Shohei Ohtani/Ippei Mizuhara Scandal Closer to Becoming Scripted Series
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The gambling scandal that threatened to disrupt Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 season before it could even begin is close to becoming a scripted series.
Lionsgate TV chairman Kevin Beggs spoke about the previously announced series focused on the scandal surrounding former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in a Q&A with The Ankler's Lesley Goldberg that published Wednesday.
More news: Dodgers Promote Top Prospect, Cut Veteran in Shocking Move
"A year ago, Lionsgate TV announced it was developing a TV show about the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal involving his former interpreter," Goldberg said. "He's easily among the biggest sports stars in the world. Has it sold yet?"
Ippei Mizuhara departs federal court after his arraignment in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2024.
Ippei Mizuhara departs federal court after his arraignment in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2024.
Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images
"It has sold," Beggs said. "Can't say to whom because we're still negotiating the deal. But the momentum around it just grew and the auspices are fantastic. It's bananas how big he is.
"When we can announce, we will, and we can't wait to get started on writing it and really diving in — we had a ton of research done; all of it is wild," Beggs continued. "Most people don't even know the full story. And there's probably different opinions about the truth, which is never a bad thing for this kind of show. But we are super excited about it, glad that we landed a partner."
More news: Former Cardinals, Dodgers Gold Glove Winner Announces Retirement
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. The Dodgers at the time hired Mizuhara, Ohtani's interpreter for the previous six seasons with the Angels.
Unbeknownst to Ohtani, Mizuhara had gained access to one of Ohtani's bank accounts years earlier. He used that access to rack up and pay down millions in gambling debts. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March 2024, and he confessed about his theft to Ohtani after their first game of the regular season.
More news: Baseball Team Sues Disney For Trademark Infringement
In February, a judge sentenced Mizuhara to 57 months in prison, and to pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani and $1,149,400 in restitution to the IRS.
"It was very obvious (Mizuhara) was stealing money and not asking Ohtani for permission," bookmaker Mathew Bowyer told the New York Post in February.
More news: Dodgers' Two-Time World Series Champion Passes Away
Undeterred, Ohtani captured the National League MVP award in his first season in Los Angeles. He became the first player in MLB history to rack up 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season.
In October 2024, the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the World Series.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
29 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Shaq Rips NBA For Being 'Soft' Ahead of Pacers vs Thunder Finals
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The NBA is gearing up for the start of the 2025 NBA Finals, with many fans excited for the matchup. The Oklahoma City Thunder will be taking on the Indiana Pacers, offering a different feeling to the NBA Finals for the first time in years. More NBA news: Thunder vs Pacers NBA Finals Game 1 Preview: Biggest Questions, Start Time, Prediction But the criticism that has come toward the NBA in recent months is still around. The league experienced ratings issues all season, with many pointing to the heavy increase in 3-point shot attempts. Well, once again, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has gone after the league. O'Neal has been critical of the changes in the NBA, but went after the league again, calling it soft. "The league is getting soft, the game is getting soft and it's going to take a couple of people to bring it back," O'Neal said during a recent appearance on the "New Heights" podcast. O'Neal has pointed to the increase in 3-point shooting, especially coming from big men in the league. The former center was dominant in the paint during his time in the league, and has been outspoken on this new era of players. "Like, I hate big guys shooting (3-pointers). Victor Wembanyama is a great player, but I would love to just see him dominate so much that people start complaining, and they change the rules like when I did. I could shoot, but I'm not going to shoot a (3-pointer)," O'Neal said. "Why would I shoot a (3-pointer) when I could put your little a-- in the basket and dunk on you and put these balls in your face." NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Shaquille O'Neal celebrates the launch of 'Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies' at Hershey's Times Square on September 25, 2024 in New York City. O'Neal was disrespected by Fat Joe. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Shaquille O'Neal celebrates the launch of 'Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies' at Hershey's Times Square on September 25, 2024 in New York City. O'Neal was disrespected by Fat Joe. Photo byO'Neal isn't the only former player to express concerns with how the league has gone. But he is one of the few who has a large enough platform to be heard on a consistent basis. Many former players believe that the NBA lacks physicality in today's era, with players being allowed to foul-bait during games. But in reality, each era of the NBA has been different throughout the years in how the game is played. The NBA has been tinkering with different changes across the board to drive ratings up, and they are hopeful that the Finals will help. For the seventh straight season, the NBA will name a new champion, showing that parity is very much alive in the league. More NBA news: Jason Kidd Could Leave Mavericks For Sought-After HC Opening: Report Dan Hurley Makes Position Clear as Knicks Begin Coaching Search LeBron James' 'Mind the Game' Podcast Takes Massive Shot at Brian Windhorst For more on Pacers, Thunder, and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani thought he was 'in trouble' before Dave Roberts gifted him a toy Porsche
