Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy believes that Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was aware of his former interpreter's gambling addiction and possible betting on baseball games.
Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee who served prison time for betting on games he officiated, has weighed in on the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal, expressing skepticism about the two-way player's claims of ignorance.
In an appearance on OutKick's "Hot Mic," Donaghy stated, "Heck no," when asked if it was possible that Ohtani was unaware of Ippei Mizuhara's gambling addiction. "I think Major League Baseball was smart to sweep this under the rug as quickly as possible."
Donaghy pointed to Ohtani's global popularity and the potential damage to his reputation as reasons for MLB's swift handling of the situation. He also questioned the credibility of Mizuhara's claim that he never bet on baseball, considering the large number of bets he placed.
"When you look at the amount of bets he was placing, obviously he had some type of addiction," Donaghy said. "It's not like he could just turn it off when he had baseball seasons. There's no doubt in my mind that he not only bet on baseball, he bet on Ohtani's game, and I think Ohtani was right there with him knowing what he was doing."
Donaghy's comments echo those of Pete Rose, MLB's all-time hits leader, who suggested that Ohtani may have used Mizuhara as a scapegoat. "Well, back in the '70s and '80s, I wish I'd have had an interpreter. I'd be scot-free," Rose said.
Mizuhara is expected to plead guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return. He is accused of stealing an estimated $17 million from Ohtani and will be required to repay the funds as part of his plea agreement.
Ohtani has denied any involvement in Mizuhara's gambling activities, stating that he has "never" bet on sports. However, Donaghy's comments and the evidence against Mizuhara raise questions about the extent of Ohtani's knowledge.
MLB and Ohtani's agent have declined to comment on Donaghy's statements. The investigation into the scandal is ongoing, and further details may emerge in the future.
