“Winning on and off Field”: Shohei Ohtani’s Adorable Answer to Favorite Athlete Question Generates Awes From Fans

Love is in the air or perhaps it’s all over LA. Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers stint has quite a few plot points. While his on-field brilliance has enthralled the fans, Ohtani’s personal life has left them equally interested. Why wouldn’t it? The two-way phenom started his Blue journey by marrying Mamiko Tanaka. That immediately turned their romance into every fan’s favorite story and Shotime has just added another chapter to it.

Recently the Los Angeles Dodgers squad was asked about their favorite female athletes. While answers ranged from Serena Williams to Caitlin Clark, Ohtani had something else in his mind. The $700 million star was quick to point out that he lives with a female athlete. That made it obvious what his answer was but still, when he said those words, it sent the fanbase on a collective awe.

“My wife!” Ohtani said when asked about his favorite female athlete. While that isn’t a surprising answer, it is filled with the kind of wholesomeness that fans expect out of Ohtani. But what it highlights the most is just how much respect Shotime has for Mamiko Tanaka’s sporting career. After all, she was one of the best basketball players before her retirement. 

The 27-year-old Mamiko Tanaka played for Fujitsu Red Way in the Women’s Japan Basketball League till 2023. Tanaka has represented Japan in multiple international youth and collegiate competitions. She was popular for her offensive rebounding skills. On top of that, Tanaka was also one of the premier playmakers during her time on the court. So it’s obvious why Ohtani considers her to be his favorite athlete.

Still, the fans couldn’t help but applaud Ohtani’s answer. However, there were hilarious moments too that highlighted just how loved Ohtani has become within the Dodgers fanbase.

Shohei Ohtani wins hearts but other Dodgers too gain love 

While multiple Los Angeles Dodgers players shared their favorite athlete, Shohei Ohtani’s answer was the one that got maximum attention. “Shohei is a smart man lol,” a fan wrote. Certainly, he is. The superstar has a gift of gab. But now it is finally becoming visible. Due to being shackled by interpreters before, Ohtani’s humor was sometimes lost in translation. However, now that he is slowly becoming more independent, more such answers can be expected.

“Shohei winning on and off the field. What a (crown emoji),” said another fan. That too is true. While on-field he’s on a historic journey of becoming the first ever DH MVP, off-field too his brand is growing. From multiple endorsements to even his pet Decoy becoming popular, Ohtani is currently enjoying a Midas’ touch.

“Shohei said I ain’t sleeping on the sofa tonight,” a fan said hilariously. Such jokes filled social media. While the fans were impressed with Shohei Ohtani’s romantic gesture, they also understood how difficult the question was. In a typical rom-com fashion, any other answer could’ve been a risky bet by Ohtani.

“Perfect English by Ohtani,” commented a user. Fans are still surprised when they see Shotime speak in English. This is after his teammate Tyler Glasnow revealed that the Ohtani no longer has an interpreter and he converses with the team himself. Perhaps fans need more time to become accustomed to this development.

“Ooh, Doc with the mic drop OG. So good,” said a fan of Dave Roberts. Doc had named the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee as his favorite female athlete. Joyner-Kersee is a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and also a holder of three other medals (one silver, two bronze). She was a trailblazer for female athletes and one of the greatest athletes of all time. It isn’t surprising that Roberts’ answer was highly popular with the fanbase.

So as it stands, Shohei Ohtani has found another way to become lovable. With the Los Angeles Dodgers fans growing more in love with Shotime, one wonders what will happen next.