Major League Baseball is looking into a sudden gambling issue that surfaced last week. The head of the league hopes the investigation won’t take too long. How long might it take?
“I hope it’s quick, but I’m not sure,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said during an interview with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on MLB Network, as reported by the Associated Press. Manfred wants the investigation to be thorough.
“Given the unexpected nature of the situation, it’s important for reassuring our fans about the fairness of the game that we confirm the things Mr. Ohtani has stated, and it’s as simple as that,” Manfred explained. “We may not have the same authority as law enforcement officials, but we manage to complete these investigations and uncover the truth, and I’m confident we will do so in this case.”
Investigations carried out by sports leagues are always subject to outside influences that could affect how the truth is perceived. There’s a possibility of showing leniency or being too strict in the investigation unless it’s done independently.
For example, will MLB investigators accept Ohtani’s explanation, or will they ask challenging questions to explore any potential inconsistencies?
In Ohtani’s situation, it’s still unclear whether his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stole from him, or if Ohtani agreed to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts, or if Ohtani endorsed the bets Mizuhara placed on his behalf.
Regardless of the truth, the Ohtani case raises the concern that players in other sports, like football, might be financing bets made by friends or family members. It would be extremely difficult for sports organizations to catch them in the act, giving those making the bets considerable influence.
If and when they realize they have it — and if and when they choose to use it. This is especially concerning if an NFL player is using a family member or friend to place bets on NFL games.
