Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Going Behind Bars 👨‍⚖️

PLUS NFL Honors Award Winners Revealed, New Home For Jimmy Buckets, NFL HOF Class of 2025 And Snubs

February 07, 2025

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Welcome to Office Chair Sports! Your home for everything Sports & Biz! Today, we’re covering top news about:

  • NFL Honors Award Winners Revealed

  • Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Going Behind Bars 👨‍⚖️

  • New Home For Jimmy Buckets

  • NBA Trade Deadline Recap

  • NFL HOF Class of 2025 And Snubs

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NFL Honors Award Winners Revealed

Major night at NFL Honors! Here's the rundown from New Orleans:

Awards:

  • MVP: Josh Allen edges Lamar Jackson in tight race (27 first-place votes to 23)

  • OPOY: Saquon Barkley (2,000+ yards but couldn't attend - got a Super Bowl to prep for!)

  • DPOY: Patrick Surtain II (first CB to win since Gilmore in 2019)

  • OROY: Jayden Daniels (dominated with 49/50 first-place votes)

  • COTY: Kevin O'Connell (led Vikings to shocking 14-3 record with Sam Darnold)

Hall of Fame Class of 2025:

  • Antonio Gates (basketball player turned 116-TD tight end)

  • Jared Allen (136 career sacks)

  • Eric Allen (54 INTs across 14 seasons)

  • Sterling Sharpe (joins brother Shannon - first HOF brother duo!)

Big surprises:

  • Eli Manning missed first-ballot HOF

  • One voter put Lamar Jackson 4th on the MVP ballot

  • Eight different players got DPOY first-place votes

Allen becomes just the third Bills MVP ever, joining Thurman Thomas (1991) and O.J. Simpson (1973)!

Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Going Behind Bars 👨‍⚖️

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison for stealing $17 million from the Dodgers star in a shocking gambling scheme.

The details:

  • Must pay $18M in restitution ($17M to Ohtani, rest to IRS)

  • Used money for gambling debts, $325K in baseball cards, dental work

  • Changed Ohtani's bank security to impersonate him for wire transfers

  • Never bet on baseball, but wagered millions on other sports

  • Must surrender by March 24

The judge called the $17M theft "shockingly high," noting most people don't make that much in a lifetime. Mizuhara, who was Ohtani's trusted friend and confidant since 2018, wrote to the court asking for mercy: "I truly admire Shohei... I am truly sorry for violating his trust."

After serving his time, Mizuhara is expected to be deported to Japan. Talk about a fall from grace - from being beside Ohtani for his MVP awards and $700M Dodgers deal to prison and deportation. Wild.

New Home For Jimmy Buckets

Jimmy Butler is headed to Golden State! The Warriors landed the six-time All-Star after Kevin Durant turned down a return to the Bay, telling the team he didn't want to come back.

The mega-deal breakdown: Warriors get:

  • Jimmy Butler (signing 2-year, $111M extension)

Heat get:

  • Andrew Wiggins

  • Kyle Anderson

  • 2025 first-round pick (top-10 protected)

  • P.J. Tucker (from Jazz)

Others:

  • Dennis Schroder to Jazz

  • Josh Richardson to Pistons

  • Lindy Waters III to Pistons

This ends Butler's drama-filled Miami exit - he was suspended THREE times this season and hadn't played since January 21st. His stats dropped to 17 PPG, lowest since 2013-14.

Steph's hyped, texting Butler during halftime. But it was emotional for coach Kerr, especially losing Wiggins: "We don't hang that banner in '22 without him."

The odds makers love it - The Warriors' championship odds improved from +4000 to +3300!

