Friday, March 22, 2024

The Ohtani Situation

The Ohtani Situation is shaping up as one of those chapters in baseball history that will live on long long after his eventual expulsion.

If his best friend really did steal 4.5 million dollars from him we’re talking Bernard Madoff meets Bernard Rubble. 

If instead, Ippei “Big Hunch” Mizuhara was covering for a Phil Mickelsonesque -  Micheal Jordanish gambling addiction then, and I’m being historical and cultural here, he needs to commit what one poster to the NY Post comments section called “Harry Carrey”.

BTW, I wasn’t sure if the commenter was brilliant or stupid, as the Post’s comment section is an absolute cesspool.

Speaking of Bernards, this is Bernard Malamud level stuff and could very well end with Ohtani winding up pitching perfect games on a debris strewn sandlot in Haiti.

Then there is the story of the bookie. 

"Earlier this week, the Dodgers fired Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and close friend, Ippei Mizuhara, after it was alleged Ohtani wired $4.5 million to alleged illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts."

He's not a happy guy today. 

I'll tell you who is happy, Chuck Lorre, who just got handed season two of his very enjoyable show, "Bookie" .

All of the above said, I guess the biggest question is what will  be FanDuel's  the over under on games suspended and can I get a parlay with the over under on the ref that called a foul on Samford's   A.J. Staton-McCray yesterday and gave the game to Kansas? 

Asking for a friend. 

13 comments:

AboveAverage said...

Watching the game live (my first in 2024) Kay and Joe G. and Paulie.

RizzO late scratch with GrayMatter tightness (might have been something else- but that’s what I heard).

Gil looking pretty good. Upper 90s.

Gleyber just slept-in on a routine grounder from Lindor - safe at first.

Judge in Left.

Scottish Yankee fan said...


It stinks

HoraceClarke66 said...

What did they always used to say, Doug? "It's not the crime, it's the cover-up"?

In either case, this is not looking good.

AboveAverage said...

MasterBader has a silly looking orange beard in center for the Mets.

Stanton worked a walk - showing unusual patience.

JM said...

If Ohtani paid an illegal bookie, that's a crime, ain't it? He didn't have to make the bets himself, he sort of de facto made them by covering them.

This really smells. And how did the translator "steal" the money if his boss paid it willingly?

The feds should be on this and at least investigate.

JM said...

I can't listen to O'Neill or Kay or Girardi. Just horrible. Need to turn on WFAN.

AboveAverage said...

Follow the money, Hoss. This should make for some good reading.

AboveAverage said...

JM - it is indeed sloggish for the ears.

HoraceClarke66 said...

I don't know what makes a bookie "illegal" anymore, here or elsewhere. It may well be that Ohtani has not committed a crime, in the real world sense.

But gambling is of course highly restricted in baseball, and if he bet on MLB teams...

And, of course, trying to make his interpreter a scapegoat—even if he went along willingly—raises other legal and ethical issues.

Manfred will not yield on any of this unless absolutely forced to. But a slow-leaking scandal is also not something he wants.
And in the end, all I can say is...it couldn't happen to a nice team.

DickAllen said...

Where is Kennesaw Landis when you need him?

Pgpick said...

Just how does one even lose $4.5 mil betting on everything but baseball (and if you believe that…..).

You really have to be a dumb ass to be that bad!

TheWinWarblist said...

It's so sweet that someone actually thinks the "Commissioner's" office will do anything to discipline Ohtani. They won't do a damn thing to him. There are buckets and barrels of money to be made off of the young man. They will do nothing because nothing can get in the way of that money fountain.

Just as they did nothing about the Asstros and Red Sox cheating scandal.

You think they're gonna let a little thing like consorting with gamblers get in the way of PROFIT?

You are all too precious.

TheWinWarblist said...

Fatboy Slim and Walken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8