Shohei Ohtani’s Star Treatment at Rams Game
2 min read
Image: Shohei Ohtani’s Hollywood Moment at Rams Game
Shohei Ohtani, the renowned two-way superstar, experienced a unique moment as he was given the Hollywood treatment at the Los Angeles Rams’ home, SoFi Stadium. The event took place before the Rams’ Thursday Night Football game against the Saints. Ohtani, who is now a new Dodgers star, was seen roaming the sidelines and was gifted a No. 17 blue-and-gold jersey, a week after trying on the blue and white for the first time.
During the pregame festivities, Ohtani was greeted by Rams players and their mascot, Rampage. He was also spotted on the sidelines with a football in hand, trying to find the right grip on the laces. It seemed like he was receiving some pointers from his agent, Nez Balelo. Although there is no footage of Ohtani actually throwing the football, one can imagine the distance he could achieve, given his impressive skills in baseball.
Unfortunately, there is no mention of Ohtani receiving a tutorial from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is a childhood friend and teammate of Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw. After the pregame events, Ohtani headed up to a suite to watch the game, and he was seen on the broadcast wearing the new Rams jersey underneath his suave leather jacket.
The excitement surrounding Ohtani’s presence at the game was evident, as color analyst Kirk Herbstreit commented on the enthusiasm of Los Angeles residents. Herbstreit mentioned that Ohtani’s transition from being an Angel fan to a Dodger fan has been highly anticipated. Play-by-play man Al Michaels jokingly added that Dodger fans would be more excited about the change than Angel fans.
The Los Angeles Dodgers later agreed to a massive deal for Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a teammate of Ohtani’s on the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship team. The Rams expressed their excitement by tweeting a video of a jersey with Yamamoto’s name on it hanging from the uprights.
After the game, Ohtani was welcomed into the Rams’ locker room, where he had a chance to interact with head coach Sean McVay and shake hands with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw for over 300 yards during the game. It remains unclear whether Ohtani’s passing lesson from Stafford was successful, but the experience certainly added to the excitement of the evening.
In conclusion, Shohei Ohtani’s star treatment at the Rams game showcased his versatility and popularity. The event not only highlighted his baseball skills but also hinted at the possibility of him pursuing a career in football. While this scenario is highly unlikely, it is clear that Ohtani’s presence at the game brought excitement and anticipation to both the Rams and Dodgers fans.
