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Today — 24 January 2025Latest Sports News Today on Fox News

Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter says working conditions led to gambling-related crimes in letter to judge

24 January 2025 at 08:57

Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, sent a letter to Judge John W. Holcomb, asking for leniency in his sentencing and outlining the reasons for his gambling issues. 

Mizuhara committed bank fraud and tax fraud as he stole nearly $17 million of Ohtani’s money to pay off gambling debts. 

Federal prosecutors asked for a 57-month prison sentence, while also asking Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million of restitution to Ohtani, and another $1.1 million to the IRS.

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Mizuhara asked for an 18-month sentence in prison, while revealing the factors in his life that drove him to gamble, in his letter obtained by The Athletic.

Mizuhara said he has sacrificed his life and his family's lives since becoming Ohtani’s interpreter/manager in late 2017.

"Usually, when a Japanese baseball player makes the move to the United States, they would bring over multiple staff members to take care of various tasks, such as a driver, trainer, chef, off-the-field interpreter/support member, etc. However, I was the only person Shohei brought along," Mizuhara said in the letter.

"So naturally, I had to support him with most of the above-mentioned tasks. I drove him everywhere he needed to be, went on frequent grocery runs, ran random errands whenever he needed them, so I felt like I was on call 24/7."

SHOHEI OHTANI'S EX-INTERPRETER IMPERSONATED DODGERS STAR TO PUSH THROUGH 6-FIGURE WIRE TRANSFER, AUDIO REVEALS

Mizuhara said the busy baseball schedule, combined with the international time difference dealing with Ohtani’s management team in Japan, would keep him up late at night on the phone, causing him to lose sleep. 

Mizuhara said the offseason was more difficult than the baseball season, due to Ohtani’s demanding schedule.

"The offseason was much harder both physically and mentally. Shohei would train 5-6 times per week, and I was responsible for reserving the facility, setting up and cleaning up all of the practice equipment, filming and tracking all of his exercises, being his training partner (as it was just him and I during all of the offseason training), driving him back and forth, and communicating all of this back to the Angels and his personal pitching/hitting/rehabilitation people in the United States."

"I would also be running daily errands such as grocery shopping, checking his mailbox, fixing his bicycle, accompanying him when he went back to Iwate Prefecture to visit his family, taking his dog to the vet and groomer, dropping off and picking up his dinners with peers while I waited in the car, helping to coordinate Japanese and U.S. lawyers for his marriage prenup and attending meetings, etc."

In addition to those tasks, Mizuhara said he was responsible for communicating with the endorsement and brokerage companies to set up Ohtani’s commercial shoots. Those shoots were once per week in between offseason training, leaving Mizuhara with little time off. 

SHOHEI OHTANI'S FORMER INTERPRETER IPPEI MIZUHARA AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO FEDERAL BANK, TAX FRAUD CHARGES

With all the work he was doing for Ohtani, Mizuhara said he felt severely underpaid. Mizuhara said the Angels paid him $85,000 in 2018, $87,000 from 2019 to 2021, $99,611.16 in 2022, and $250,000 in 2023; but Ohtani paid him roughly $11,000 per year.

"I felt like I was getting severely underpaid, but I was afraid to speak up for myself, as I was on a one-year contract every year, and I didn’t want to upset them and risk being fired," Mizuhara said.

JAPANESE PHENOM ROKI SASAKI SAYS HE WANTS TO TRY AN 'AMERICAN HAMBURGER' AFTER SIGNING WITH THE DODGERS

Another challenge of working for Ohtani was that Mizuhara had to live close by to Ohtani, which meant he had to pay higher rent to have a place near him. 

"All of these extra expenses were taking a huge toll on me, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. There were months when I had to borrow money from family and friends to make ends meet."

Mizuhara said he had opportunities to help himself financially, "such as writing books, doing TV/radio interviews, and appearing in TV commercials, which would have helped me financially, but they were all shut down by Shohei and his company in Japan."

Among the salary, high demands of his job, and not being able to make any money for himself on the side, Mizuhara said he thought gambling might be an opportunity to help himself financially.

"Before I knew it, my gambling debt had grown so much that I couldn’t find any way to pay it off but by using Shohei’s money," Mizuhara said. "I felt terribly guilty about putting my hands on his money, but at the time, it seemed like the only solution."

Mizuhara can now only hope that Judge Holcomb can find some sympathy for him in his sentencing, with his side of the story now out there. 

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Pete Carroll set to become Raiders head coach: reports

24 January 2025 at 07:48

After giving up on a project that was Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders are bringing in a coaching veteran.

The Raiders have reportedly agreed to a deal that would make Pete Carroll their next head coach.

After firing Josh McDaniels in 2023, the Raiders made Pierce their interim head coach. He appeared to turn the locker room around, and the Raiders went 5-4 in their final nine games.

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However, they went just 4-13 this season amid rough quarterback play, and Pierce lasted just one season without the interim tag.

It is a total revamp for Vegas, as they also fired general manager Tom Telesco just days after getting rid of Pierce.

Carroll was reportedly given a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth.

Carroll, who will turn 74 at the beginning of the NFL season, was an advisor for the Seattle Seahawks after being their head coach for 14 seasons. He coached them to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, winning one.

Before joining Seattle, Carroll was on the USC sidelines for 10 seasons where, in similar fashion, he took the Trojans to back-to-back national championships, but split those. He was also the head coach of the Jets and Patriots in the 1990s.

CONNECTICUT LAWMAKER INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING ON FLIGHTS TO, FROM STATE

Carroll won four Rose Bowls at USC and five division titles with Seattle.

The Raiders have the sixth overall pick, which isn't ideal for them as they desperately need a quarterback. It figures that Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will be taken within the top three.

Carroll becomes the fourth head coach for the Raiders since the turn of the decade, joining Jon Gruden, McDaniels and Pierce. Rich Bisaccia was also the interim head coach after Gruden resigned following his email controversy.

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Connecticut lawmaker introduces bill that would legalize sports betting on flights to, from state

24 January 2025 at 06:59

A bill in Connecticut has been introduced that would allow sports gambling on flights that are set to depart or arrive in the state, despite other state's laws on betting.

State Rep. Christopher Rosario introduced the bill on Wednesday. Federal laws, however, could keep the bill from advancing, including the Gambling Devices Act of 1962, which prohibits the use of gambling devices on commercial flights.

However, with bets being able to be placed at the tap of a finger, attorney Daniel Wallach does not see that as much of a hurdle.

