There were no dark secrets exposed, no titillating confessions and no apologies.
Shohei Ohtani, Major League Baseball’s biggest star, sat in front of a sea of reporters and tape recorders for 12 minutes on Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, and without the slightest bit of nervousness, and said that that he simply was duped.
He insisted that that he had zero knowledge, zero inkling and absolutely zero involvement in his interpreter’s gambling addiction, racking up at least $4.5 million in sports wagering with an alleged illegal bookmaker.
“I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sport,’’ Ohtani said, “or ever asked anyone to do it on my behalf. I never went through a bookmaker.’’
Ohtani, who understands basic English and can speak limited English, said he had no idea that Mizuhara had a gambling addiction or withdrew money out his account until Mizuhara informed the Dodgers organization and players last week in a team meeting.
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“Up until that team meeting,’’ Ohtani said, “I didn’t know that Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt.’’
He never met, spoke to, or ever heard of Mathew Bowyer, the target of a federal investigation for allegedly running an illegal bookmaking operation in Southern California.
“I never agreed to pay off the debt,’’ Ohtani said, “or make payments to the bookmaker.’’
And he never granted permission for Mizuhara to take funds out of his…
