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This article delves into the gambling controversy involving Shohei Ohtani, highlighting the role of his interpreter, Ippei Mazuhara, in managing media narratives. It explores the implications of the controversy for Ohtani's career and its impact on the sports industry's relationship with gambling. A professional examination of the evolving dynamics between sports figures and gambling institutions is provided.

Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images This is everything we know about the the wild gambling allegations against Ippei Mizuhara Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter. Shohei Ohtani has the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball in damage control mode after reports emerged on Wednesday that MLB’s most marketable global megastar was adjacent to a swirling gambling scandal. It’s a story that involves an illegal bookmaker, claims of theft, accusations of fraud by a long-term friend, and explanations that have raised more questions than given answers. There’s plenty of vested interest in shielding Ohtani with Opening Day around the corner — which has led to doubt, and even conspiracy theories about what exactly happened. The Los Angeles Times report On Thursday, March 20 the Los Angeles Times published a report that Shohei Ohtani’s lawyers contacted the paper alleging that Ohtani was the victim of “massive theft” at the hands of interpreter and long-time friend, Ippei Mizuhara. This information was given to the paper after it learned that Ohtani was named in an investigation into Orange County resident Mathew Boyer. It’s believed Boyer is part of a much larger, multi-million illegal gambling operation, with Boyer serving as a bookmaker. He is reported to have told people that he knew Ohtani, and intimated that the Dodgers star used him as a bookmaker — which is believed to have been a tactic to entice others to place bets with him. The link between Boyer and Ohtani is alleged to have been Mizuhara, with Ohtani’s camp claiming the interpreter stole millions of dollars from the Dodgers star to pay off gambling debts he racked up. The ESPN report, which made things even weirder Shortly following the initial report by the LA Times, ESPN published its own report about the gambling investigation and Mizuhara’s involvement. In it a spokesperson reached out to ESPN earlier in the week and wanted to clarify how Ohtani was being named in the investigation. This spokesperson told ESPN that Ohtani transferred $4. 5 million to a bookmaking operation in order to cover debts racked up by Mizuhara, with the network also spending 90 minutes with Mizuhara himself to clarify the nature of the allegations. “Obviously, he [Ohtani] wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again, ” Mizuhara said. “He decided to pay it off for me. “I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting. I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again. ” However, as ESPN was preparing to run the story, Ohtani’s camp reached out to disavow statements by Mizuhara, saying the information was not accurate — and that lawyers would be issuing a statement. “Initially, a spokesman for Ohtani told ESPN the slugger had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debt. The spokesman presented Mizuhara to ESPN for a 90-minute interview Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara laid out his account in great detail. However, as ESPN prepared to publish the story Wednesday, the spokesman disavowed Mizuhara’s account and said Ohtani’s lawyers would issue a statement. ” We now know that statement is the one that alleges Ohtani was a victim of fraud and theft, asserting that he did nothing wrong and Mizuhara acted independently. The change in message leads to more questions This is where the entire situation gets very murky and raises some serious questions. To lay it out again, here’s the full timeline of events up to this point. Media outlets learn Ohtani has been named in an investigation into illegal gambling and starts making calls to learn more An Ohtani spokesperson responds saying Ohtani gave money to Mizuhara Mizuhara reaches out to clarify, saying that Ohtani was helping him pay off debt — but the player himself wasn’t involved in placing bets at all Ohtani’s lawyers say Mizuhara lied, and actually stole the money from Ohtani without him knowing The Dodgers fire Mizuhara as Ohtani’s interpreter and all questions are directed to Ohtani’s lawyers There is a massive break in logic when it comes to Mizuhara both being an alleged thief who stole money from Ohtani, but also someone who reached out to ESPN to take the fall and clarify that Ohtani had nothing to do with it. At some point during this process the messaging changed drastically. It morphed from Ohtani’s camp having a unified message about the player helping out his friend, to Mizuhara being a criminal who operated without any involvement. This change in tone has one very obvious nucleus. MLB’s rules on gambling It goes without saying that players are banned from betting on baseball. That goes back to the Black Sox Scandal, to Pete Rose, it’s well-worn into the fabric of baseball history. However, as legal sports betting has spread across the United States there has been a relaxed approach to allowing players to bet on other sports and take part in gambling. Heck, even on MLB. Com the majority of their “must see” video content on the homepage is dedicated to odds, which are presented by FanDuel — an official gambling partner of Major League Baseball. However, the league explicitly draws the line at using illegal gambling operations. (3) Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers, or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct. Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee who operates or works for an illegal bookmaking business shall be subject to a minimum of a one-year suspension by the Commissioner. For purposes of this provision, an illegal bookmaker is an individual who accepts, places or handles wagers on sporting events from members of the public as part of a gaming operation that is unlawful in the jurisdiction in which the bets are accepted. It’s unclear how this would apply to Ohtani making payments on Mizuhara’s behalf, or if it wouldn’t apply at all — but it at least creates enough doubt that the Dodgers player needs to distance himself from the situation. This could also explain why the tone morphed from “Ohtani helped out a friend” to “Ohtani had money stolen from him. ” If lawyers advised their client that he needed to distance himself from the gambling situation, it would only make sense to disavow Mizuhara’s comments and pivot to another explanation. Things still aren’t adding up On Wednesday night Mizuhara spoke briefly to the media, saying that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling activity, debts, or any attempts to pay them. The interpreter was now towing the line set by Ohtani’s lawyers. One major thing has been missing from every statement from Ohtani’s camp: Threats of legal action. Here we have Mizuhara, who is alleged to have stolen $4. 5M from Shohei Ohtani, and committed fraud in order to steal the funds — and yet there’s been no mention of filing a suit to get that money back. The entire focus of the Ohtani legal team is ensuring people know Ohtani was a victim who never gambled, but that has stopped short of actually trying to get the stolen money back. It doesn’t really add up. Meanwhile MLB isn’t investigating Ohtani, according to The Athletic. It’s pretty wild that, to this point, MLB has yet to take the time to dig into it at all. That part, well, it adds up pretty simply: MLB have vested interest in Ohtani playing in 2024, and without casting a negative light on gambling. They have partnerships in place, marketing pushes surrounding Ohtani, he’s the centerpiece of the league at this point. Investigating him for any impropriety is antithetical to making money. Where does this leave us? We truly don’t know what happened behind closed doors. It’s also unclear if there will ever be a proper investigation to clarify what occurred. Ohtani obviously wants to head into the season without controversy. The Dodgers want to ensure they have their new star player. MLB wants Ohtani to play so they can market him. There’s nobody in a position of power or influence who wants to learn the truth. Ippei Mizuhara has been fired. He’s known Ohtani for over a decade dating back to Ohtani’s playing days in Japan. The two were close friends, and they still may be — but Mizuhara has, deservedly or not, become the fall guy for this whole situation. The goal is the keep the money printer from breaking down, and everyone is pulling in the same direction to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Shohei Ohtani interpreter’s explosive gambling controversy, explained