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"A cell phone is not a gambling device," Wallach told Front Office Sports. "A cell phone doesn’t determine winners or losers; it’s just a means of communication. No different than a pencil writing your name on a betting slip and handing it to an agent. [The act] doesn’t prohibit monetary gambling; it prohibits gambling devices."

The largest issue, perhaps, is the fact that there are a dozen states that have kept sports gambling illegal. Thirty-seven states have made it legal in some capacity within the last decade. The Federal Wire Act of 1961 states that interstate gambling is prohibited.

Delta Air Lines appears to be close to partnering with DraftKings, which has become a sports gambling powerhouse after starting off as a daily fantasy company.

DEREK JETER SAYS VOTERS SHOULD BE 'ACCOUNTABLE' AFTER ICHIRO FALLS 1 VOTE SHY OF UNANIMOUS HALL OF FAME NOD

Eilers & Krejcik, an independent research firm, conducted a new study showing sports betting would pay off for the state of Texas, where sports betting remains illegal.

The study, "Legal Online Sports Betting In Texas: Revenue Forecast And Economic Impact Analysis," estimates the market could generate over $360 million in direct tax revenue for the state, while adding over 8,000 jobs.

The report estimated Texas would benefit from over $2.6 billion annually in economic output, adding that non-gaming tax revenues generated from legal sports betting are expected to total $24.3 million per year.

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Charles Barkley places blame on politicians for 'making us fight with each other'

24 January 2025 at 05:05

Divisiveness is alive and well throughout the country, and NBA legend Charles Barkley has placed the blame on politicians for that.

Barkley's "Inside the NBA" aired on Martin Luther King Day on Monday, when he, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny "The Jet" Smith were discussing the importance of the day, which also coincided with President Donald Trump's inauguration.

"I wish that people were smarter, personally," Barkley began. "I think these politicians – both parties – I think both parties suck. But I think they do a really good job of making us not like each other."

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Barkley, a former CNN host, then gave his answer on what America has "become."

"Racism exists, always has, always will, unfortunately. It's a disaster. But what America has become is rich people against poor people. And I wish people would understand that politicians do a good job of making us fight with each other. But it’s really rich people against poor people," Barkley said. "They try to make it about Black, white, immigration, homosexuality and all these different things, but what it is, is rich people making people not liking each other. And until we address that, we’re never gonna be successful."

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"These politicians have screwed up our world, making you pick a team," Barkley added. "And that’s unfortunate because I’m not for anybody’s team. I’m for everybody’s team."

Barkley has said he is "not a fan" of Trump and blamed the Democrats for losing because they were "stupid."

"We still haven’t solved the immigration problem . . . never addressed inflation. Bringing all these stupid stars out to rally the vote, what was that? I love Beyoncé. That ain’t gonna make me vote a certain type of way . . . you guys lost because y’all stupid . . ." Barkley said on "The Steam Room" podcast with his "NBA on TNT" co-host Ernie Johnson shortly after the election.

"It’s all our faults for not having a game plan. We’re not having concerts and rallies. People want solutions, they want money in their pocket, they want the border secure."

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Novak Djokovic booed after retiring from Australian Open semifinal match with injury

24 January 2025 at 04:37

The Melbourne, Austrailia, crowd was not kind to Novak Djokovic early Friday morning.

In his quest to extend his record with a 25th grand slam, Djokovic only managed to play one set, withdrawing from his Australian Open semifinal match after tearing a muscle in his left leg.

The withdrawal sent Alexander Zverev to Sunday's final against Jannick Sinner, and it left the crowd disappointed.

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After he conceded the match to Zverev, who won the set, fans booed him as he walked off toward the locker room.

Djokovic stopped, turned around and responded by giving two thumbs-up.

Zverev made his disappointment with the crowd known.

"Don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury. I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see a great five-set match, but you gotta understand Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given this sport for the past 20 years absolutely everything of his life," Zverev said in his on-court interview.

"He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear. He has won this tournament with a hamstring tear. If he can’t continue a tennis match, it really means he can’t continue a tennis match. So, please be respectful."

AMERICAN TENNIS STAR BEN SHELTON PUTS AUSTRALIAN OPEN TV INTERVIEWERS ON BLAST OVER TREATMENT OF PLAYERS

John McEnroe added on the call, "They can't possibly be booing him. Please! He's won this 10 times, for god's sakes. Unreal…

"I mean, clearly something was up. The guy is a battler. I mean, him and Rafa [Nadal] have dug deeper than any two players I have seen. So to do that because he decided that he couldn't go on after what he's done here I thought was absolutely ludicrous, honestly. That was almost as depressing as seeing the end of the match."

Djokovic suffered the injury during his five-set classic with Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal, but he said the pain was getting "worse and worse."

"Towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain, and it was too much to handle for me at the moment. So, yeah, unfortunate ending, but I tried," Djokovic said.

"I knew even if I won the first set, it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me."

He withdrew from last year’s French Open before the quarterfinals after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during a match.

Djokovic had surgery a couple of days later and immediately reached the final at the following major, Wimbledon, then won a gold medal for Serbia at the Paris Olympics.

This will be Zverev's first final at the Australian Open and the third final of his career. He also made last year's French Open final as well as the 2020 U.S. Open.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Woman indicted on charges from crash that killed Vikings player, 2 others in car crash

24 January 2025 at 04:08

A woman was indicted on 13 counts, including vehicular manslaughter, for the automobile crash that killed Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson back in July.

Jackson and two others were killed in the crash that occurred in the early hours of July 6, weeks before training camp began.

Cori Clingman was indicted on 13 counts, including vehicular manslaughter related to driving under the influence, according to prosecutors in Prince George’s County, a Washington suburb.

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Clingman faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted, State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said.

Jackson was drafted in the fourth round of last year's NFL Draft but was never able to take a snap.

"I am absolutely crushed by this news," head coach Kevin O'Connell said at the time of Jackson's death.

"Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree's family, friends, teammates and coaches."

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Jackson, a passenger, and 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel, who had been driving the car, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Police said 23-year-old Anthony Lytton Jr., who had been sitting in the rear of the car, was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The three played high school football together and won a state championship.

Police said Clingman crashed into the car carrying the three men while attempting to change lanes. Police said she had been "driving at a high rate of speed" when she struck the vehicle.

Clingman had two other passengers in the car at the time of the crash, but none were injured as a result. The driver of a third vehicle involved was also uninjured. 

