ESPN’s Tisha Thompson on Likelihood of Criminal Charges in Ohtani Gambling Scandal | Rich Eisen Show

ESPN’s Tisha Thompson and Rich Eisen do a deep dive into her investigation into the Shohei Ohtani/Ippei Mizuhara gambling scandal.
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[@SP-ve1im]

Main problem I have with this reporter is, she did acknowledge that Ippei changed his story, yet she is still building the narrative off the first interview. If the main source you interviewed is not reliable, you need to start from the beginning rather than publishing information that has no credential and only blame Ohtani's team and authorities for declining her inquiries. But why do Ohtani's camp want to speak to the reporter who is portraying Ohtani as a gambler and why authorities want to share any details when the focal point of investigation is not Ohtani? She is simply chasing the headline here and again she is contradicting what she is saying from today as if you don't have the fact, then don't report unless you can back up your story.

[@littlesame]

This isn’t her first time, but media needs TikTok headlines to stay relevant, now she’s soaking in cloud nine with holes in her reporting

[@naxos41]

I cannot agree more. She is irresponsible to say the least.

[@CAsaidit]

Ohtani is not the first entertainer/athlete to get scammed by someone on their team (manager, agent, assistant, etc.)

[@suika197]

Ohtani has been subjected to media harassment every day. Once he is clearly found not guilty, you guys need to apologize. Reports in Japan have already revealed how the money can be transferred.

[@brandoncochran7616]

I agree it's ridiculously annoying

[@challenger516]

Another fake Japanese account

[@trevorcarey3997]

The only victim is Ohtani, he had nothing to do with this, Ippie is a known liar and a gambler. But the haters will spin this around and blame Shohei. There's nothing that proves he is guilty of anything, he did'nt sign any check to make payments and the wire transfer were done by electronic which Ippei had access to. Shohei has no history of gambling, if he did he would not be in a hole racking up a $4 million dollar debt that he cannot pay, he makes over $100million dollars in endorsements. And they have sports betting in Japan and Shohei never gambled there either, why not bet on the players and sports teams in Japan he knows instead of betting on unfamiliar players teams he never followed and know here in the states, and even his teammates here said he refused to go to casinos with them to gamble.

[@sinep4371]

I still find it crazy that the media still believes the words of Ippei more than Ohtanis. People acting like "Ohtani was probably gambling" Meanwhile the guy who said that he has a gambling addiction is getting a bit of a pass in the media. There are a lot of puzzle pieces that can be put together that would point more towards him being robbed than him gambling. But they don't seem to want to put those pieces together.

[@Toshcooking-qc3ec]

The main issue lies in conducting an interview with Ippei, a suspect, without Ohtani's knowledge and subsequently making it public. This has cast unwarranted suspicion on him. Imagine not only being robbed of a large sum but also being betrayed by someone you've trusted for years, only to find yourself absent on that day, while TV reports portray the suspect's words as if they were your own. A correction statement should be issued, in my opinion. Ohtani made significant donations to Ishikawa Prefecture's earthquake relief efforts last year and provided gloves worth hundreds of millions of yen to all elementary schools nationwide. With multiple sponsorship deals, his income is substantial. There's a high possibility that Ippei, the interpreter-secretary, exploited his authority during Ohtani's recovery, potentially misusing it due to gambling debts. Furthermore, recent findings suggest misuse of US bank accounts with Check Writing Privileges for online transfers, raising concerns. For journalists, including ESPN reporters, it's essential to verify information directly with the individual rather than through an intermediary before publication.

[@allib8]

ESPN contacted Ohtani’s agent - it was Ohtani’s team that provided the story and set up the interview with Mizuhara. People need to read the articles.

[@HealingChannel-xj4tp]

Regardless of who initiated the interview, the core issue remains: conducting it with Ippei without Ohtani's knowledge and subsequently casting unwarranted suspicion on him. Ohtani's significant donations and sponsorships attest to his character, while Ippei's potential exploitation during Ohtani's recovery and misuse of bank accounts raise legitimate concerns. As journalists, it's vital to verify information directly with the individual before publication.

[@littlesame]

Thank you for staying the things she chose to skipped around on her reporting

[@HealingChannel-xj4tp]

@@littlesame You're welcome. However, it's important to address the central concerns raised rather than sidestepping them in reporting.

[@naxos41]

The latest development, the Fed clearing Ohtani, only confirms Tisha Thompson’s incompetence. She was “this close to” publishing the bogus story Ippei concocted without directly vetting Ohtani. For the story of this magnitude, her action would have been completely unacceptable. She was only saved by Ohtani’s lawyers and LA Times.