Auburn center Johni Broome has announced his return for a final season in men's college basketball. Broome's decision to remain with Auburn aims to strengthen the team's competitive edge in the upcoming season. His return is anticipated to contribute significantly to the team's success and bolster its roster depth.

Auburn star center Johni Broome is returning to the Tigers for his final season, he announced Wednesday, positioning himself to open next season as a preseason All-American.

Auburn center Broome returning for final season

Explore expert predictions and betting odds for the upcoming PGA Tour events, including insights into the CJ Cup and Byron Nelson tournaments. This analysis provides valuable picks and potential outcomes to enhance your understanding of the upcoming golf competitions. Leverage the expert insights to make informed decisions in your sports betting endeavors.

Jason Day poses with the trophy after winning the 2023 AT&amp; T Byron Nelson. | Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images The PGA Tour returns to Texas, where TPC Craig Ranch will play host to this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The PGA Tour returns to the Lone Star State for the third time this season, as the CJ Cup Byron Nelson takes center stage two weeks before the PGA Championship at Valhalla. This week’s field does not feature a ton of firepower, with Jordan Spieth being the only player ranked within the top 20 of the world. Defending champion Jason Day, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris will also tee it up this week, as will Presidents Cup hopefuls Adam Scott, Si Woo Kim, and Sungjae Im. TPC Craig Ranch, located north of Dallas in McKinney, will host this tournament for the fourth time. K. H. Lee won it in 2021 and 2022, at 25-under and 26-under, respectively, the first two instances in which this layout held it. Day won at 23-under last year. CJ Cup Byron Nelson Odds: Here are the current odds for players to win, per DraftKings: Jordan Spieth +1400 Jason Day +1800 Will Zalatoris +2200 Si Woo Kim +2200 Sungjae Im +2500 Alex Noren +2500 Adam Scott +2500 Tom Hoge +2800 Min Woo Lee +2800 Stephan Jaeger +3000 Byeong Hun An +3000 Tom Kim +3000 Keith Mitchell +3500 Thomas Detry +4000 DraftKings CJ Cup Byron Nelson Predictions TPC Craig Ranch presents one of the easier challenges seen on the PGA Tour, so it ' s no surprise to see so many birdies on this course year in and year out. As such, we are looking at players who make birdies in bunches to perform well on this generous layout this week. Jordan Spieth finishes in the top 5 in his hometown Jordan Spieth, who has had an up-and-down season thus far, currently ranks 11th on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained and third in birdie or better conversion percentage at 37. 54%. This stat takes Spieth’s total number of birdies made this season (134) and divides that by the total number of greens hit (357). He may play erratic at times, but Spieth has once again relied on his putter to keep himself in the mix on multiple occasions. He obviously has made plenty of birdies, too. We see him contending again at TPC Craig Ranch, where he finished solo second two years ago and tied for ninth in 2021. We like the Dallas native to finish in the top 5 at +360. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images Jordan Spieth lines up a putt during the 2024 RBC Heritage. Mark Hubbard continues strong play Thirty-four-year-old Mark Hubbard has not missed a cut in the 12 events he has played this year. He tied for fourth at the rain-shortened AT&amp; T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his best individual finish. But Hubbard also finished solo third at last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, alongside Ryan Brehm in the two-man team-play event. He has played well, partly thanks to his ability to make plenty of birdies. The San Jose State product has made 187 of them this season, which ranks 5th on the PGA Tour. Given that TPC Craig Ranch yields plenty of par-breakers, Hubbard will rely on his solid tee-to-green play to make a ton of birdies this week. DraftKings has Hubbard listed at +650 to finish within the top 10, but if you feel bullish like we do, +1400 for a top-5 finish is a solid price. