Former Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose has perhaps become the poster boy for gambling within sports, famously being banned from baseball for his involvement in gambling on his team back in the 1980s. Naturally, this also makes him the perfect person to offer his take on the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal involving his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
For those who are unaware of the Ohtani-Mizuhara situation, Mizuhara is currently being investigated for stealing $4.5 million from Shohei Ohtani to pay off gambling debts from an illegal bookmaker.
Ohtani has since proclaimed his innocence, cutting ties with Mizuhara and publically saying that he had no involvement in the sports gambling that Mizuhara had taken part in.
Despite this, there is some speculation from fans that Ohtani is perhaps not as innocent in this situation as he says he is. And Rose seemingly also wholeheartedly believes that Ohtani did indeed know about and perhaps even engaged in Mizuhara’s gambling.
Over the weekend Rose offered his two cents about the matter, saying that he would have gotten off “scot-free” from his gambling accusations in the ’80s if he had an interpreter like Ohtani did.
“Well, back in the 70s and 80s I wish I had an interpreter,” said Rose. I’d be scot-free.”
Pete Rose says Shohei Ohtani is guilty 😂😂
He wished he had interpreter – bc he would have been scot-free. pic.twitter.com/jMqEO4vrFs
— Mike Daddino (@mike_daddino) March 25, 2024
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.