Jackson took a break from football after high school, but he returned to the sport when he attended community college, where he made the switch from wide receiver to cornerback. He played two seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama before finishing his collegiate career at Oregon, where he was an all-Pac-12 first-team selection.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Derek Jeter says voters should be 'accountable' after Ichiro falls 1 vote shy of unanimous Hall of Fame nod

24 January 2025 at 04:00

There's always one. 

That was the case on Monday when Ichiro Suzuki was just one vote shy of becoming the second player to be unanimously elected into the Hall of Fame.

Ichiro received 393 of the 394 votes cast by longtime baseball writers. Mariano Rivera remains the lone unanimous vote-getter, accomplishing the feat in 2019.

Ichiro, of course, undoubtedly belongs in Cooperstown with over 3,000 hits and 10 Gold Gloves in his prestigious career. It was always a guarantee he'd be in, but it was a matter of whether he'd get 100% of the vote.

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When it was revealed that just one person did not vote for him, the celebration quickly turned into anger on social media.

Five years ago, Derek Jeter also fell one vote short of unanimity. At the time, in typical Jeter fashion, he took the high road and said it was difficult to get everyone to agree on something. During his induction ceremony, he threw a shot at the lone voter who did not check his name on his ballot.

But with Ichiro's snub, Jeter said the voters should be held accountable for their actions.

"A lot of players have been unbelievable that are in the Hall of Fame and haven’t gotten 100% of the vote. I never expected it, and I would never sit here and say everyone should’ve voted for me or everyone should have voted for Ichiro," Jeter told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

"The only thing I do think is fair is that I think a lot of members of the media want athletes to be responsible and accountable; I think they should do the same thing. I get asked this question, I get tired of being asked this question, and I think they should answer it."

Jeter had plenty of success on the diamond, and he's hoping to have more of it this weekend in Miami as a captain for the Reserve Cup Miami Padel tournament, along with Andrew Schulz and Jimmy Butler.

"It's a fun sport to watch. I had never watched actual live, professional padel before. And it's pretty fun to watch all the athleticism," Jeter said. "It's good to see people active. I haven't been very active since I retired. I've slowed down my physical activity. It's fun to see the sport grow. I know it's huge internationally, Wayne [Boich] had a vision to grow it here in the U.S., and he really deserves a lot of credit."

Ichiro joined the majors in 2001 as a highly touted Japanese prospect, hitting .353 during his nine seasons in his home country, where he won three MVPs and was a seven-time All-Star. Joining the Mariners at age 28, he immediately lived up to the hype, winning the AL MVP and helping that year’s Mariners team to a record 116 wins.

From 2001 to 2010, Ichiro was named an All-Star in each season while also winning a Gold Glove Award every year. In that span, he won three Silver Slugger Awards and two batting titles while putting up a .331 average and .806 OPS.  In 2004, he set the all-time single-season record with 262 hits, and he’s the only player in MLB history to register 10 straight 200-plus hit seasons. He also stole over 500 bases and is one of just seven players to record 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases.

After just his 11th MLB game, his career average never again dipped below .300. He retired with a .311 average, 3,089 hits, and a 60.0 WAR. In the live ball era (since 1920), he is one of just 21 players with at least 10 seasons of hitting .300 (among qualified hitters) and only one of seven to do it 10 straight years. Ichiro spent the majority of his career with the Mariners, making stops with the Yankees and Marlins.

Ichiro and Jeter played together from 2012 through 2014.

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NFL great Champ Bailey sees why some fans think games are 'rigged' amid Patrick Mahomes controversy

24 January 2025 at 03:00

NFL legend Champ Bailey was among those glued to the television when he saw the controversial penalties called on the Houston Texans during their playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes drew two penalties that had the entire NFL world talking on Saturday and nearly drew a third as he was accused of flopping out of bounds on the sidelines as the Chiefs drove down the field. 

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Bailey, a former Denver Broncos and then-Washington Redskins star cornerback, was upset with the penalty flags on the two plays, particularly the one in which Mahomes tried to slide at the last minute before he was met by two Texans defenders. Houston linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was called for unnecessary roughness on the play.

"It’s like everything else. They review everything," he said. "So, when they’re able to go back and look at these type of plays, like the play I think you’re referring to on [Saturday] when he drops to the ground and then the guys go over him, don’t even hit him, but they appear to. You should be able to review that [on] some level and say, well, that wasn’t as egregious as we thought in real time, because those things change the trajectory of the game. You really change the outcome now.

TOM BRADY SAYS QBs WHO SCRAMBLE ‘SHOULD LOSE THEIR PROTECTION’ AMID PATRICK MAHOMES CONTROVERSY

"Defenders are hesitant to hit him, but here he is. He’s dancing around, toying around with the guys and making it seem like he’s the runner and then drops down, and now he’s protected like a quarterback. Once you’re outside of the pocket, man, it’s fair game. I don’t know why he’s protected when he’s outside of the pocket the way he was, because if he was the running back and did the same thing, do you think they throw the flag? No, they don’t."

Bailey, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of his partnership with cannabis company Trulieve, said he’s started to empathize with fans who think NFL games are supposedly "rigged" or favor Mahomes in some way.

All he’s asking for is some consistency.

"So, let’s be consistent in that way, and when you get it wrong, try to get it right," Bailey said. "I think the more they can get calls right in real time, the integrity increases in the game and people start to believe that the games aren’t fixed. 

"I don’t feel like the games are fixed because I was in it, but when I’m sitting here every year – I’m out of the league – the more and more I start believing what the fans are saying about the games being ‘fixed,’ because you see things like this happen over and over, so they just got to figure out a way to get the calls right and live with it."

Mahomes said Wednesday he didn’t believe officials favored the Chiefs.

"I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as best they can," Mahomes said. "For me, it's go out there, play hard, try to do whatever I can to win the football game and then live with the results based on my effort and how I play the game, and that's what we preach here in Kansas City."

Kansas City meets the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Yesterday — 23 January 2025Latest Sports News Today on Fox News

Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter impersonated Dodgers star to push through 6-figure wire transfer, audio reveals

23 January 2025 at 18:56

A four-minute audio recording was disclosed by federal prosecutors Thursday that shows Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly attempting to push through a six-figure wire transfer from one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star’s accounts by impersonating him. 

Mizuhara has been convicted of defrauding Ohtani, the National League MVP and world baseball superstar, and the recording, obtained by The Athletic from the Department of Justice, is a key piece of evidence. 

