Sports

(NEW YORK) — Ronda Rousey, UFC champion, shares her story in her new book, Our Fight: A Memoir. The book reflects on her rise to the top of the sports world, her lowest moments and the lessons she learned along the way.

In her memoir, Rousey recalls dealing with concussions for a decade. She had to change her fighting style to prevent getting hit and, until now, she remained silent about the details of her struggles.

Rousey also opens up about her journey into motherhood and her fervent desire to shield her family from the public eye. In her book she admits to becoming “addicted” to the online world, a struggle which, at times, drew her focus away from her family.

Rousey is a former judoka and mixed martial artist who became a professional wrestler and actress. She became the first American woman to win a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

She sat down with ABC News Live to discuss her family, her career and reveal where she’s currently working as an intern.

ABC NEWS LIVE: She has been described as the world’s most dominant athlete, knocking out barriers and setting records. In her new memoir, “Our Fight,” UFC and WWE champion Ronda Rousey chronicles her journey to the top and back from her lowest point as she reflects on the losses and the lessons experienced along the way. Joining us now is UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey. Thank you so much for being with us.

RONDA ROUSEY: Thank you for having me and for such a kind introduction.

ABC NEWS: Oh, no, it is a pleasure. And I read a lot of this book over the weekend. I was, I was gripped by it. You are already a bestselling author. You have dabbled in acting. You are obviously a Hall of Famer. What made you want to come out and write this book now? I know you say you wanted to be in your own words.

ROUSEY: Yeah, I just had so many things I couldn’t talk about until now, namely my concussion history. Where in my judo career out of like ten years, I had concussion symptoms more often than not. This is before all the research about CTE and everything was out.

And so by the time that I got into MMA, every time you get a concussion, it’s easier to get another one. And, I quickly discovered in MMA any kind of significant strike, I’d be seeing stars, getting concussion symptoms. So I had to develop a system of fighting that was more efficient than anything I had ever seen before. So I would not get, not get touched at all because I just knew I couldn’t take that kind of damage. And, it just continued to get worse and worse.

You know, I, I had matches, I was winning in less than a minute, you know, 16, 14 seconds. But there’s 50 rounds of sparring that goes into every one of those matches. And, it started to get to the point where, like the lightest jabs or touches were giving me concussion symptoms.

And then, it all came to a head, right before the home fight. I slipped down some stairs, knocked myself out, tore out my knee, went into that that, that match already concussed and, had had the wrong mouth guard. It was like the terrible, horrible, no good day.

ABC NEWS: A confluence of bad factors, yeah.

ROUSEY: My mouth guard didn’t have, like, a back to the bottom teeth. And the first time I got touched all like my, all my bottom teeth got knocked loose and I was, I was completely out on my feet and concussed. And, I basically like I, it’s hard to describe what it’s like. It’s like you have photo vision. Like someone just took a picture of you, like, there’s big splotches in your vision. And like, the world is, like, two dimensional, like you can’t see distance between things.

And so, the whole fight, I was just trying to come forward because I can’t really go backward.

ABC NEWS: Do you feel like your industry took the concussion seriously enough at the time?

ROUSEY: I think they did. So much so that I didn’t want to say anything to my my coach or Dana about it because I thought they would make me stop and I wasn’t ready to stop. I thought I could just continue to be perfect forever, that I could continue to win without being touched forever.

ABC NEWS: One of the things that is so touching about this book is your vulnerability. We see this beautiful picture of you on the back of your book with your daughter in an embrace. How has motherhood changed this chapter of your life?

ROUSEY: It’s just changed my perspective on so many things and so many frivolous things that I would let myself be consumed with. She doesn’t let me.

And she puts in perspective what, what’s really important. And that’s her. And it’s hard for me to, like, ruminate and dwell on things when I’m getting, like, puked on and getting my hair pulled. The cutest thing I’ve ever seen is happening in front of me at the same time. So she she forces me to be in the present, which is what I, I learned is what I need to appreciate the most.

ABC NEWS: It seems like nature has such a central role for you and healing. I know that in the book you talk about how your husband whisked you away to a campsite when you were at your lowest point. So has farming sort of brought out some resilience in you and a different side of you?

ROUSEY: I think it’s just, it’s something that’s self validating and it makes me happy without anyone having to see it and appreciate it. And it’s nothing that I feel like I’m pandering to anyone or trying to impress anyone. I’m just trying to make these, these animals’ day a little bit better, their lives better, and give them a life worth living and, you know, feed my family and help the the land that they’re on. And it’s just, a virtuous circle where, you know, it’s, and just the act in itself is a reward.

