Some meetings hit differently. Shohei Ohtani is possibly the biggest name in baseball today; some are even calling him the modern-day Babe Ruth. And he finally crossed paths with none other than Billie Jean King. The one who changed the face of sports in several ways. And if you think it was just a casual meet and greet, think again. This moment had so much meaning, plus the extra connection made it super special.
Billie Jean King has been a minority owner for the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, her ties to Ohtani go deeper than just business. When Shotime was just stepping into the Dodgers, she welcomed him to LA with open arms. Why? Well, it turns out that the number 17 jersey holds a special meaning in her heart. Her brother Randy wore this when he played professional baseball. It’s been a full-circle moment for King watching Ohtani hit 17!
Fast forward to now, and King finally got to meet the man who is making such huge strides in the baseball world. She, along with her partner Iliana Klaus, got pictures taken with Ohtani. Which King and Ohtani both posted in their Instagram stories.
King captioned the post, “Good to see you today, Shohei Ohtani.” And let’s just say it has been going viral ever since. And why not? Two icons of two different sports in one frame! While they met for the first time, it’s not like Kloss is cheering him on just now. She has been doing that ever since he made it to LA. Plus, when the world was celebrating Shohei Ohtani doing the unthinkable 50-50 chase, she was there cheering on, too. In fact, she also congratulated him when he managed to do the feat. “Congratulations to Shohei Ohtani of the @Dodgers on making MLB history! 50 Home Runs. 50 stolen bases. 1 Season.”
And not just that; she even congratulated Shohei Ohtani when he clinched his 2024 National League MVP win. So it’s safe to say she has been following his journey closely. For Ohtani, this is just another hat in his growing impact. When a legend like Billie Jean King celebrates your success, it leaves a mark on history for sure! Shohei Ohtani is not getting extra love just from the tennis world.
Tom Brady’s priceless reaction to Shohei Ohtani’s gift
Shohei Ohtani has fans everywhere, and it seems like even Tom Brady is one of his fans. Well, Brady had gotten a special package from Shohei Ohtani, Fanatics, and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. And he couldn’t help but share this with the world. Inside was a Dodgers jersey with Shohei Ohtani’s name, decked up in Murakami’s beautiful floral motifs. Brady went to Instagram, showed an unboxing, and said, “This is perfect for my collection.”
Shohei Ohtani is also someone who appreciates these shout-outs and love, so he reposted Brady’s reaction. Well, two GOATs and one epic exchange. And Brady isn’t new to the Sho fandom; he has always been a fan. In fact, when Ohtani managed his epic 50-50, he did post a congratulatory message for him. “Shohei, congratulations! The first ever to be in the 50/50 club. What an accomplishment. But I know you have bigger goals ahead, so good luck in the postseason.”
Ohtani has everyone on his fan list, from kids to movie stars, sports icons, and more. And even his teammates are fans of his! Tyler Glasnow, for example, just recently came out to make a bold claim: “Shohei Ohtani is like Justin Bieber times 10 over there. So, it’s probably going to be insane.” He was describing the star power of Ohtani back in his home country, Japan.
One thing is for sure: Ohtani isn’t just a baseball player anymore; he is a cultural icon! Don’t you think so? Let us know in the comments.
The post Billie Jean King Drops 5-Word Reaction for Shohei Ohtani in Iconic Cross-Sport Moment With Ilana Kloss appeared first on EssentiallySports.