It was mentioned in a court filing, which also had prosecutors recommending a nearly five-year sentence for Mizuhara and an order to repay Ohtani, according to The Athletic. 

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Mizuhara, who is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return after stealing almost $17 million from Ohtani, who he was best friends with for years, in June 2024. 

The recording was obtained from a bank, assistant U.S. attorney Jeff Mitchell told The Athletic, and it supports prosecutors’ claims that Mizuhara would call banks to arrange wire transfers. 

Prosecutors added that the recording was edited to redact bank names and the name of an "unindicated co-conspirator."

FORMER SHOHEI OHTANI INTERPRETER PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES IN SPORTS BETTING CASE

In the recording, Mizuhara clearly states his name is Ohtani after the bank agent asks, "Who am I speaking with?" Mizuhara bypassed the bank’s security measures and changed Ohtani’s account information to include his own email and phone number.

So, when the bank agent asks Mizuhara to perform a two-factor authentication using a six-digit code sent to a phone number, he can do so because it’s going to his phone instead of Ohtani’s. 

The recording shows Mizuhara matching the numbers, which allows the agent to work on his request, a car loan for $200,000.

"Now recently, we’ve come across a trend of fraud and scams, so we have been monitoring the online transactions closely to make sure our clients are not the victim of either," the agent says first. "What is the reason for this transaction?"

Then, the agent asks "Ohtani" what his relationship to the payee is, to which Mizuhara says, "He’s my friend."

"Have you met your friend in person"" the agent responds. 

"Yes, many times," Mizuhara answered. 

Mizuhara said he stole from Ohtani to cover "major gambling debt," which he said in a brief statement after pleading guilty. 

"I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account," Mizuhara said in the statement at the time. 

Prosecutors asked that the restitution amount bet set at nearly $17 million for Ohtani, though it was noted Mizuhara is unable to pay that back to the All-Star. Another $1.1 million in restitution is being sought by the IRS.

The ex-interpreter’s winning bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s. His losing bets were around $183 million. He did not bet on baseball.

There is also no indication Ohtani bet on baseball. 

The Athletic reported the court filing says that, between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed around 19,000 bets online through Matthew Bowyer, his bookie who also pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business in August 2024.

Mizuhara’s debt was up to $40.7 million. 

"His years-long theft of funds from Mr. Ohtani and the myriad lies he told to Mr. Ohtani’s agents and financial advisors to cover up his theft represent a calculated betrayal of the very person he was hired to help," Mitchell wrote in the court filing. 

"To summarize how I’m feeling right now, I’m just beyond shocked," Ohtani said in a statement on the matter last year. "It’s really hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point.

"I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this."

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Georgia high school basketball player assaults pair of athletes from opposing team, video shows

23 January 2025 at 18:41

Tempers flared during a high school basketball game in Georgia this month. The heated moment appeared to spark a physical altercation between players from opposing teams. 

TMZ reported that the fight in question happened during a game between Sonoraville High School and Rockmart High School on Jan. 3 in Calhoun, Georgia. Calhoun is located approximately 70 miles from downtown Atlanta.

A video posted to social media appeared to show an unidentified Rockmart player shoving one of Sonoraville's athletes to the ground. The Rockmart athlete then immediately hit the Sonoraville player in the face immediately after he regained his footing.

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The Rockmart player was later seen punching a separate player from the opposing team. 

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYER JUMPS INTO ACTION TO SAVE OPPONENT'S LIFE AFTER HARROWING ON-COURT COLLAPSE

The second Sonoraville player was hit after he dashed toward the scuffle. Spectators in the crowd could be heard making noises as they reacted to the situation. The video also showed some individuals moving from the stands to the court area to intervene.

An incident report from the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office suggested a Rockmart player was provoked by the repeated use of a racial slur by the player from the opposing team.

The teenager who appeared to initiate physical contact during the incident faces two charges of simple battery, per the police report. The brawl broke out during the third quarter of the game.

Officials from Rockmart High School and Sonoraville High School have yet to offer public comment on the incident.

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AOC, Jeffries remain silent on Democrat backlash after saying anti-trans athlete bill empowers child predators

23 January 2025 at 17:57

After alienating Democratic voters with unsubstantiated claims that the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would empower child predators to give genital examinations to young girls, the two most prominent figures on the left in the House of Representatives are not addressing the issue. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. were among 206 Democrats who voted against a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing against girls and women last week. 

Jeffries and Ocasio-Cortez pushed the unsubstantiated claims it would subject girls to genital examinations by child predators. No language exists in the bill suggesting genital examinations would occur, and Republicans argued proof of birth sex could be determined by a birth certificate. 

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Jeffries and Ocasio-Cortez have not responded to multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital regarding their arguments, subsequent backlash from Democratic voters who have said they are leaving the party in response to the arguments and data that suggests that a majority of Democrats oppose transgender inclusion in women's sports. 

However, Ocasio-Cortez addressed the idea of culture wars about transgender people being a distraction during an interview on "The Weekly Show with John Stewart" podcast" Thursday.

"When we allow ourselves to constantly be distracted by these culture wars around trans people, it's a new thing every day, and the answer isn't that we just let those people be attacked, it's that we say, ‘What are you doing, man?’ I think we need to make standing up for those folks just such an afterthought that it's not even a debate," Ocasio-Cortez said. 

"Like, we need to understand and see the bait for what it is, but we don’t take the bait by letting those rights just erode and go by the wayside."

HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE

Ocasio-Cortez's suggestion that the party should make protecting transgender people an afterthought comes after she delivered a tirade in defense of transgender people and in opposition to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on the floor of the House of Representatives last week.

Her rant prompted widespread mockery, and Democrats have since spoken up about their distaste for her and the party's handling of the issue. 

Prominent Rutgers law professor Gary Francione, a lifelong Democrat and advocate for LGBTQ rights, told Fox News Digital he left the Democratic Party in response to its opposition to the bill. 

"That just made me very upset because it screamed out lack of integrity, lack of honesty," Francione told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "This is the way you fight battles? By trying to insult other people who oppose you and disagree with you and insinuate that they're child molesters or pedophiles? It seems to me you've lost the game. … I don't know how they're ever going to come back from this." 

Francione said many of the other Democrats in his network of law and education share his disdain for the party's response to the bill and will also be leaving the party. 

"I can say confidently of the people I know who are Democrats who I've spoken to, the vast majority of them are very unhappy about all of this stuff and feel that the party has lost its way," Francione said. "I know a couple who said they are going to [unregister]." 