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani cringes toward coach Chris Woodward after getting a hit on May 18 at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The last time Shohei Ohtani thought he might be in trouble was when his name was linked to a federal investigation into illegal sports gambling in March 2024. His name was soon cleared by authorities, who charged and convicted Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, in federal court with surreptitiously stealing more than $17 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay off an Orange County bookmaker. Advertisement Ohtani wondered if something was amiss Wednesday when manager Dave Roberts summoned him before the Dodgers' home game against the New York Mets. But not for long. Ohtani rushed into Roberts' office, saw a bright pink remote-controlled toy car on the ground and immediately started laughing. "I have a gift for you," Roberts told him. "Actually, for your daughter." "For my daughter? OK, thank you." Ohtani replied. "This is from my wife [Tricia] and me to you and your family and your daughter," Roberts said. "So, we have jokes always. This is a little bit of a joke. It's a Porsche. This is going to be your daughter's first car." Advertisement "Thank you, I love it," Ohtani said. He tapped the car with his hand and said in English, "I thought I'm in trouble. Some trouble," evoking laughter from Roberts and others in the room. Ohtani had gifted Roberts a tiny toy Porsche a year ago when he broke Roberts' franchise record of seven home runs by a Japanese-born player, placing it in the manager's parking lot space as a practical joke. When Ohtani signed with the Dodgers in December 2023, he gifted Ashley Kelly, the wife of pitcher Joe Kelly, a Porsche — not a toy — for Kelly giving up No. 17. Roberts kidded Ohtani about gifting him when the modest record was inevitably broken, and the new Dodgers slugger obliged with the toy. Advertisement It took Roberts — born in Naha, Okinawa, to a Japanese mother and American father — a year to reciprocate. Read more: Will Dodgers' pitchers ever get healthy? How the team is tackling its biggest problem "Shohei has been very gracious and we've got this long-running practical joke," Roberts said on video. "This is more of a sincere gesture, not necessarily a practical joke but I wanted to present it to him." Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, have not revealed the name of their daughter, who was born April 19. 'I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,' Ohtani wrote on social media at the time. 'To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.' Advertisement Super anxious? Wait until she starts driving. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Newsweek
44 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Ex-GM's Yankees-Mets Trade Idea Would Send All-Star Batting Champion To Bronx
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The New York Yankees currently have DJ LeMahieu and Jorbit Vivas at second base. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. back in the hot corner, the Yankees may want an upgrade next to Anthony Volpe. LeMahieu is not the same player he once was, and his health is hardly reliable. The Yankees look like World Series contenders again, but may need to find an upgrade up the middle of their infield to reach the World Series again. Former New York Mets general manager Zack Scott suggested Jeff McNeil could be a target for the Yankees. "The Mets have some surplus," Scott said on "Baseball Night in New York." "Maybe Jeff McNeil would be a great fit for the Yankees." NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Jeff McNeil #1 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Citi Field on June... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Jeff McNeil #1 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Citi Field on June 28, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City. MoreThe Mets suddenly have Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio as options to play if they trade McNeil. McNeil has split time between the outfield and second base. McNeil signed a four-year, $50 million deal before the 2023 season. He was coming off a season in which he won the National League batting title with a .326 average. He has not been able to maintain that type of production, but he would be an upgrade over the Yankees' current options. He is slashing .247/.349/.461 with three home runs after missing a month of the season. If the Mets are comfortable with Acuña as an everyday player, in either the outfield or at second base, they could move on from McNeil. The Mets may have reservations about trading McNeil to the Yankees, but it may help them get an expensive player off the books and make way for some young players to get more playing time. McNeil is a two-time All-Star and would help the Yankees try to reach the World Series again. More MLB: Paul Skenes to Red Sox? Insane Trade Thought Pushed by MLB Network Host