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images Mark Hubbard at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Tom Hoge bounces back after missed cut Widely regarded as one of the best ball-strikers on the PGA Tour, Tom Hoge will contend again this week in the Dallas area. He missed the cut at last week’s Zurich Classic, but before that, he picked apart Harbour Town Golf Links over the first 36 holes and was in the mix for most of the weekend. A disappointing 2-over 74 final round dropped him a few spots on the leaderboard into a tie for 18th, a result much worse than what his performance indicated. Hoge has played well in other big events this year, namely in California, where he tied for sixth at Pebble Beach and finished solo eighth at Riviera. He has had a solid year, even though he did not receive an invitation to Augusta National. Still, Hoge ranks behind only Scottie Scheffler on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approaching the green. He also ranks second in total birdies made this season with 209. His 4. 58 birdies per round ranks ninth on the PGA Tour. Hoge is a sneaky-good putter as well. During his 39 rounds this season, Hoge has averaged 81. 5 feet of putts made per round, good for fifth on the PGA Tour. He has all the pieces to play at the highest level, and considering this week’s weaker field, we like Hoge to finish in the top-5 at +650. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images Tom Hoge during the first round of the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. CJ Cup Byron Nelson Longshot Pick Since missing the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in mid-March, Adam Schenk has recorded three top-20 finishes, including a tie for fifth at the Valero Texas Open and a tie for 12th at The Masters. At +5500 to win, we like the idea of Schenk finally breaking through and securing his first PGA Tour victory at that price. Although he struggles somewhat with his ball striking, Schenk still finds plenty of ways to make birdies, ranking seventh on tour in total birdies made this season. He also makes plenty of putts from inside of 10 feet, an essential part of the winning formula regardless of the course. Schenk has been trending in the right direction, and considering he did not play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, he will arrive in Texas well-rested and refreshed. Boiler up! Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour via Getty Images Adam Schenk during the 2024 RBC Heritage. CJ Cup Byron Nelson Winner With the CJ Group taking over the sponsorship naming rights for this year’s tournament, we believe a player represented by this South Korean conglomerate will emerge victorious. As such, we are picking Si Woo Kim to win his fifth career PGA Tour event this week, his first since the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii. Kim has had a solid year, making all 11 cuts while recording five top 20 finishes. His best result came at The Players Championship, where he tied for sixth, while his worst finish came at The Genesis Invitational, where he tied for 44th. He has a beautiful swing, and the stats reflect that. Kim currently ranks fourth in strokes gained: tee-to-green this season, but his putter has held him back. He is currently 141st on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images Si Woo Kim at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Still, the Seoul, South Korea native makes plenty of birdies, a necessity on this course. He has made 178 of them this season—good for 11th on the PGA Tour—and has also recorded nine eagles, which ranks fourth. Kim can go low, which explains why he ranks within the top 12 on tour in both adjusted and actual scoring averages. Kim resides in the Dallas area, so that should surely help him, too. We love his price at +2200 to win this week. Only Jordan Spieth and Jason Day have shorter odds than Kim, which is a testament to Kim’s talent and the weak field. For all other sports betting content, check out SB Nation’s DraftKings site. Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2024: Odds, predictions, value picks for next PGA Tour event

The 2025 Maui Invitational will feature top teams including NC State, Baylor, and Texas, promising an intense competition. The tournament continues to attract premier college basketball programs, setting the stage for exciting matchups. This event is anticipated to be a highlight in the college basketball calendar, showcasing emerging talent and strategic gameplay.

