✹The PERENNIAL Shohei Ohtani Thread✹

[imbluestreak23]

And the atomic refractor

And etching

ThanksMikey

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

And the atomic refractor

And etching

ThanksMikey

FACTS!

[Ziggy]

Nothing is really concrete yet. Ippi gave ESPN a 90 minute interview and stated on the record that Ohtani clicked the buttons to wire the funds, but now Ohtani's legal team walked that whole thing back stating it was theft. Nobody really knows what's going on at this point.

My take is that Ohtani knew Ippi had gambling debt, but didn't realize how big it got nor who he was actually sending the wires to. Perhaps Ippi lied to Ohtani about it. In parallel the bookie was putting Ohtani's name out there on blast to attract more business, but got so big the Feds looked into it and the info from the investigation leaked for the story.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

man, i still cant believe topps killed Opening Day

In favor of Big League no less. I get that it’s for kids but as someone who collected stuff like Collector’s Choice as a kid, it would have been nice if they made a product that actually retained a shred of value.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by atk825

In favor of Big League no less. I get that it’s for kids but as someone who collected stuff like Collector’s Choice as a kid, it would have been nice if they made a product that actually retained a shred of value.

exacty!

i get that OD was "trashed" by the wax addicts, but i know folks that are STILL looking for the real SSPs that were released from OD over the years

[atk825]

Originally Posted by Ziggy

Nothing is really concrete yet. Ippi gave ESPN a 90 minute interview and stated on the record that Ohtani clicked the buttons to wire the funds, but now Ohtani's legal team walked that whole thing back stating it was theft. Nobody really knows what's going on at this point.

My take is that Ohtani knew Ippi had gambling debt, but didn't realize how big it got nor who he was actually sending the wires to. Perhaps Ippi lied to Ohtani about it. In parallel the bookie was putting Ohtani's name out there on blast to attract more business, but got so big the Feds looked into it and the info from the investigation leaked for the story.

People nabbed for fraud are notably reliable in their statements. It’s very well that this could be the case. It’s also possible that Ohtani trusted him far too much and got burned.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

exacty!

i get that OD was "trashed" by the wax addicts, but i know folks that are STILL looking for the real SSPs that were released from OD over the years

Yah. These have exploded in value though weirdly this one doesn’t have the insane comps that other players do for some reason. Wonder if Ippei being in the photo will help lol.

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by atk825

Was looking through my collection. And hey look who it is!

Oh man, it's the new 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson!

[atk825]

Originally Posted by hammertime

Oh man, it's the new 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson!

Just vastly more rare. Though financial fraud isn't as infamous as killing your parents and going on a spending spree in part documented by a sports card only found decades later.

[shaqobe]

The Dodgers have replaced Ippei with in-game interpreter Will Ireton.
He was Kenta Maeda's interpreter starting in 2016 and has been with the Dodgers ever since.
He is half Japanese, half Filipino and was born and raised in Japan until the age of 15.
He also played for Team Philippines in the World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament in 2012.

[Ziggy]

Wow, I didn't even realize the bookie was flagged in November: https://twitter.com/DanaGentryLV/sta...27257546096906

So this thing has probably been boiling for months now, it just so happened that the evidence leaked, maybe to a junior law associate who's a sports fanatic and wanted their fame to leak the story.

[sauceboy]

Originally Posted by Ziggy

Wow, I didn't even realize the bookie was flagged in November: https://twitter.com/DanaGentryLV/sta...27257546096906

So this thing has probably been boiling for months now, it just so happened that the evidence leaked, maybe to a junior law associate who's a sports fanatic and wanted their fame to leak the story.

You do realize federal investigations generally take a lot of time, right? The idea of a "junior law associate who's a sports fanatic and wanted their fame to leak the story" is hilarious. C'mon now. This thread is getting out of hand with speculation and misinformation.

[Trueblue]

Had a long plan ride to let it sink in. This is just my two cents so take it as you may.

1) Sleep: For those that have ever had gambling issues, it's common knowledge that it creates stress and impacts sleep. There's just no way that a guy whose hobby is sleeping can endure chronic gambling and put in two MVP caliber seasons. What Sho is doing is already in the 99.9 percentile of human physical capability. I don't see how it's possible to do it with the stresses of chronic gambling.

2) "Loan": That's the comment in the two big wire transfers totalling $1M. Why would you call a gambling debt a loan? The word for loan in Japanese is literally "loan" but narrowly specific for a mortgage or a personal debt issuance. You wouldn't call a gambling loss a "loan". I'm highly confident that Sho and Ippei speak Japanese together.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by sauceboy

You do realize federal investigations generally take a lot of time, right? The idea of a "junior law associate who's a sports fanatic and wanted their fame to leak the story" is hilarious. C'mon now. This thread is getting out of hand with speculation and misinformation.

Sure, I just didn't realize it already started months ago. I thought the bookie was only caught recently. Not sure why it upset you so much

[jhssketchcards]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

Had a long plan ride to let it sink in. This is just my two cents so take it as you may.