Voter registration data suggests the party is losing members in Francione's home state of Pennsylvania. However, no specific information for why is available. Prominent political organizer Scott Pressler announced on X the voter registration data shows that the number of Democratic voters declined by 24,867 from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21, the week that followed the House of Representatives hearing. 

Just two Democrats joined the Republican majority in voting in favor of the bill, representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, both of Texas. Their decision to defect from the rest of the party and vote for the protection of women and girls in sports reflects a growing position of many voters in their party and independents, according to recent data. 

A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. Of the 2,128 people polled, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. 

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is headed to the Senate after passing in the House, and it will need more votes by Democrats to get past a filibuster and move to President Donald Trump's desk. 

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview she expects and hopes the bill will get the Democratic votes it needs to pass the Senate. 

"I would expect there would be. I would hope there would be," she said. 

"Many of my friends who are Democrats will tell you that they think Title IX is a thing, and to have biological males competing against women is inappropriate. And they want opportunities for their daughters or nieces or granddaughters. And it's frustrating to them when they hear about or witness a transgender male playing in a women's or girls league."

Blackburn added she has "no idea" what the Democrats who suggested the law would subject girls to genital examinations were thinking when they made that argument. 

"I find it very difficult to believe that protecting girls in sports would have such an adverse effect," Blackburn said. "Looking at the content of the bill is the best way to argue against it and know that a vast majority of Americans support protecting girls in girls' sports." 

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Olympian Levi Jung-Ruivivar to step back from competition for eating disorder treatment

23 January 2025 at 17:31

American-born gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar, who represented the Philippines at last year's Paris Olympics, announced plans to step back from competition to address her health.

She said she would begin treatment for an eating disorder.

"Hi everyone, I wanted to come on here today to share some deeply personal information. I have decided to redshirt this season and take a brief leave of absence from Stanford (just the winter quarter) to heal from an eating disorder I have been struggling with. I will return to school and training before the spring quarter starts," Jung-Ruivivar wrote in a statement via a collaborative Instagram post with the Stanford gymnastics account.

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Jung-Ruivivar, 18, is a student at Stanford University. She added that her struggle with the disorder has hurt her athletic career and her time as a student.

"My time at Stanford has been everything I dreamed of and more. I have been loving gymnastics and school and both have been going well, however I felt the disorder was infringing on my ability to fully enjoy these aspects of my life; it was pulling an abundant amount of my mental and physical energy away from the things I hold dear," the star gymnast wrote.

GYMNAST SIMONE BILES VOWS TO 'NEVER' RETURN TO PILATES CLASS, CITES DIFFICULTY WITH FIRST EXPERIENCE

Jung-Ruivivar admitted she experienced "lots of trepidation" as she weighed whether to speak out about her private battle. But she determined it was "important" for her to share what she was grappling with.

"As an elite athlete, I felt it was vital to stop the damage it was doing to my body and mind by seeking help," she added.

Jung-Ruivivar also expressed appreciation for the support she's received from loved ones and coaches, adding she looks "forward to getting to relish all of this and more as I overcome my eating disorder."

Fellow gymnast Hezly Rivera showed support for Jung-Ruivivar, writing "i love you Levi," below the social media post. Gymnast Skye Blakely added a pair of heart emoji in the comment section.

In a separate social media post directed at Jung-Ruivivar, Stanford University wrote, "supporting you every step of the way."

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Braves legend Chipper Jones rips Hall of Fame voters for keeping former teammate out: 'Make sure it's right'

23 January 2025 at 17:19

Hall of Fame voting results in arguments every year, and, for the eighth year in a row, the crowd is loud about Andruw Jones.

The former Atlanta Braves outfielder received his highest vote percentage Monday, but he did not join Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner as soon-to-be inductees.

Jones has made up a lot of ground.

He received just 7.3% of the vote in his first year on the ballot, but came in at 66.2% this week. Players need 75% to be elected.

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Jones, a slugger at the plate with 434 home runs, is considered one of the greatest defensive outfielders of all time. He won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1998 to 2007, winning at least two in all three outfield positions, while hitting .254 with an .823 OPS in his career.

He has an argument, but one of his former teammates, Chipper Jones, who got a plaque in Cooperstown in 2018, said there shouldn't even be a discussion.

MARIANO RIVERA, WIFE ACCUSED OF COVERING UP CHILD SEX ABUSE AT OWN HOME, CHURCH

"I wanna ask all HOF voters one question….if Andruw Jones plays for the New York Yankees for 15 yrs with 10 GGs, 400Hrs, 1300 rbis…is he a HOFer? Lemme answer for you….first ballot!" Chipper wrote. "Time to have a conversation about HOFers chiming in. 75 living members can make sure it’s right!"

Baseball writers have long been the Hall of Fame voters, but with flawed concepts in the voting system, there have been calls to change the process.

Chipper and Andruw were teammates from 1996 to 2012, playing in the 1996 and 1999 World Series together but losing to the Yankees both times. They won 10 consecutive NL East titles together.

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Seth Moulton gets fundraising haul after slamming trans athlete inclusion, prompting second pro-trans rally

23 January 2025 at 16:46

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., seems to have been financially rewarded for taking a stand against transgender athletes in women's sports, but his critics aren't backing down. 

Moulton raised $547,153 from Election Day in November to the end of 2024, according to The Boston Globe. That figure is 10 times higher than what he raised in the same period in 2022, and 80% of the donations were $100 or less. 

"I think most Democrats want to put this issue to bed, so that we don’t keep losing on it," Moulton told the outlet.

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The congressman was one of the most vocal Democrats to speak out against transgender inclusion in women's and girls sports after his party's sweeping election loss for the White House, House of Representatives and Senate. 

Moulton initially made his comments blaming his party's stance on transgender inclusion in a New York Times article Nov. 7, just two days after the election, then repeatedly doubled down on that stance amid backlash from those within his own party.

HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE

Moulton's comments prompted a pro-transgender rally outside his office Nov. 17, and now a second rally is planned for outside his office Tuesday, Jan. 28. 

Salem city Councilman Kyle Davis, who organized the rallies, previously told Fox News Digital there is a sizable Democratic contingent in Massachusetts that plans to primary Moulton in 2026. 

Even though Moulton has publicly disavowed supporting transgender inclusion in women's and girls sports, he still voted against a bill that would help combat it last week. 

