“Organized Crime”: Joe Rogan Offers Bizarre ‘Yakuza’ Theory For Shohei Ohtani’s $4.5 Million Gambling Scandal

The two-way-phenom Shohei Ohtani, recently rewrote the history of baseball when he signed the richest contract ever offered to an MLB player. This record-breaking deal sent shockwaves across the world of sports and naturally caught the attention of UFC commentator Joe Rogan. And he addressed it on his wildly popular podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience.’  But he underscored a bizarre angle in while talking about the ‘Unicorn’.

Rogan, who is known for his free-wheeling discussions and oftentimes controversial takes veered off course while discussing Ohtani’s current situation. Don’t we all know by now that apart from his contract, the big talk is about the gambling controversy? He opened up a shady perspective about this whole discussion and drew a connection to “Organized crime”.

Could The Celebrated Shohei Ohtani Have Connections With Organized Crime?

The podcaster posited that sophisticated organized crime groups might be offering “protection” to high-profile athletes like the 29-year-old. He underscored that this connection potentially influenced such a massive contract and he mentioned Yakuza. Rogan even talked about the alleged ties between the late singer Frank Sinatra and organized crime figures, in an attempt to draw a parallel.

Let’s acknowledge that there’s absolutely no evidence linking Ohtani to any criminal organization. Of course his journey to superstardom is a well-documented tale of relentless work ethic and rare talent. After all he honed it from a young age in Japan’s elaborate baseball system. While the Japanese-import’s rise is a testament to pure athletic excellence it’s interesting how Rogan connected “Yakuza action” to the phenom. HIs words were, “..there’s a lot of little bit like Yakuza action?”

This discussion further went on as Rogan and his guests uncovered the gambling story that Ohtani has found himself in. One still doesn’t know for sure if it was his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara or the phenom himself who was the mastermind. Well, as the Pandora’s box of speculation burst open since Ippei’s firing by the Los Angeles Dodgers, there have been innumerable narratives spewing. Only the conclusion of the investigation can answer the key questions. 

What Does Ohtani Have to Offer to Baseball Off-Field?

Let’s discussion why Shohei Ohtani is such a big deal anyway. Apart from his evident ‘generational-talent’ dominance on the field it’s his historic contract. He grew to be a marketing goldmine for Major League Baseball, with a global appeal that goes beyond borders. Particularly in his native – Japan.

Read More : Dedicated to His Craft, Shohei Ohtani Delivers His Best Despite Countless Off-Field Issues

Ohtani’s contract is a hot topic because his value on the field has immense potential to grow the sport internationally. Conjoined with his massive fan following across the globe the world of baseball can capitalize on Ohtani’s star power. That said, one question still stands unanswered. Is Joe Rogan’s “Yakuza” theory going to fall flat on its face or not?