ABC NEWS: I can’t let you go without asking what comes next. Now you have two books. Your multi-hyphenate and so many industries. What’s next?

ROUSEY: Oh, God. Oh, we get into it in the book a little bit because I wrote this. And the first one, with my sister, I’ve gotten like, more into creative writing and stuff like that. So I started writing screenplays just for fun.

My my mom would write fantasy novels as a hobby when since forever, and would give them to us to read. And it was such like a fascinating, fascinating insight into her. And you read that, you’re like, oh my God, this is so mom.

And so, I’ve started writing a lot creatively. I’m an intern at the WME story department. I like read and write coverages of scripts and things. And my first comic book is coming out soon, and, it’s just stuff that I really enjoy and I’m a big nerd for. And it’s not something to, to impress anybody. But the act in itself is so rewarding for me. So I do it.

ABC NEWS: Well, thank you so much. You’re such a beacon of strength for so many out there. Ronda Rousey’s book “Our Fight,” her memoir, is out tomorrow. I suggest you go and get it.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Detroit at NY Mets (Postponed)
Milwaukee 3, Minnesota 2
LA Angels 3, Miami 1
Chi White Sox 3, Atlanta 2
Arizona 7, NY Yankees 0

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Kansas City 4, Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 5, Texas 2
Toronto 2, Houston 1
Cleveland 5, Seattle 2
Boston 5, Oakland 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 9, Cincinnati 4
Chi Cubs 12, Colorado 2
St. Louis 5, San Diego 2
LA Dodgers 5, San Francisco 4

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
LA Lakers 128, Toronto 111
Washington 117, Milwaukee 113
Miami 109, New York 99
Philadelphia 109, Oklahoma City 105
Minnesota 113, Houston 106
Cleveland 129, Utah 113
Denver 110, San Antonio 105
Sacramento 109, LA Clippers 95
Golden State 104, Dallas 100

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 6, New Jersey 3
Buffalo 6, Washington 2
Montreal 5, Florida 3
NY Islanders 2, Chicago 1
Minnesota 3, Ottawa 2
Boston 3, Nashville 0
Anaheim 5, Calgary 3
Vegas 6, Vancouver 3

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — For the second straight season, head coach Lisa Bluder has led the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

Bluder spoke to “Good Morning America” following her team’s 94-87 win over LSU in the Elite Eight — a rematch of last year’s championship game when the Hawkeyes came up short — and shared how they will be preparing for the next round.

“We just kept talking about, this wasn’t a rivalry with LSU, it wasn’t a rematch of last year’s game, it was a whole new team, a whole new year,” Bluder said. “Our team was so locked in. They were so ready to play last night. I’m really, really happy for them.”

Caitlin Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer among men and woman, accounted for 71% of the scoring against LSU with 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds.

“She’s absolutely amazing,” Bluder said. “She has been consistent throughout her entire career, but when the spotlight is on, she is at her very best at that time.”

Clark is one of the many stars on the court helping drum up massive media attention and interest from fans during this tournament and beyond, something Bluder — who has coached the women’s game for 40 years — said she’s proud to be part of.

“I could never have fathomed the amount of interest that we are getting right now in our game,” she said. “When I played and when I started coaching, you know, you’re begging people to come and watch your team play. And now it’s so fulfilling.”

“Our game has gotten so much better, quite honestly. And the media exposure that we’ve gotten through national networks like the Big Ten Network and such, that has helped us expose our brand to so many different people. For us, it’s an exciting time to be part of women’s basketball,” Bluder continued.

Iowa will now set its sights on another exciting matchup, going head to head with UConn and their star, Paige Bueckers, on Friday. But Bluder isn’t quite ready to look ahead at the Huskies.

“I haven’t even thought about it yet,” Bluder said, candidly. “I gave myself about 20 hours to enjoy this one. That’s what I’m going to do. I’ll star prepping this afternoon.”
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LONDON) — Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Spain’s former soccer chief, Luis Rubiales, who may stand trial over a nonconsensual kiss at the Women’s World Cup last year, the Madrid prosecutor’s office confirmed to ABC News.

Rubiales kissed Spanish soccer player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the team’s trophy ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 win against England on Aug. 20, 2023. The incident was captured on video and in photos.

The former Spanish soccer federation president was banned in October 2023 from national and international soccer activities for three years after the organization found he violated an article of FIFA’s disciplinary code with the kiss incident.