Moulton joined 206 Democratic representatives who voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act Jan. 14. Moulton previously cosponsored the Equality Act and Transgender Bill of Rights, both of which would allow transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. 

On Tuesday, two Democrats joined the Republican majority in voting in favor of the bill — representatives Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas. But Moulton, despite now opposing transgender inclusion, voted against the bill Tuesday, saying he does not want children to be "subjected to the invasive violations of personal privacy this bill allows."

That argument was similar to one many other Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have made, insisting it would empower child predators to give genital examinations to young girls. 

The bill passed in the House with bipartisan support and is moving to the Senate, and some Democratic voters have chosen to leave the party in response to their representatives' child predator argument. 

A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. Of the 2,128 people polled, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. 

Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. 

Shortly after November's election, a national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them. 

And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."

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Bill Belichick's North Carolina contract details show staggering salary, interesting clauses

23 January 2025 at 16:27

Bill Belichick has already been on the recruiting trail, but it’s officially official that he’s North Carolina’s next head football coach after he signed his contract. 

And it’s a contract with eye-popping numbers. 

The Tar Heels released Belichick’s deal, which continues through the end of 2029, Thursday. The 72-year-old will be making $10 million per season, though his official base salary is $1 million. 

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The other $9 million will be coming from what is described as "supplemental income."

Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, immediately becomes one of the top 10 highest-paid head coaches in college football. Seven coaches made $10 million or more in 2024, according to USA Today. 

The highest-paid coach in the country is Georgia’s Kirby Smart at over $13 million per season. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($11.13 million), Texas’ Steve Sarkisian ($10.6 million), USC’s Lincoln Riley ($10.043 million) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($10.021 million), fresh off a national championship win, round out the top five. 

NORTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL GM MAINTAINS BILL BELICHICK WILL STAY AT SCHOOL, SAYS NFL CAN GET TOO POLITICAL

Like many other contracts, Belichick's has incentives that would trigger massive paydays if they’re met, including a $750,000 bonus if the Tar Heels reach the College Football Playoff. If they win a national title, Belichick would receive a $1.75 million bonus. 

Other incentives include a $150,000 bonus for reaching a bowl game as well as a $350,000 bonus if the team makes an "elite" non-playoff bowl. Those would include the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl, Duke’s Mayo Bowl and a few others. 

Finally, a top 25 ranking at the end of the regular season would also trigger a $250,000 bonus for Belichick. And he'd like get his $350,000 bonus for an elite bowl game if the Tar Heels finish in the Top 25.

There is also confirmation that Belichick does have a buyout clause, which was widely reported as North Carolina’s stipulation if he were to leave for a job in the NFL. If Belichick leaves UNC before June 1, the university is owed $10 million. After June 1, the buyout drops to $1 million. 

However, despite multiple NFL teams reportedly reaching out to Belichick, he said during his introductory press conference he's in Chapel Hill to stay. 

He’s already showing his commitment to the program by hitting the road and talking to recruits as he aims to build a playoff roster through the new NIL system. 

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Commanders will hit Jalen Hurts 'like a running back' if Eagles deploy him on designed runs, coach says

23 January 2025 at 16:10

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts finished the regular season with 630 rushing yards. Hurts' running ability is a key part of the Eagles' offense, but it remains unclear how much of a threat his legs will be in this weekend's NFC championship game.

Hurts appeared to tweak his knee during last week's divisional round playoff game when he was awkwardly pulled to the ground as he was sacked by a Los Angeles Rams defender. The Eagles signal-caller entered the blue medical tent after the Eagles punted the ball, but he returned to the huddle on Philly's ensuing offensive possession. 

Although Hurts did not miss a play in the 28-22 win over the Rams, his movement appeared to be limited for the remainder of the game. 

The Eagles will meet the Commanders in the conference title game Sunday, and Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said Hurts' possible limitations won't prevent his unit from playing an attacking style.

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The Eagles' offensive scheme typically calls for a few designed quarterback runs a game. If Hurts does run from the pocket at any point this Sunday, Whitt plans to make the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback pay.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH JALEN HURTS? EAGLES NEED A LOT MORE FROM THEIR STAR QB

"We've had a number of these guys that we've had to prepare for," Whitt told reporters Thursday. "The one thing is, is if he's going to run the ball, and if the coordinator makes the decision for him to run the ball, we're going to treat him like a running back, and we're going to hit him that way. 

"So, that's their decision if they want to get him hit the way he gets hit. If they don't, they'll keep him in the pocket. So, that's what we're going to do."

Hurts ran for 39 yards and a touchdown when the Eagles met the Commanders in Week 11. When the NFC East divisional foes met for a second time in the regular season, Hurts left with a head injury after a 13-yard run. He did not return to the lineup, and the Eagles lost, 36-33.

"Every team is going to try to tackle Jalen like a running back," Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. "He's running with the football. They'll try to tackle him. We ultimately are cautious with how we use him and how we think about each play because we know how important it is to have him out there. 

"I wouldn't expect anything else. Jalen knows how to take care of himself. We know how to help him do that as well as far as the scheme goes."

Hurts practiced Wednesday, although he was listed as a limited participant. The Eagles are favored to win the NFC title game. If the Commanders do pull off the upset, Jayden Daniels would be the first rookie quarterback in history to start in the Super Bowl.

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NFL legend Champ Bailey dishes on breaking stigma with cannabis, using while playing in league

23 January 2025 at 15:54

When NFL fans think of players and cannabis use, former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams probably comes to mind, or even Super Bowl champion Chris Long.

Williams and Long have spoken out at length about using cannabis for a variety of reasons, including for pain management over other painkillers that have been pushed in the past.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey is also in a group of former NFL stars advocating for cannabis use as a physical and mental recovery tool. Bailey is a community outreach liaison for Trulieve, the world’s largest cannabis retailer.

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The former Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos standout told Fox News Digital in a recent interview he partnered with Trulieve to help the company secure a license in Georgia. Since that was completed, Bailey has been tasked with educating the public about marijuana and breaking the stigmas about it.

Bailey played in the NFL from 1999 to 2013. He was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro selection and was named to the Hall of Fame All-2000s Team. He said he started using cannabis to help him early in his career.

EX-NFLER SAYS HE'D 'BE IN TROUBLE' IF CANNABIS WERE STILL WIDELY ILLEGAL, GLAD TODAY'S PLAYERS CAN USE IT

"But, fortunate enough for me, I stayed away from it until I was mature enough to really take part in it. And it wasn’t until my second, third year in Washington when I was exposed to it. I always had some exposure to it from a social standpoint, but I never took part in it. And that’s just because of where I was raised. I never thought of it being a benefit to my health," he explained.

