AI Summary
5 min readThe Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani
In November 2024, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their World Series victory in their home stadium. When manager Dave Roberts called Shohei Ohtani to the microphone, the superstar spoke publicly in English for the first time without an interpreter—a shy grin, a backward ball cap, and a few words that sent the crowd into a frenzy. It was a moment that seemed to erase the shadow that had hung over the previous season: a scandal involving $17 million, 19,000 bets, and the closest person in Ohtani's life.
The Tip That Started Everything
ESPN investigative reporter Tisha Thompson began working on this story a year before that World Series win, when a source sent her information from a sealed federal court document. The document listed items seized from a house in California belonging to a man named Mathew Bowyer: computers, hard drives, cell phones, $40,000 in luxury watches, designer handbags, casino chips, a cash counting machine, sports betting records, and receipts for offshore bank wires. Thompson's source confirmed Bowyer was a bookie—but not just any bookie. His clients included celebrities, millionaires, and "seemingly one of the most famous athletes in the world."
When the source told Thompson the athlete's name, she wrote down only the letter "O."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:29) **Introduction: The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani** - The 20/20 host introduces a special presentation from ESPN's 30 for 30, setting up the mystery of how Shohei Ohtani's trusted interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly stole $17 million and placed 19,000 bets.
- 2 (01:51) **The World Series Victory: A Moment of Triumph** - Ohtani celebrates the Dodgers' 2024 World Series win, speaking publicly in English for the first time without an interpreter.
- 3 (05:20) **The Investigation Begins: A Sealed Court Document** - Thompson reveals how she started working on the story a year before the World Series, receiving a tip from a source about a federal court document.
- 4 (06:39) **The "Letter O": The Shocking Name** - Thompson's source reveals the name of the athlete allegedly connected to the bookie, but it's so big that she only writes down the letter "O" in her notebook.
- 5 (10:25) **Las Vegas: Understanding the Bookie World** - Thompson travels to Las Vegas to meet with ESPN gambling reporter David Purdum to learn about the illegal sports betting landscape.
- 6 (12:45) **The California Gambling Loophole** - The report explains why Bowyer's operation was so massive: sports betting is illegal in California, forcing residents to either travel to Vegas or use an illegal bookie.
- 7 (14:19) **The Black Sox and Pete Rose: MLB's Betting Taboo** - Thompson outlines the historical sensitivity of sports betting in Major League Baseball, referencing the 1919 Black Sox scandal and Pete Rose's lifetime ban.
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Show Notes
Today, we're sharing a look at a new true crime podcast from our colleagues at ESPN Audio.
In the first two episodes of 'The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani,' ESPN Investigative Reporter Tisha Thompson receives a tip that, if true, could damage Shohei Ohtani’s picture-perfect reputation.
Then, a surprising interview takes a strange turn and deepens the mystery around Shohei Ohtani and his long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
To listen to the rest of 'The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani,' follow 30 for 30 Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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