) authority to tell the interpreter what to do or what he can and can't say.

Yes, ESPN asked him if he's now being accused of theft and he said he was told not to comment but who couldn't say who told him that. I'm sure they offered him a decent chunk of money to keep his mouth shut.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by rms13

Yes, ESPN asked him if he's now being accused of theft and he said he was told not to comment but who couldn't say who told him that. I'm sure they offered him a decent chunk of money to keep his mouth shut.

I agree and think it is plausible that Shohei is giving him money to keep his mouth shut. Of course, even if he wasn't, keeping his mouth shut is 100% the smart thing to do at this stage anyway and that's what his lawyer would have told him. Look how much trouble he and Shohei have both caused themselves by talking to the media (either directly or through representation).