NC State, Baylor and Texas will be among the eight teams in the field for the 2025 Maui Invitational.

NC State, Baylor, Texas headline '25 Maui field

The Chevron Championship witnessed an unexpected turn of events as five major players failed to make the cut. This outcome has reshaped the competitive landscape, leaving room for emerging talents to shine. Amid intense performances, the tournament continues to captivate the golfing world.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images The Chevron Championship had casualties to some of the biggest names in the sport, with these five names sent home Friday. The LPGA Tour is at the halfway mark during its first major, the Chevron Championship. Nelly Korda is unbelievably in contention to win her fifth straight tournament, and young players crowd the top of the leaderboard. The Top 73 and ties made the weekend while the other half of the field was sent packing. Some of the top-ranked women in golf were among those who missed the cut at The Club at Charlton Woods in The Woodlands, TX. It was windy, with gusts upwards of 20 miles per hour, giving the ladies some trouble. That led to some of the best players on the LPGA to have a short week. Meanwhile, defending champion Lilia Vu withdrew from the tournament ahead of her round on Thursday due to a back injury. So, here are the five biggest names to miss the cut at the LPGA’s first major championship. Rose Zhang Rose Zhang went 74-75 through the first two days of play to finish at 5-over for the tournament. After finishing in the top 10 in three of the four majors she played in last year, it is a shock to see the young phenom head home early. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Rose Zhang during first round of Chevron Championship A double bogey on the 10th was detrimental, but the Chevron rookie couldn’t score. On Friday, she recorded 14 pars and just one birdie. Zhang missed the cut by three shots. Not getting birdie putts to drop on that second day cost her. Lexi Thompson Lexi Thompson struggled on Thursday, posting a 6-over 78 as she made bogey or worse on her first six holes of the tournament. Thompson shot four strokes better on Friday with her 2-over 74, but like Zhang, she struggled to score. She finished at 8-over in the tournament, recording one double, nine bogeys and three birdies in two days. Leona Maguire Coming off a runner-up finish to Nelly Korda at Shadow Creek for the T-Mobile LPGA Match Play event, Leona Maguire missed the cut. On Thursday, Maguire shot even par to sit above the cut line. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Leona Maguire on 15th tee at Chevron Championship It was Friday’s round that saw her struggle though. Maguire carded a 4-over 76 with six bogeys and two birdies on the day. She hit just six fairways and six greens, putting her out of position on the greens all day. Celine Boutier The No. 3 player in the world, Celine Boutier, struggled at The Woodlands. Like the other ladies heading home early, Boutier could not score. She went 75-73 throughout the first two rounds. On Thursday, four bogeys and a birdie saw her finish with 3-over 75. Friday was two shots better, but after making two birdies in her first four holes, a double-bogey at five and a bogey at nine took the wind out of her sails. Boutier made another bogey on 11 to miss the cut by two shots. Jin Young Ko Jin Young Ko is the No. 6 player in the world on the Rolex World Golf Rankings. She and Boutier are two of the highest-ranked players heading home. Young Ko missed the cut by just one shot after she went 76-71 Thursday and Friday. She recorded a double-bogey on 12 during Round 1 with her four bogeys and two birdies to card a 4-over 76. Young Ko was far better during her second round. She hit 15-of-18 greens on Friday, but struggled with her putter. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Jin Young Ko plays second shot on 2 at Chevron Championship Some other names who missed the cut at The Chevron Championship were Megan Khang, Stacy Lewis, In Gee Chun, Alison Lee, Patty Tavatanakit, Gaby Lopez, Lizette Salas, Minjee Lee, and Danielle Kang. Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

Chevron Championship: The 5 biggest names to miss the cut

Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images The NFL Draft is a great example of people achieving their dreams. When it comes to the NFL Draft the whole thing is about people seeing their dreams come true. The spirit of the draft lends itself to that idea. Players have worked their whole lives towards the goal of reaching the NFL and at long last it finally happens. All of it pays off. But dreams like this are the result of more than just the direct person involved. Obviously players hav...

Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images The NFL Draft is a great example of people achieving their dreams. When it comes to the NFL Draft the whole thing is about people seeing their dreams come true. The spirit of the draft lends itself to that idea. Players have worked their whole lives towards the goal of reaching the NFL and at long last it finally happens. All of it pays off. But dreams like this are the result of more than just the direct person involved. Obviously players have to put themselves in proper position to succeed, but each one of them has a group of supporters. A tribe. A village. As my new friends Taylor Rooks and Joy Taylor put it, a dreammate. Thanks to our friends at Rocket Mortgage I was able to chat with Taylor and Joy ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft about this campaign and some notable things around the world of sports. Getting specific here, the Dreammate campaign celebrates the support system we all have in our journeys to achieving our goals, whether it is the pursuit of homeownership, launching a business or pursuing a career in the NFL. As noted I also touched on the Dallas Cowboys with Joy given the things she has said about them in the past. I also asked Taylor about San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama and how she thought somebody like Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young could work with him in the future. It was a delightful conversation centered around a very important cause. Our thanks to Taylor Rooks, Joy Taylor and Rocket Mortgage for the time.

Taylor Rooks and Joy Taylor have a great partnership with Rocket Mortgage ahead of the NFL Draft

Rory McIlroy's performance in the Texas Open is analyzed as he prepares for the upcoming Masters tournament. The article highlights McIlroy's strategic adjustments and recent improvements, indicating positive momentum. Key insights are provided into how these changes might influence his performance in one of golf's most prestigious events.

Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot during the second round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open. | Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images Rory McIlroy carded another solid round at the Valero Texas Open, as he continues to round into form with the Masters looming. Before this week’s Valero Texas Open, Rory McIlro y ranked 134th on the PGA Tour in bogey avoidance, dropping a shot on 16% of the holes he had played. Big misses have plagued him, especially during the Florida Swing, when he struggled to garner any momentum. Yet, this week, McIlroy has made only one bogey at TPC San Antonio, sitting near the top of the leaderboard through 36 holes at the Valero Texas Open. He sits solo fifth at 5-under for the championship and trails leader Akshay Bhatia by six shots. “[My goal this week is] just trying to get a lot of [those misses] out of the system and playing a bit smarter, hitting the shots that I know that I can hit. At the same time, I’m a little more confident in my golf swing than I was a few weeks ago, so that makes it easier, ” McIlroy said after his 2-under 70 on Friday. “Still work to do, but heading in the right direction. ” Earlier this week, McIlroy revealed he visited renowned swing coach Butch Harmon in Las Vegas. He wanted a second opinion on his swing, which Harman happily provided. Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images Rory McIlroy plays his tee shot on the 8th hole during the second round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open. The session with Harmon must have helped somewhat, as McIlroy has avoided missing left with his irons—his Achilles heel as of late. Still, McIlroy wants to see further improvement in his approaches. “I’d like to see a few of those iron shots and wedges go a little bit closer, ” McIlroy said. “The miss has gone from left the last few weeks to a little bit to the right, which I’m okay with. It means that what I’m working on is heading in the right direction. So just tightening that up a little bit. ” McIlroy missed a few iron shots, but they did not lead to bogies or worse like they did in Florida. Yet, the Northern Irishman put himself in position to succeed plenty, with no better example coming on the 3rd and 7th holes—both par 3s. He missed 10-footers for birdie on both, instead settling for pars. Those missed putts did not bother McIlroy too much, however, because the Texas winds created tricky conditions at TPC San Antonio. He knew he played well Friday, even though he shot one score lower on Thursday. Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images Rory McIlroy thinks about a tee shot during the second round of the 2024 Valero Texas Open. But pars are good scores—especially at Augusta National and in major championships. Those, of course, require patience and not playing too aggressively. “I think it’s accepting that you’re going to make a lot of pars. It may feel frustrating at times, but knowing that you’re not losing ground by doing it and accepting that fact, that’s a big key to it, ” McIlroy said. “The U. S. Open last year is probably the best example of me doing that. I was very patient. St. Andrews a little bit, even though the scoring was low. It’s the same sort of thing: You pick and choose where you’re aggressive, and then you’re conservative a lot of the time. When you add it up at the end of the week, you’re always going to be pretty close. ” McIlroy seems close to regaining his form from mid-January, when he won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and finished runner-up to Tommy Fleetwood at the Dubai Invitational. That should increase his confidence going into The Masters, which he desperately wants to win. But to do that—and become the sixth golfer to win the career grand slam—McIlroy needs to avoid the big misses, remain patient, and hole the putts he needs to make. He has done two of those three things thus far in Texas, and if he can improve his putting somewhat, watch out for McIlroy at Augusta. Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

Rory McIlroy “heading in right direction” at Texas Open as Masters nears

"Hoops & Bets: Trends and Scandals Unveiled"

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A weekly breakdown of promising college basketball betting trends, focusing on high-major and select smaller conferences. Stay ahead of the hoop game.