Earlier this year, a judge said enough evidence existed to propose a trial for Rubiales and three other former executives with the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

Prosecutors confirmed to ABC News on Wednesday that they have asked for a two-and-a-half-year sentence for Rubiales, arguing he was holding the head of Hermoso without her consent and that the nonconsensual kiss had personal and professional consequences for the soccer player. He could also face a fine of at least 50,000 euros ($54,000), they said.

Prosecutors said they are also requesting that Rubiales be prohibited from getting within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso and be barred from communicating with her.

Rubiales, who was charged with sexual assault and coercion, has claimed the kiss was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.

The prosecutor’s office said it also requested one-and-a-half years in prison for the three former executives. The judge said they may have put pressure on Hermoso to say it was a consensual kiss.

A trial has not yet started in the case.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) – The grass may be greener if it’s made of synthetic turf, but some communities are raising concerns about “forever chemicals” that may be found in many of the faux fields.

“Think about the wisdom of putting down acres of plastic in the year 2024… and then allowing athletes to go play on that for hours a week,” Dr. Kyla Bennett, director of science policy for advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), told ABC News.

“To me, it doesn’t pass the straight-face test,” she said.

A number of synthetic turf fields in use today are believed to be made with plastic that may contain chemical substances perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl, known as PFAS, according to advocates and industry specialists. However, the percentage of synthetic turf fields made with these chemicals already installed or being manufactured for the future is unknown.

PFAS are a class of over 12,000 manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. They are known as “forever chemicals,” because they break down very slowly.

In a June 2023 letter, Synthetic Turf Council president and CEO Melanie Taylor said the industry needed until 2026 – “in line with other PFAS legislation currently pending” to “develop viable alternatives for the marketplace” without PFAS chemicals.

“We are concerned that trace quantities of a chemical may be present in natural or synthetic ingredients, recycled content, manufacturing processes or equipment,” Taylor said.

In addition to synthetic turf, PFAS can be found in drinking water, food, cleaners, textiles, paper, paints, fire-fighting foams, wire insulation and more, according to the EPA, which notes some of these chemical compounds can accumulate and stay in the human body for long periods of time.

Many industries are attempting to remove PFAS from their products. In February, the FDA announced that after a four-year commitment, food packaging in the U.S. no longer includes PFAS for grease proofing, “This means the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from food packaging like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers and pet food bags is being eliminated.”

The health risks of forever chemical accumulation in the body are still uncertain and could include a higher risk of cancer, liver damage, fertility issues or asthma, according to the EPA.

However, there are known risks associated with ingestion or inhalation — It’s not clear if there are significant health risks from touching them.

Some communities are concerned amid the uncertainty.

“Parents should not have to have a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, to send their kids out to play on what they presumed to be a safe field,” Dianne Woelke, a board member for Safe Healthy Playing Fields, Inc., an all-volunteer advocacy group, told ABC News.

“They assume that these chemicals have been proven to be safe, and they absolutely have not,” she claimed.

In 2016, the EPA launched an investigation into the chemicals found in recycled tire crumb, a component of some synthetic turf and what, if any, human exposure might occur during contact with turf fields. The results of this investigation are still pending, but regardless of their findings, the agency states that its report should not be interpreted as a risk assessment and cannot determine levels above which health effects could occur.

PFAS chemicals are widely used to help with the molding and extrusions of plastic, which is often seen in synthetic turf, according to the Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology.

Hailed by some proponents as the antidote to the effects of climate change, synthetic turf offers what is believed to be a no-water-necessary, durable and fertilizer-free option for athletic fields at every level.

Synthetic turf was first installed in a major sporting venue at Houston’s Astrodome in 1966. More than 50 years and several variations of synthetic turf later, thousands of recreational and professional-level fields across the country removed natural grass in favor of synthetic turf.

“Communities, schools, businesses and families across the country are choosing synthetic turf because of the significant benefits it offers, being accessible year-round, being more affordable to maintain, and protecting the environment through reduced water and chemical use,” Synthetic Turf Council president Melanie Taylor told ABC News in a statement. “The synthetic turf industry is proud to deliver quality products that make a positive difference and are used by thousands of communities nationwide.”

According to the Synthetic Turf Council, there are between 12,000 and 13,000 synthetic turf sports fields in the United States, with approximately 1,200 to 1,500 new installations each year.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, city leaders have launched an investigation after members of the Utah women’s basketball team say they were subjected to racial slurs from two men who also taunted them using their trucks as players were stepping out for a meal.