[@inazuma3gou]

What Tisha is ignoring, perhaps conviniently, is that Mizuhara tried to get ahead of everyone to control the narrative and perhaps Tisha was a useful (fill in).

[@paulgutierrez6416]

this lady must be a giants fan 😂

[@oneamerica195]

The worst case scenario to this scandal would be Ohtani covered Ippei's debts, based on the facts presented so far. Let's give in 100 yards and hypothetically assume Shohei gambled, why would he wire money under his name to an illegal bookmaker??? He's not that dumb, capisci?

[@bobbyw1074]

Tisha u r such a tease. U just want this to blow up don’t u.

[@kochobashi]

Tisha looks impatient, doesn't she? Is it because she believed in Mizuhara's fake story and reported it, and feels responsible for tarnishing Ohtani's career? She and ESPN could be sued by Ohtani.

[@andrewahn1000]

Hope shes sued for all shes got

[@user-ll9qk2el4d]

What is the big deal? If Ohtani is telling the truth, then he's a fraud victim. If Othani paid off a friend's debt, then he's just being a great friend. Ohtani may have gambled, but he didn't bet on baseball. His only potential mistake was betting with a bookie. This is not that serious, and the Fed probably won't even press charges. "But he broke the law!" Well, you break the law everyday going over the speed limit. People are acting as if Ohtani robbed a bank.😂

[@johnsonjohnson2633]

If ohtani is guilty let him face the charges. but if she's guilty of spreading false information and not getting the okay by ohtani to speak to his translator in his behalf she should face the consequences.

[@davidlindstrom2687]

(1) According to Ms. Thompson Ohtani's team approved the initial interview with the translator. And no one, including Ohtani or his team, has disputed this fact. (2) Why should she, a reporter, need anyone's permission to speak with anyone? Ohtani is/was Mizuhara's employer--not his guardian. (3) The interpreter never spoke on Ohtani's "behalf"--i.e. claimed to speak for Mr. Ohtani--and Ms. Thompson did not report that the interpreter spoke on Ohtani's behalf. Rather, the reporter made representations about Mr. Ohtani (which may or may not be true), and the reporter (truthfully) reported those representations. (4) No one has claimed that the reporter is spreading false information--She has merely reported what people have told her. Your comment---as is the case with many of the comments on this thread--makes no sense whatsoever. Now, it may be reasonably argued that reporters have an ethical duty to not report an allegation, if they cannot find corroboration. (I have made this very claim in the past.) However, that objection does not hold here precisely because the allegation was made in an interview that was sanctioned/approved by the very person, Ohtani, against whom the allegation was made.

[@johnsonjohnson2633]

​@@davidlindstrom2687I'm sure ohtani's team is the translator. And if he's not the only one say names

[@UncleRico805]

@@davidlindstrom2687the problem with her is the fact she not really doing any reporting. Just pushing a narrative for clicks and blaming his team for “not answering her questions” real reporters gather facts and can figure out what happened, not just ask questions and bitch when it’s not handed on a silver plater😂

[@davidlindstrom2687]

​@@UncleRico805 I'm not sure what you mean by "real reporting"--You seem to imply that if a reporter cannot "figure out what happened," then she or he is not engaging in real reporting. That's not accurate. Real reporting of an emerging story involves not only the interviewing of individuals who may have access to important information but also the ethical suspension of judgment when inadequate information is unavailable. By your implied definition of "real reporting," no reporter should report unless he or she is capable of "figuring out what happened." Yet, many of the most important news stories of the past hundred years have come to light because of initial, inconclusive reporting that suspended judgment--much like this reporting. (By your strange definition of reporting--a definition that I have heard no one (other than you) articulate--Woodward and Bernstein's initial reporting of the Watergate scandal would not count as "real reporting." Is this your implication?) Finally, I'm not sure what you mean by "bitch when it's not handed on a silver platter." I observed no bitching here, no complaining, no self-pity--merely the objective relating of her experiences dealing with the interpreter and with Ohtani's team. To my view, you are imputing a state of mind or set of actions to Ms. Thompson that are not substantiated by anything in this interview.

[@naxos41]

I also question why The Rich Eisen show produces four separate clips from a single interview. I mean, I know why but again WHY Eisen gives any credence to her flawed report at the same time when he says he wants to believe Ohtani. This is simply mean. I hope Ohtani will never be nice to his son, seriously.