1) Sleep: For those that have ever had gambling issues, it's common knowledge that it creates stress and impacts sleep. There's just no way that a guy whose hobby is sleeping can endure chronic gambling and put in two MVP caliber seasons. What Sho is doing is already in the 99.9 percentile of human physical capability. I don't see how it's possible to do it with the stresses of chronic gambling.

2) "Loan": That's the comment in the two big wire transfers totalling $1M. Why would you call a gambling debt a loan? The word for loan in Japanese is literally "loan" but narrowly specific for a mortgage or a personal debt issuance. You wouldn't call a gambling loss a "loan". I'm highly confident that Sho and Ippei speak Japanese together.

You can always sleep better knowing someone else is making the bets for you and if caught, he takes the fall. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time a player used something to help boost their performance and manage stress/fatigue. Not saying he is or was, but it can be done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

You can always sleep better knowing someone else is making the bets for you and if caught, he takes the fall. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time a player used something to help boost their performance and manage stress/fatigue. Not saying he is or was, but it can be done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're not understanding the point that gambling in itself is a thrill activity that creates lows, highs, and stress for commoners and super stars alike. I don't care how much money you have, you don't expend $1M+ from losing and go to bed with a smile and get two hours of deep and REM sleep.

[jhssketchcards]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

You're not understanding the point that gambling in itself is a thrill activity that creates lows, highs, and stress for commoners and super stars alike. I don't care how much money you have, you don't expend $1M+ from losing and go to bed with a smile and get two hours of deep and REM sleep.

I get it, and you make good points, but we are talking about a guy who is doing things no one else has been able to do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[seanrs1]

I am in the eastern time zone. I lose sleep just checking on Ohtani's game stats and looking for his cards on Ebay. When he pitches is stresses me out. Do I have a ton of money in his cards...yes! But the money I spent on his cards is my fun/hobby money. I can take a complete loss on all my cards and it would not affect my finances or ability to retire one day.

I may be naive, but I just don't see Ohtani as gambling on baseball. But I could see him bailing out his best friend/interpreter that is like his brother in a lot of ways and are inseparable. Possibly unknowingly broke the law transferring money to help him out.

In the end I think the collectors on this board that hold his cards will be fine in the long run....at least I hope!

[Bcr]

I just don't see it either. I've known a few gamblers and they are very stressed out people who never really amounted to much. Totally just my opinion though.

[beanman25]

Hey! Not really related to the current news, but I have a Ben Baller 2020 Topps Chrome Ohtani /5 from the 1987 set. Am I shooting for too lofty a trade aiming for a shohei autograph for this card? I would just SO much enjoy having his graph in my collection to go alongside the Ichiro I got IP years ago.

[Dukefett]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

Had a long plan ride to let it sink in. This is just my two cents so take it as you may.

1) Sleep: For those that have ever had gambling issues, it's common knowledge that it creates stress and impacts sleep. There's just no way that a guy whose hobby is sleeping can endure chronic gambling and put in two MVP caliber seasons. What Sho is doing is already in the 99.9 percentile of human physical capability. I don't see how it's possible to do it with the stresses of chronic gambling.

2) "Loan": That's the comment in the two big wire transfers totalling $1M. Why would you call a gambling debt a loan? The word for loan in Japanese is literally "loan" but narrowly specific for a mortgage or a personal debt issuance. You wouldn't call a gambling loss a "loan". I'm highly confident that Sho and Ippei speak Japanese together.

I mean, you understand you wouldn't write "gambling debt" when paying off a gambling debt from illegally gambling?

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by Dukefett

I mean, you understand you wouldn't write "gambling debt" when paying off a gambling debt from illegally gambling?

Yes, but why specifically "loan" - that's the whole point. Loan isn't something that automatically makes auditors go "okay, must be legit." I'm simply making the point that in the Japanese language, it would have a very high probability of describing a personal loan, not a gambling debt. I'm not here to fight every other possibility out there.

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

You can always sleep better knowing someone else is making the bets for you and if caught, he takes the fall. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time a player used something to help boost their performance and manage stress/fatigue. Not saying he is or was, but it can be done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If Ippei was making the bets for him, or his predetermined fall guy, why would the transactions be coming from his account? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of trying to conceal the activity?

[Qubits]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

Yes, but why specifically "loan" - that's the whole point. Loan isn't something that automatically makes auditors go "okay, must be legit." I'm simply making the point that in the Japanese language, it would have a very high probability of describing a personal loan, not a gambling debt. I'm not here to fight every other possibility out there.

An explanation that not many seem to be bringing up that makes sense to me is that Ippei lied to Ohtani about where the loans were from and even though Ohtani made the transfers himself, he had no idea they were going to an agent of an illegal bookmaker.

Still a dumb move but hardly illegal or immoral.

Imagine Ippei says "a good friend of mine I play poker with loaned me money to gamble with and I stupidly lost it all." Ohtani helps his buddy out and wires to the account number given to him without ever knowing it was a bookmaker he was paying rather than just a buddy of Ippei's.

[cardsin47]

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