Shohei Ohtani, the new star of the Los Angeles Dodgers, showed up at SoFi Stadium on Thursday for a Rams football game. The Rams welcomed Ohtani, presenting him with his very own blue and gold jersey. He was also seen on the sidelines with a football in hand, getting a feel for the laces. Ohtani seemed to be picking it up quickly, with help from his agent, Nez Balelo. After the pregame activities, Ohtani made his way up to a suite to enjoy the game while wearing his new Rams jersey underneath a stylish leather jacket. This marked a special occasion for Los Angeles sports fans, with live sightings of their newest Dodger superstar embracing his new identity as an Angeleno.
Color analyst Kirk Herbstreit commented on the excitement surrounding Ohtani’s arrival, saying, “How excited is Los Angeles to have him? He’s been in Anaheim, and now he’s a Dodger.” Play-by-play man Al Michaels added to the sentiment, noting that Dodger fans are more thrilled to have Ohtani than those of the Angels.
In a night filled with excitement for LA sports, the Dodgers made a massive deal by acquiring Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a former teammate of Ohtani’s on the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship team. The Rams also expressed their enthusiasm for welcoming Yamamoto to SoFi Stadium, tweeting out a video of a jersey with his name hanging from the uprights. The Shohei starpower in the house may have been a good luck charm for the Rams, who went on to defeat the Saints, 30-22.
Following the game, Ohtani visited the Rams’ locker room, where he had conversations with head coach Sean McVay and shook hands with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had an impressive performance, throwing for over 300 yards. It seems like Ohtani’s new connections in LA extend beyond the baseball field.
In conclusion, Ohtani’s appearance at the Rams game set the stage for a remarkable night for Los Angeles sports. Although a career switch to football is unlikely, the star athlete’s presence at SoFi Stadium brought together two of LA’s favorite pastimes, setting the scene for a night to remember.