According to a police report obtained by ABC News, on Thursday, March 21, team members were headed to dinner when “two pickup trucks were revving their engines and speeding by the team as they walked down the street. The trucks then turned around and came back towards the team and yelled the N-word at them as many of the Utah players are African American,” the report stated.

“The incident caused a well-founded fear among the players,” the report said.

Utah’s women’s basketball head coach Lynne Roberts addressed the incident involving her players in a post-game press conference Monday night, saying it was “upsetting” for the team.

“We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program and [it was] incredibly upsetting for all of us,” Coach Roberts said. “Racism is real, and it happens, and it’s awful.”

“For our players and staff to not feel safe in a NCAA tournament, it’s messed up,” she added.

While the Coeur d’Alene Resort was not involved in the incident, the resort’s manager, Bill Reagan, offered his apologies and said the men in the trucks did not represent the town.

“On behalf of the downtown business community, let me apologize for this terrible situation and incident. I want to apologize to the student athletes, their staff, and the host university, Gonzaga,” Reagan said at a press conference Tuesday. “These students had a right to walk downtown, free of harassment. Don’t let the actions of a few indict all of Coeur d’Alene. We stand united in not tolerating this type of behavior.”

Coeur d’Alene Mayor Jim Hammond also extended his apologies to the team, denouncing the incident.

“To the young women who endured racial slurs while visiting, I offer my most sincere apology. We, all of us, stand with you. We embrace you. We celebrate your accomplishments and strongly denounce any malicious treatment towards you,” he said during the Tuesday afternoon press conference where officials addressed the incident.

The Utah team transferred to a hotel in Spokane, Washington, on Friday and Saturday as rooms became available, a spokesperson from the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations said during Tuesday’s press conference.

City of Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White says there are a number of potential crimes the department is investigating related to the incident, including malicious harassment and the disorderly conduct statute. Chief White said the police department is working with the FBI as the case is open and ongoing.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is just 35 miles outside of Spokane, Washington, where Gonzaga’s men’s and women’s basketball teams were the hosts for the NCAA tournament last weekend.

Addressing the incident on X early Tuesday morning, Gonzaga released a statement saying the incident did not reflect the school’s values.

“We are frustrated and deeply saddened to know that what should always be an amazing visitor and championship experience was in any way compromised by this situation, for it in no way reflects the values, standards, and beliefs to which we at Gonzaga University hold ourselves accountable,” the statement read.

The Utah team transferred to a hotel in Spokane, Washington, on Friday and Saturday as rooms became available, a spokesperson from the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations said during Tuesday’s press conference.

City of Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White says there are a number of potential crimes the department is investigating related to the incident, including malicious harassment and the disorderly conduct statute. Chief White said the police department is working with the FBI as the case is open and ongoing.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is just 35 miles outside of Spokane, Washington, where Gonzaga’s men’s and women’s basketball teams were the hosts for the NCAA tournament last weekend.

Addressing the incident on X early Tuesday morning, Gonzaga released a statement saying the incident did not reflect the school’s values.

“We are frustrated and deeply saddened to know that what should always be an amazing visitor and championship experience was in any way compromised by this situation, for it in no way reflects the values, standards, and beliefs to which we at Gonzaga University hold ourselves accountable,” the statement read.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — As baseball fans get ready to return to their favorite ballparks on opening day, culinary teams have been cooking up delicious new recipes during the offseason to bring to the plate for the 2024 MLB season.

Sure, fans will always sing about peanuts and Cracker Jacks during the seventh inning stretch, but the culinary heavy hitters behind stadium foods have elevated the food and drink options to further entice food-motivated fans.

“Good Morning America” spoke to food experts from around the league who have developed new, regional-inspired dishes as well as riffs on beloved classics, sharing highlights from the new ballpark bites and giving fans an early taste of what’s available to order on opening day this Thursday.

New stadium foods around the American League

T-Mobile Park

The Seattle Mariners’ longtime hospitality partner Sodexo Live! has developed new offerings throughout the ballpark with local partners and in-house executive chef Javier Rosa, who together created a true taste of the Pacific Northwest.

Here are a few of the standout new items: katsu curry rice that can be washed down with yuzu ginger ale from Tamari Bar; fresh Dungeness crab pizza topped with warm butter, dill, thyme, parmesan and lemon from the popular MOTO Pizza, in its second season at T-Mobile Park; a birria torta at Edgar’s Cantina packed with flavors of Puerto Rico; and two stadium-exclusive ice cream flavors from Salt & Straw, Wild-forged Berry Slab Pie ice cream and Vegan Strawberry Coconut Water sherbet.

