Shohei Ohtani’s $40 Million Gambling Fiasco Leaves Co-owner Magic Johnson Botherless; Poses Next to Dodgers Star on “Jackie Robinson Day”

Magic Johnson has always remembered the reason he played basketball and has always given credit. The NBA icon is part of the Dodgers franchise which made him fall in love with his hero Jackie Robinson. April 15 is important for all MLB players and franchisees as they pay homage to the legend’s contribution. Players wear the #42, a retired number.

However, controversy surrounding the latest Dodgers scandal has marred the last few days for the team. Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese pitcher, is allegedly involved in sports betting, but later reports emerged about his long-time interpreter being the real culprit. According to reports Ohtani has suffered as Ippei Mizuhara embezzled more than $16 million from him, with debt from his gambling reportedly close to $40 Million. “I’m very grateful for the Department of Justice’s investigation,” Ohtani told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. “For me personally, this marks a break from this, and I’d like to focus on baseball.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani as a free agent and made him the highest-paid athlete in MLB history. Ohtani signed the deal worth $700 million. The 29-year-old will be paid $2 million a year until 2034. The rest $680 million, deferred without interest to be paid out in the following years.

Magic Johnson’s emotional speech before Shohei Ohtani match

Magic Johnson considers Robinson his hero. Even going on to say there would have been no Magic without Robinson. He got the opportunity before the match to thank his hero. “On behalf of Dodger ownership group, our amazing manager Dave Roberts and our great baseball team and all the players of Dodger nation, welcome to Jackie Robinson Day. Jackie was the first black baseball player to play in the major leagues. He also in his first year was named Rookie of the Year he won the MVP of the National League. He won a World Series ring.”

The game didn’t end the way Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers expected. Losing 4-6 to Washington Nationals. The Japanese star has denied any involvement and is helping the authorities. Even basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal had questions regarding the controversy. He said, “You get a $700 million contract and you still betting?” 

In 2013, Shohei Ohtani was only 18, when he met Ippei Mizuhara. After such a successful move to Magic’s partly-owned LA Dodgers, the almost decade-only friendship/ business partnership ended in a way that the modern-day Babe Ruth never imagined.