"But once I saw professionals, like myself, doing it, I felt more inclined to try. For one, I didn’t want to go down the road of alcoholism or addicted to any drugs. So, I made it a point to … let’s just crawl before I walk. I did it a few times, and it worked for me. And it calmed my mind, my body. If you’re familiar with anything in the NFL, it’s one of the toughest sports to play. For me, it was just, ‘How do I bounce back and stay at the highest level of my game?’ Well, this helped me do that.

"Fortunately for me, I found something that benefited me, and it’s more now, ‘How do I educate people on what it did for me so they can potentially look at it as a positive use for them?’ But, of course, everybody has to walk their own path. I recommend guys all the time just talk to your doctor about it. 

"I talked to mine about it. So, it’s one of those things. Let’s stop being shy about talking about it and potentially go down that road. The only way you’re gonna learn is being open and honest about your use or your interest in using. That’s sort of been my journey and that journey continues."

Bailey explained to Fox News Digital his mission was to break the stigma about indulging in the drug that was illegal in most states before 2012. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use, and California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996.

Bailey said he uses himself as an example.

EX-NFL STAR RICKY WILLIAMS ON HOW CANNABIS USE CHANGED HIS MINDSET, HELPED HIM DEAL WITH ANXIETY

"I’m a good example. I really just use my story to get people to understand," he told Fox News Digital. "But then it’s also encouraging others to tell their story. I’m not the only guy that played football, basketball or any pro sport and use cannabis. A lot of guys do it more than you think. But for some reason, athletes are put on this pedestal, and we all have to walk this fine line and appear to look clean.

"Well, cannabis is part of our regiment for a lot of us. So, using those stories helps break those stigmas. I think about the adults I grew up with. I couldn’t have these conversations with them 10 years ago because they all see it as a gateway drug, and I’m like, ‘Well, if that’s the case, then why haven’t I used that gateway to go do something else that’s harmful to me and many of my guys that have done the same?’ Those are the ways you break those stigmas. You have to use your stories."

Dealing with teammates in an NFL locker room is a little different, but less difficult to show.

An NFL team is made of up players from different backgrounds, faiths, creeds and points of view. If someone is smoking marijuana, which was mostly illegal and against NFL rules when Bailey was playing, a player would get the side eye.

"I played a long time, so I got to see a wide range of different personalities and different beliefs and where people come from. There’s not a more diverse environment than being in an NFL locker room. Guys would find out some of us were smoking, and they were appalled until they really see, ‘Oh, this actually works for them’ because they’re able to stay dialed in to what we’re doing. ‘Oh, how do we act when we’re on it?’ OK. Now we’re at work, does it affect us? No. This actually helps me come to work and perform at the high level I do," he said.

"So, that’s the way we were able to break those in the locker room. But it takes strong leadership and really standing for what you believe in because, again, it was illegal, and it was against the rules to do it. I would never go out of my way to encourage anybody to do it (at the time). It was just more, ‘This is what works for me.’ If you’re curious, talk to somebody about it, especially your doctor, then go from there. It works for me and several others. I just share my experiences. There's no other way to do."

Skirting the rules was another thing.

SUPER BOWL CHAMP CHRIS LONG TALKS CANNABIS USE, HOW HE BEAT NFL DRUG TESTS, EAGLES' CURRENT RUN

Ricky Williams was one of the top running backs in the NFL at the prime of his career. He lost games and even a season for his failed drug tests for marijuana.

Bailey suggested that NFL players who were using the drug at the time knew when the tests occurred and stopped using marijuana before they were tested.

"They were very strict back then, but I wouldn’t say in a way they wanted to catch you. Like, we knew when the tests were coming, so we always quit at a certain time, which … even at the time, you realize that was at a detriment to my recovery because the times we had to quit was in the offseason when they would have these yearly tests. 

"It’s one of those times where you’re working harder than you work during the season because you’re training to get back in shape, and those are the times you really want it," he said. "I could just remember guys always talking about what we had to quit when. Some guys would get tested earlier than others, so guys would get back on it and others were still waiting. It was a topic of conversation to figure out how to navigate that, but we all stuck together — the ones that were using — and we made sure that we all got through it.

"Some did pass, some did it. We’ve all had our experiences with the drug program in the league. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you look back on it, I think the league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed. Things have changed over time. And I’m proud to say that they give me the courage to really speak up more because they’re starting to turn the page on what it means to use cannabis."

Bailey said he’s seen how marijuana use helped firsthand.

He recalled a teammate going through drinking issues when he turned him on to marijuana.

"He knew I consumed so it was more he wanted to figure out what was better," he said. "And once he started doing it, he was like, ‘Man I’ve been missing out.’ And that became his vice, so to speak, because now he realized this actually contributed to this success.

"He ended up playing double-digit years in the league, great career. So, no regrets there. I was just happy enough that I was in a position to show him that there was a better way. And there’s a lot of stories guys have about other interactions they had. I just want to encourage guys to be open and reveal more of these stories because it helps."

Bailey said he would encourage more people to learn about the benefits of cannabis.

"It’s not what it was taught 20-30 years ago," he told Fox News Digital. "I think people are turning the corner. We just got to continue to tell our stories. If you’re a user, speak up about it and educate people on why you use it and how it benefits you. The more we can tell those stories the better off we’d be.

"I think that’s why my vision aligns so well with Trulieve because they believe in the same thing. It’s not all about pushing their brand. It’s more, 'How do we get people to come around to what cannabis can do for you and, really, see it as a benefit to society and not a negative thing?"

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Patriots' Jabrill Peppers pleads guilty to cocaine possession as part of domestic incident case

23 January 2025 at 15:28

New England Patriots veteran safety Jabrill Peppers pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in court on Thursday as part of an Oct. 5, 2024, domestic violence incident. 

Peppers, who is facing more charges, should have the charge cleared as long as he finishes a four-month probationary stint without reoffending, per the New York Post

However, the 29-year-old, who served as a captain this past season for the Patriots, is also being accused of strangulation and assault and battery after a woman told authorities that he pushed her head up against a wall, choked her and took her clothes off before forcing her outside. 

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Peppers has pleaded not guilty to those charges, saying that his reported girlfriend was acting "erratic" at the time while also being intoxicated. He alleges she got angry after he declined to have unprotected sex with her.

