Shohei Ohtani and his monster $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers is no doubt the biggest sports story we’ve seen over the last few months. That fact alone makes it quite bewildering that someone like Kirk Herbstreit managed to mispronounce Ohtani’s name during Week 16’s Thursday Night Football game.
With the Los Angeles Rams hosting the New Orleans Saints, Ohtani made an appearance at neighboring SoFi Stadium, thrilling fans in the process. Given Ohtani’s celebrity status as a superstar baseball player, it’s no wonder all eyes were on the 29-year-old during his time at the game.
During the Thursday Night Football broadcast with Al Michaels and Herbstreit, the duo talked about the Dodgers star as he was shown on the big screens in the stadium. But instead of saying “Shohei Ohtani”, Herbstreit said something completely different.
“Shohan Ahtony” -Kirk Herbstreit pic.twitter.com/RhOL1sqxEz
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 22, 2023
Yikes. Given that it seems Herbstreit was coming into Thursday night’s game a bit under the weather, the mispronunciation could have very well been an honest mistake. It happens! Still, it’s not a great look to mispronounce the name of baseball’s biggest star on a national broadcast like that.
Sports fans also took exception to Herbstreit’s mispronouncing Ohtani’s name on Thursday Night Football.
Kirk Herbstreit just said “Showhan Antoni”
He just signed a $700 million dollar contract you actual buffoon, have some respect and learn how to pronounce his name
— 𝕂ashew “Jordan Love SZN” ➐ (@KashwrapSupreme) December 22, 2023
https://t.co/YOOkIuRuaV pic.twitter.com/ry4qCd9ywy
— John Lund (@lundinbridge) December 22, 2023
Oh Kirk https://t.co/NkeufmZtKQ
— Patrick (@PatrickDumas_) December 22, 2023
Did this man Kirk Herbstreit just call that man Shohan Ohtony?? 🤣🤣🤣
— Derek Clark (@TheRealD_C) December 22, 2023
excuse me what the hell did kirk herbstreit call shohei ohtani? 😂 pic.twitter.com/H20PxpU6QP
— Aaron (@AaronCornielle) December 22, 2023
Maybe Herbstreit will learn his name isn’t “Show-Han O’Tony” after he signs his next $700 million contract.
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) December 22, 2023
— Austin, the jolly Louisville Struggler 🎅 (@atmonair) December 22, 2023
Herbstreit gotta work on this 😂 pic.twitter.com/kiQd5rpy51
— Khaled (@khaled74) December 22, 2023
https://t.co/0JUKS50z8u pic.twitter.com/sH1UoIyBVu
— Brian Lefevre (@LefevreFever) December 22, 2023
