Shohei Ohtani’s gestures are “provocative and obscene” and have led to penalties overseas... Takashi Matsuda “It’s like he’s saying, 10 years too early!”
Video Shohei Ohtani’s gesture is a “provocative and obscene gesture” that can be punished overseas…Former minor league umpire says, “It’s like saying, 10 years too early!” Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani’s gesture immediately after successfully stealing a base in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 10th has become a hot topic across the US as being obscene, and a former minor league umpire has expressed his opinion that it can also be seen as a “provocative gesture” and that it can be punished overseas in some cases. In the top of the first inning, Ohtani hit a ball to right field and successfully stole second base with two outs and a runner on first base. Immediately afterwards, he removed his glove from his left hand and made a gesture of brushing dirt off his crotch. This action quickly spread on social media as an “obscene and insulting gesture,” and was also featured in the US media, causing a big stir. Matsuda Takashi, who served as a minor league umpire for over 10 years until last year, posted his opinion on x about the series of actions. “Otani himself, of course, means absolutely nothing, but this gesture of brushing his glove is considered provocative and obscene overseas,” he said. He went on to talk about how it is perceived overseas, saying, “To someone who doesn’t know anything about it, it looks like Otani stole a base and said to the catcher, ’You’re 10 years too early!’” He then cited an article about a player in Germany’s Bundesliga soccer league who made a similar gesture toward the opposing team’s coach in 2017 and was given a very heavy fine of 20,000 euros (approximately 2.67 million yen at the time), emphasizing the difference in how it is perceived in Japan and overseas. Otani himself, of course, did not intend to do it, but considering the current situation, which is causing controversy mainly in the United States, it may be that it cannot be excused by saying that he was ignorant, and that it was a serious insult that would warrant a penalty. Related threads [MLB] Shohei Otani’s act of brushing dirt around his crotch is controversial as an “obscene gesture”; he responds, “I’m shocked by the vulgar thoughts”… The US reaction continues
Since you went to the Dodgers, you don’t get on base and get friendly with the opposing players on each base, do you? Isn’t that the case? You used to get along well with everyone.
>>15 So, if you make that move when you can’t get a runner out stealing, it might mean something like “I’m self-satisfied with your skills” to the catcher. That’s a bit of a trivial thing lol
“I had absolutely no ill intentions” and “I acted unintentionally” are disrespectful to Otani. He has been aiming to play in the major leagues since high school and has lived in America for over six years. There’s no way Otani doesn’t know about American culture. That makes him seem like an idiot who only knows baseball.
You’re right, I’m telling you how I feel (lol) I’ll make you think that Ichiro will be helpless for the next 30 years, and you’ll be forgiven for actually saying it out loud
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