The sports betting scandals in the United States have taken a new turn that mixes the NBA, MLB and league-affiliated media. While the FBI is conducting an investigation involving NBA figures, a tweet from a content creator linked to Major League Baseball has reopened a wound that the organization would rather leave behind: the case of Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
NBA arrests and an out-of-place joke on Ohtani
On Thursday morning, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, along with Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, was arrested as part of an FBI investigation into illegal gambling. Billups is reportedly involved in fraudulent poker games linked to criminal organizations, while Rozier is reportedly involved in insider betting on players and teams.
The news quickly became the most talked about topic of the day in the US sports world. However, content creator Joez McFly, a member of Jomboy Media, ignited a new controversy by posting on X (formerly Twitter): “IPPEIIIIIIIIIIII, WHAT BETTER TIME THAN TODAY!” in reference to the case of Ippei Mizuhara, the translator who defrauded more than $17 million from Shohei Ohtani to pay his gambling debts.
The echo of the Mizuhara case and the reaction of the fans
The Mizuhara scandal, which occurred in early 2024, rocked MLB and left Ohtani completely exonerated following a federal investigation. However, McFly’s tweet was interpreted as a tasteless joke at an especially sensitive time.
What angered fans the most was Jomboy Media’s direct link with MLB. The company, founded by Jimmy O’Brien, has been producing official content in collaboration with the league since 2022, including videos, highlights and promotional material. Many considered McFly’s message a conflict of interest and unprofessional
One user summed up the general feeling: “MLB funds the company this guy works for, and he mocks the league’s worst scandal. Unbelievable.”
Criticism of MLB’s professionalism and institutional silence
The post, which surpassed 1.3 million views, generated a wave of criticism towards Jomboy Media and its relationship with MLB. Some fans and journalists called for disciplinary action or even an end to the agreement between the two parties.
“Does someone employed by a league partner do this? MLB should cut ties immediately,” wrote another user.
Until Friday, neither Jomboy Media nor MLB had issued a statement on the incident, which only fueled speculation about a possible internal sanction or breakdown of the collaboration.
A reminder of the limits of digital humor
What happened with McFly shows how a simple comment on social media can put professional reputation at risk and corporate alliances within the sporting world. In a context where gambling and transparency are under scrutiny, the line between humour and insensitivity is thinner than ever.
The content creator’s “joke” ended up reviving the ghost that MLB wanted to bury: its own betting scandal. And, once again, the internet has remembered that in the digital age, a bad tweet can cost much more than a couple of clicks.
Read the full article here
