In Hokkaido, where Shohei Ohtani got his start in pro baseball, a staple of every Fighters game’s entertainment is the Fighters Girls dancing to “What Does the Fox Say?” Ironically, this year’s big conundrum involves what Ohtani, arguably the GOAT – or greatest of all time – is saying, or more specifically, is not saying, about his former interpreter and payments of millions of dollars to an illegal bookmaker.
Somewhere, there are truths behind the accusations that have swirled around Ohtani’s longtime former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, and these truths, if revealed, will lead to either embarrassment or criminal liability for Ohtani.
SEOUL — After two days of my being completely lost in Seoul starting on Monday, I had figured enough things out to make me sad to leave Friday.
Hwang Dong Un outside Gocheok Sky Dome. Courtesy of Hwang Dong Un.
I couldn’t figure out the rail system on the first day after arriving from the airport, but was lucky enough to catch a ride to the ballpark with Blake, photographer from Dodger Blue, who had called an Uber.
Since Task 1 was doing a story based on what fans were saying, I met a Seoul-based Korean colleague from my day job, I was able to hear from Korean fans outside the ballpark about their overwhelming admiration for Shohei Ohtani and some other MLB stars, especially San Diego Padres shortstop–and former Kiwoom Hero– Kim Ha Seong.
