Getty Image / Ronald Martinez
Every once in a while a television personality will say something they’re definitely going to regret. And, that’s what Chris “Mad Dog” Russo did Wednesday on ESPN’s First Take when discussing the secrecy surrounding MLB star Shohei Ohtani’s free agency.
Ohtani is arguably the most-anticipated free agent prize in MLB history, and the two-way phenom is going to command a pretty penny from the lucky team that acquires him. But, the two-time and reigning MVP is doing his free agency a little differently.
Shohei Ohtani and his advisors have advised teams to not leak meetings, potential contract details, and other things relevant to his free agency. If they do, that will be held against them, they said.
That means, there have been very few leaks as he makes his decision, though it was revealed this week that he had met with the Toronto Blue Jays. The media is getting fed up with the lack of leaks and what they say is a ridiculous, self-important policy from the Ohtani camp.
Wednesday, Mad Dog made a comment he may come to regret, mentioning the atomic bomb and its secrecy while discussing Ohtani’s secrecy. Here’s more from Awful Announcing.
“The fact that we’re even discussing this is a complete joke,” Russo began. “This Ohtani scenario sweepstakes, did you know when he won the MVP he wouldn’t even tell you what his dog’s name was? Because he had his dog there when he won the American League MVP. Anybody who pays Ohtani $600 million needs their heads examined anyway.”
“What is the big secret?! Jeez! He’s a free agent! He’s talked to six teams,” Russo ranted. “What is this, the atomic bomb? We’re not allowed to find out? This is baseball! He’s a celebrity! This is what it’s about. This is stupid, that somehow, someway, if you reveal that you had a breakfast with Ohtani, you should be basically thrown out with the bathwater.”
Definitely not the best choice of words, considering the tens of thousands of lives lost in Ohtani’s native Japan when the first atomic bombs used in war were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.