Butler returns to Miami on March 25th... mark your calendars! 🍿

NBA Trade Deadline Recap

The 2024 NBA trade deadline has come and gone. Let's break down all the massive deals from the past few days:

The Blockbusters:

  • Lakers get Luka Doncic (plus Mark Williams for rim protection)

  • Spurs land De'Aaron Fox, Kings get Zach LaVine

  • Warriors snag Jimmy Butler from Miami

  • Raptors take a shot on Brandon Ingram

  • Bucks swap Middleton for Kuzma

Other Notable Moves:

  • Cavs add De'Andre Hunter

  • Hawks send Bogdanovic to the Clippers

  • Suns dump Nurkic to the Hornets

  • Marcus Smart to the Wizards

  • James Wiseman to the Raptors

This has to be one of the wildest trade deadlines ever - we've never seen so many stars move mid-season! 🤯

NFL HOF Class of 2025 And Snubs

Breaking down the small but mighty Pro Football HOF Class of 2025:

Sterling Sharpe finally gets in after 26 years, making history with brother Shannon as the first HOF brothers! His career was cut short but the numbers don't lie:

  • Led NFL in catches 3x (record 112 in '93)

  • 5 seasons over 1,000 yards

Antonio Gates makes it on his second try:

  • NFL record 116 TDs by a tight end

  • 8 straight Pro Bowls

  • 5x All-Pro

Jared Allen brings the pass rush:

  • 136 sacks (12th all-time)

  • 4x All-Pro

  • NFL record 4 safeties

Eric Allen finally gets the call in year 19:

  • 54 INTs (8 pick-sixes)

  • 6x Pro Bowl CB

  • Led NFL with 4 pick-sixes in '93

The surprises? No Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly, or Adam Vinatieri on the first ballot. It's the smallest class in 20 years thanks to new voting rules requiring 80% approval. But these four? All legends who earned their gold jackets! 🏈

Internships 🙋

1. Ticket Sales & Member Experience Intern (Jacksonville Jaguars) - Jaguars internships offer meaningful educational work experiences designed to meet your academic and career goals. Management and staff will teach and encourage, but it’s up to you to bring an enthusiasm to learn. Through this program, you will identify learning goals and work with the Jaguars management to achieve those goals.

2. Business Strategy & Analytics Apprentice (Houston Astros) - As a part of the Business Strategy & Analytics Team, the apprentice will be responsible for collecting data, performing data analysis, developing output of the results, and coordinating market research efforts. The apprentice will contribute to high visibility projects for the organization, which will have a direct impact on the top and bottom line.

3. Nashville Predators Hockey Operations Office Internship - 25-26 Season - The Nashville Predators Hockey Operations department is seeking an intern for the 2025-2026 season (September-April). This intern will gain experience and visibility into various aspects of the season including, but not limited to, preparation for team meetings and camps, club documents, and team social functions.

4. Business Intelligence Intern (Houston Texans) - Support the efforts of the Business Analytics and Technology Department while delivering analytical and database management support to key business units throughout the Houston Texans organization and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment.

5. Football Education Intern (Detroit Lions) - The Football Education Interns will be responsible for assisting the Executive Director of Football Education and the Detroit Lions Football Education Team regarding all Detroit Lions Football Education Programs such as Summer Camps, Half-time/Post-Game Youth Football Games, Specialty Clinics, and Mini-Clinics.

Job Board 💰

1. Sales Associate, Inside Sales (Caroline Hurricanes) - The primary focus of this position is to develop you into a sales professional who will sell all ticket related products for the Carolina Hurricanes. The emphasis will be on Full Season, Partial Plan packages and Groups. One of the primary objectives of the Inside Sales Department is to develop future sales executives and leaders inside our organization.

2. Partnership Activation Specialist (Columbus Bluejackets) - Essential duties and responsibilities include executing all aspects of assigned partnership agreements including but not limited to in-arena signage, in-game promotions, media, digital, in-market promotions and hospitality.

3. CRM Representative (Philadelphia Phillies) - As a CRM Representative on the technology services team reporting to the Director of Enterprise Applications, you will be responsible for working with individual business areas to sustain, grow, and improve the CRM Program across all solutions that support the relevant sales cycles for our organization.

4. Specialist, Partnership Development (Golden State Warriors) - The Golden State Warriors are looking for an upbeat and proactive Specialist to deliver excellent customer service to our corporate partners, while collaborating with teams across the organization and build relationships with existing corporate partners to drive partnership development initiatives.

5. E-Commerce Content Coordinator (Las Vegas Raiders) - The E-Commerce Content Coordinator works directly with the E-Commerce Manager to provide overall support to The Raider Image website. This position is responsible for monitoring website content, ensuring product listings are accurate and compelling, as well as overseeing content for all Social and Digital Marketing campaigns.

Thanks for reading - see you soon!