Marc Brofsky, Peppers’ attorney, said in October that there is "videotaped evidence" which "sheds real doubt on the allegations."

PATRIOTS SAFETY JABRILL PEPPERS ARRESTED ON ASSAULT, DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES

Patriots owner Robert Kraft noted the team was looking into the incident after Peppers was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list at the time. He later returned to the Patriots in December, where he remained a captain under now-former head coach Jerod Mayo

Peppers, who hails from East Orange, New Jersey, saw jury selection for his trial begin on Thursday.

A Cleveland Browns first-round pick in 2017, Peppers played two seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the New York Giants, who play not too far from where he grew up.

Peppers was part of the infamous 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. trade to the Browns. 

He played three seasons for the Giants before joining the Patriots for the 2022 season. This past season was underwhelming for the whole franchise as they finished 4-13, leading to Kraft’s decision to remove Mayo as head coach after one season.

Peppers finished the year with 40 combined tackles and one interception over six games.

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Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer takes aim at 'idiots on social media' after Buckeyes win national title

23 January 2025 at 15:01

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day was under considerable pressure entering the inaugural 12-team edition of the College Football Playoff

Despite ending the regular season with a 10-2 record, Day was on the sideline in late November for a fourth consecutive loss at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes' top rival.

The disappointing end to an otherwise solid season prompted a contingent of Ohio State fans to question whether Day should be removed from his head coaching post. However, Day seemed to quiet most of those critics by guiding the team to an unblemished December and January. 

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After knocking the Tennessee Volunteers out in the first round, the Buckeyes blew out the top-seeded Oregon Ducks in the quarterfinals. Ohio State then defeated the Texas Longhorns in the semifinal to advance to the national championship game in Atlanta, where they prevailed with a 34-23 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Amid the Buckeye faithful's national title celebration, Day's predecessor called out fans who previously used social media to express their displeasure with the program's current head coach. Urban Meyer, who served as Ohio State head coach from 2012-18, described the fans who previously criticized Day via social media as "idiots."

OHIO STATE'S EMEKA EGBUKA REFLECTS ON HOW BUCKEYES RALLIED FROM MICHIGAN LOSS TO WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

"I coached a long time, and a lot has been made of it and Coach Day and the pressures of coaching at a place like Ohio State," Meyer said during a recent appearance on the "Triple Option" podcast. "I made the comment that that's not going to change. The thing that has got to change and has changed is the idiots on social media that don't sign their name to stuff."

Reaction to the loss to Michigan prompted Day to hire security to protect his home. Meyer also said the reported poor treatment that Day's children encountered as they attended school was a step "too far."

"When you start involving families, you’re pushing it too far," Meyer added. "Booing because you don’t get first downs and you lose to the rival, that’s part of the game. That’s all fair. But you’ve got to keep the families out of it."

Meyer then compared Day's situation to what he faced during his coaching stint at Florida.

"When I first [went] to Florida, you know they wanted [Steve] Spurrier. I’d want Spurrier, too. He was a Heisman Trophy winner there, won the national championship," Meyer said. "But it was Coach Spurrier went, I think, to the [Washington] Redskins, he got fired and left. He was available. The contingency wanted him back, and they hired me from Utah. 

"I really didn’t understand the dynamic until I got there, and I got there and I’ll never forget — he goes to South Carolina — we lose to South Carolina, which you don’t do that at Florida. I walk in to do my radio show on a Thursday, and I am the most miserable human being. I’m a stranger in a strange land down South there, and I come walking in and they boo me. I’m 7-2, I think, at the time."

Meyer and Day have history, with the latter serving as the offensive coordinator under the former from 2017-18. Meyer retired following the 2018 season, and Day was later introduced as Ohio State's next head coach.

Meyer coached the Buckeyes to the national title following the 2014 regular season, making Ohio State the winners of the inaugural College Football Playoff. A decade later, Day got them back to the mountaintop. 

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ESPN analyst reveals how ex-colleague's Obama comments became point of contention

23 January 2025 at 14:56

Sage Steele, in a lawsuit against her former employer, ESPN, accused analyst Ryan Clark of refusing to work with her due to opposing political views.

Clark admitted recently on "The Michele Tafoya Show" that part of the accusation wasn't false, but he felt the need to clear the air.

Tafoya asked Clark about the lawsuit, which alleged Clark refused to work with Steele after she made controversial comments on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler's podcast in 2021.

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On the podcast, Steele reflected on an appearance on "The View," in which she said Barbara Walters "ripped me" for saying it was "important" to label herself as biracial.

Steele said Walters then brought up that former President Barack Obama, who is biracial, chose "Black" when filling out paperwork for a census.

"I'm like, well, congratulations to the president. That's his thing. I think that's fascinating considering his Black dad was nowhere to be found, but his white mom and grandma raised him. But hey, you do you. I'm going to do me," Steele said on Cutler's podcast.

Clark said he disagreed with Steele on many political topics, including her vaccination stance and Colin Kaepernick's protests, but he had "no issue" with her being a conservative.

"Sage Steele being a conservative was, like, the worst-kept secret at ESPN," the former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back quipped.

However, her comments on Obama were the "only" thing that "offended" him and prompted him to speak with a producer at ESPN about hosting a segment together.

3 PEOPLE CHARGED WITH SELLING FORGED JASON KELCE MEMORABILIA

"As a Black man who understands that no matter what President Obama decides to check off as his race, he’s going to be seen as an entire country as a Black man. He’s going to be viewed if policemen say, ‘The suspect is a Black, tall, slender, light-skinned man,’ President Obama would fit that description," Clark said. 

"He’s also a man that was married to a Black woman. He was also a man that was raising two young Black daughters. And I felt that was disrespectful to say, ‘Why would someone with that blood running through their veins want to represent that culture?'"

Clark admitted he told a producer he wanted another host, Matt Barrie, to "conduct my segment."

"Because what I know is this … chemistry is a large part of TV. It’s a large part of our ability to be able to entertain. And I didn’t want my discomfort with what she said to show on screen," Clark said.

Clark said it was a one-time thing with Steele, and they were able to "work … in a very cordial way" until she left ESPN. He added they no longer speak, "but I obviously wish her all the best in all her endeavors."

"She now has found a place where, entertainment-wise, she feels like she fits, she feels like she has a voice and she has a passion. And I feel like we all should be entitled to that, whether you agree or disagree."

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