“Whether you’re a season ticket holder or an out-of-town fan, we have something for everyone with a big focus on local flavors,” Rosa told “GMA.”

Rosa developed “The Double MitchWich” with Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger and catcher Mitch Garver, which he said is “one sandwich made up of two unique halves” using “flavors inspired by their hometowns.”

The Mitch Garver side has marinated pulled pork, sliced Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, Dijonnaise and sliced pickles on Cuban bread, while the Mitch Haniger side includes grilled chicken breast, marinated tomatoes, crispy bacon, a fried avocado wedge, and Havarti cheese served on a flatbread. Plus, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Guaranteed Rate Field

Levy Restaurants oversees the food and beverage experience at eight MLB ballparks, including the home of the Chicago White Sox. The company’s senior executive chef and head of culinary, Ron Krivosik, told “GMA” that “concessions are meant to be handheld — that’s why you see so many sandwiches.”

And there’s plenty of new sandwiches to choose from: the Southside smashed steakburger; the Fowl Ball, a take on a turkey bacon club; the “Settling a Beef,” their play on a Reuben; the Homerun, which adds roast beef to the equation; and the Michigan Avenue, which has roast beef, turkey, Muenster cheese, Vidalia onions and house dressing sandwiched between two slices of rye.

A new sweet treat comes in the form of the Campfire Chocolate Milkshake, which is topped with graham crackers and toasted marshmallow and served in a souvenir sundae cup.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore Orioles fans can try the new spin on a baseball classic with the Warehouse Dog, a footlong all-beef hot dog topped with horseradish-infused brick sauce, crispy onions, and pit beef queso fundido, served on a footlong pretzel bun.

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays fans will see new options this season like Braised Short Rib Nachos and the Pretzel Slugger Dog — a footlong hot dog wrapped in a soft pretzel and topped with sea salt.

Wrigley Field

Levy, which has served fans at Wrigley Field since 1985, is teleporting Chicago Cubs fans’ tastebuds south of the border with Citrus-Ancho Chicken Quesadillas and Argentinian-inspired Ancho Marinated Tri-tip Sandwiches with Chimichurri.

“Chimichurri is a very popular ingredient. The data tells us a dish like our Chimichurri Tri-tip Sandwich will work, and then as chefs, we test as many recipes as possible to create the one that can be reproduced at an excellent quality,” Krivosik said.

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros fans have a bevy of new items, of which the team’s on-field reporter Julia Morales recently shared four snaps, including the highly buzzed-about Pennant Pickle Dog.

New Foods at National League MLB ballparks

Dodger Stadium

Although the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers retired its iconic, namesake hotdog from the menu, the stadium is bringing in a pinch hitter this season with a new Carne Asada Torta. The Mexican-style sandwich is full of seasoned carne asada on fluffy bread, topped with pinto beans, grilled onions, grilled jalapeños, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and avocado puree.

Chase Field

When baseball fans filter into the stadium under the retractable roof to cheer on the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, they can also expect new items like the Millionaire Steak Sandwich, a brioche hoagie filled with beef tenderloin medallions, black truffle cheese sauce, cremini mushrooms and garlic aioli, and later opt for something sweet with the Apple Pie Chimichanga topped with vanilla frozen yogurt, caramel sauce, whipped cream, Cracker Jacks and strawberries.

Nationals Park

In addition to a brand new centerpiece scoreboard, the 16-year-old ballpark, home of the Washington Nationals, underwent significant structural upgrades recently from seating to several new food items, which the team shared on X. Among the items are Screech Burger Sliders — named after the team’s beloved eagle mascot — and a number of new tacos, helmet nachos and more.

The park has also welcomed several new vendors this season, including Ssongs Korean Hot Dogs, Los Cinco Tacos and Eli’s Crepes.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LOS ANGELES) — Shohei Ohtani, Major League Baseball’s highest-paid player, broke his silence Monday afternoon about a gambling scandal that prompted his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to fire his interpreter last week.

In a prepared statement, through an interpreter, Ohtani said, “I am very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”

The 29-year-old pitching and home-run-hitting star, who signed a $700 million deal in the offseason to join the Dodgers, addressed the media before Monday night’s spring training game against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, at Dodger Stadium.

This press conference was the first time Ohtani has faced the media in person since the gambling controversy surfaced involving his friend and Japanese interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, prompting investigations by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Internal Revenue Service.