[@zonk3835]

I don’t know what it is about this woman but I just don’t like her… there’s something about her tone and attitude that is off putting

[@jaykawb]

This comment section is actually insane. The same people who are saying oh well that’s his bro and he’s controlled everything here in America are the same who deny that ippeis account can’t be accurate and he’s just a gambling addict. Bonds steroids all over again

[@thunnuso6792]

When this reporter said “you can go read our story that was published yesterday” tells me everything I needed to know… she’s like Al Pacino’s character in the movie Devil’s Advocate… “vanity is definitely my favorite skin”… there is wickedness in her smiles.

[@Revenant36]

You interviewed a suspect of a crime and then wonder why you now have different stories 🤔

[@poorjf]

Report it out. See where it leads. Will be interesting.

[@oneamerica195]

It seems like it's costing more emotionally to Tisha Thompson than to Ohtani himself. Typical American...

[@littlesame]

This was first reported by LAT but ESPN & her want the clouts… interesting she had no way (while others had in the past) speak to Ohtani directly (with interpreter) about this matter before publishing the article solely on Mizuhara’s own words, undermining the core principles of facts. Keep asking Tisha because by legal standards Ohtani cannot say more when it’s under investigation Amazing these so called “reporters” don’t know basic basis for covering a story

[@naxos41]

I get that Tisha Thompson tries to cash in her 15 minutes of fame by going around these talk shows. But, and this is a big BUT, at the end, she didn't come up with any scoop. Instead, she was saved by Ohtani's lawyers and LA Times from not becoming another John Morosi reporting Ohtani flying to Toronto. Whether Ippei lied to her or he sabotaged the communication between the crisis manager and Ohtani (both are likely true, btw) is actually secondary. The important thing here is that Thompson was about to publish a story involving Ohtani without directly reaching Ohtani. For the story with this magnitude, her behavior violates Journalism 101 to me. The least thing she could do is to admit she has been duped and then stop giving any legitimacy to her "scoop".

[@kimyam7313]

where was she on the latest ohtani story? no where to be found

[@kongmlee92]

The one thing i take from this lady is we shouldn't put our perspective of how we bank vs someone of Ohtani's finance.

[@AJ-wi3tk]

Who the hell need gambling when he deferred 680,000,000 or his yearly 68M. Fans knows, but many jealous wanted to draw blood from him. Can we just enjoy d excitement he brings

[@patron40silver]

Why is she so fidgety? Tweekin'?

[@briankorbelik2873]

Funny, some sports betting is legal, and some is not, depending who you are and where you are. Gambling should be nowhere near sports, but what are you gonna do? I'm not a gambler, nor am I a gambling hater. I know that it cannot be stopped anymore than alcohol could during prohibition. I also remember Pete Rose.

[@hidetoshitakahashi3881]

Thank you, Tisha Thompson for your excellent investigating report. Though I'm a big Ohtani fan and like many Ohtani fans /non-Ohtani fans, I just want to know what really happened. As for Ippei Mizuhara, I think he's avoiding the authorities and I'm not sure if he will come back to the US. If Ohtani camp pressed charges against him, it's possible that he could be arrested at the airport. Nobody knows his whereabout now. Though I'm angry about Ippei, I also concern about his safety. If he still owes some money to the bookmaker, he will be in trouble. Usually, there are an organized crime behind those illegal bookmakers, particularly Russian mafia. It's possible that they will go after someone other than Ohtani.

[@Maple-sirop]

You guys are amazing

[@daryle312]

The question no one is asking that I would like to ask is this - and it is based on the assumption that everything we are hearing is lie. But that question is this: How does a professional athlete and upstanding member of the community find and connect with an illegal book maker, esp an illegal book maker that can handle the amounts that our boy was transferring?

[@allib8]

If you’d bother reading any of the many articles on this topic you could find out. 2021 poker game at the team hotel.

[@ucouco78]

The wolves are out for Ohtani, the media, his PR team and his lawyers. They are going to milk him dry. He should have stuck to the original story about paying his friend's debt, that is most likely the true story in this case. He should have stuck with that and shut up. Pay whatever wire transaction fines and move on. All the cover up for a petty violation is make ng it worse.

[@challenger516]

True, not like the MLB was going to ban him for life for the first story. They might only give him a huge fine.

[@WangRealEstate]

Your recommendation didn’t age well

[@Vikesfan80]

He will need his new interpreter to interpret his (hopefully) rather lengthy prison sentence and suspension from baseball 😂 Pleeeze justice prevail

[@peejaygarcia9509]

Ohtani isn't going to see any prison time for something he didn't do.

[@cironsilver4410]

This is such an absolute nothing burger.