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB said in a statement Friday. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter.”

Mizuhara was fired Wednesday by the Dodgers, according to a brief statement from the team. He had worked with the Dodgers as Ohtani’s interpreter after serving in the same capacity with the Angels. Ohtani and Mizuhara’s relationship dates back to 2013, when Ohtani played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League and Mizuhara was an interpreter for the team.

Mizuhara’s termination came after allegations of a “massive theft” tied to gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, multiple sources told ESPN.

“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information,” the Dodgers said in Wednesday’s statement. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment at this time.”

The statement did not provide a specific reason for Mizuhara’s termination.

Berk Brettler LLP, a law firm that represents Ohtani, said in a statement Wednesday, “In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities.”

The statement did not specify who allegedly stole the funds from Ohtani. However, according to ESPN, Mizuhara lost his job when reporters began asking questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation.

In an ESPN interview scheduled through Ohtani’s spokesperson last week, Mizuhara initially said Ohtani had agreed to pay off his gambling debts. But a day later, the spokesperson disavowed Mizuhara’s claim and issued the statement claiming Ohtani had been the victim of “massive theft.”

Mizuhara said Ohtani was never aware of his gambling and was not involved.

“I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again.”

ABC News’ Meredith Deliso and Mark Osborne contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LOS ANGELES) — Shohei Ohtani, Major League Baseball’s highest-paid player, is expected to break his silence Monday afternoon about a gambling scandal that prompted his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to fire his interpreter last week.

The 29-year-old pitching and home-run-hitting star, who signed a $700 million deal in the offseason to join the Dodgers, is scheduled to address the media before Monday night’s spring training game against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the first time Ohtani has faced the media in person since the gambling controversy surfaced involving his friend and Japanese interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, prompting investigations by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Internal Revenue Service.

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB said in a statement Friday. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter.”

Mizuhara was fired Wednesday by the Dodgers, according to a brief statement from the team. He had worked with the Dodgers as Ohtani’s interpreter after serving in the same capacity with the Angels. Ohtani and Mizuhara’s relationship dates back to 2013, when Ohtani played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League and Mizuhara was an interpreter for the team.

Mizuhara’s termination came after allegations of a “massive theft” tied to gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, multiple sources told ESPN.

“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information,” the Dodgers said in Wednesday’s statement. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment at this time.”

The statement did not provide a specific reason for Mizuhara’s termination.

Berk Brettler LLP, a law firm that represents Ohtani, said in a statement Wednesday, “In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities.”

The statement did not specify who allegedly stole the funds from Ohtani. However, according to ESPN, Mizuhara lost his job when reporters began asking questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation.

In an ESPN interview scheduled through Ohtani’s spokesperson last week, Mizuhara initially said Ohtani had agreed to pay off his gambling debts. But a day later, the spokesperson disavowed Mizuhara’s claim and issued the statement claiming Ohtani had been the victim of “massive theft.”

Mizuhara said Ohtani was never aware of his gambling and was not involved.

“I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again.”

ABC News’ Meredith Deliso and Mark Osborne contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(LOS ANGELES) — Major League Baseball said Friday it has begun formally investigating the scandal involving Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhari from the news media,” MLB said in a statement Friday. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter.”

Mizuhara was fired Wednesday by the Los Angeles Dodgers — the team with which Japanese pitcher Ohtani signed a record $700 million contract this offseason — according to a brief statement from the team. He had worked with the Dodgers as Ohtani’s interpreter after serving in the same capacity with the Los Angeles Angels.

The termination came after allegations of a “massive theft” tied to gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, multiple sources told ESPN.

“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information,” the Dodgers said in a statement. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment at this time.”

Berk Brettler LLP, a law firm that represents Ohtani, said in a statement Wednesday, “In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities.”

The statement did not specify who stole the funds from Ohtani and the Dodgers did not give an official reason for the firing.

However, according to ESPN, Mizuhara lost his job when reporters began asking questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation.

In an ESPN interview scheduled through Ohtani’s spokesperson Tuesday night, Mizuhara initially said Ohtani had agreed to pay off his interpreter and friend’s gambling debts. But a day later, the spokesperson disavowed Mizuhara’s claim and issued the statement claiming Ohtani had been the victim of “massive theft.”

Mizuhara said Ohtani was never aware of his gambling and was not involved.

“I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting,” he told ESPN. “I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again.”

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