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O.J. Simpson's Shocking Demise, Ohtani's Interpreter Steals Millions, Harvard Revives Testing Rule Amid Controversy

Just reporting the facts.

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Centrist Chronicle
April 13, 2024

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Former NFL star O.J. Simpson passed away on Wednesday at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer, as confirmed by his family. Known for his athletic prowess, Simpson was the first running back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, achieving this milestone in 1973. His football achievements led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Beyond sports, Simpson also had a career in acting, featuring in several films, notably the “Naked Gun” series. However, his life took a controversial turn off the field. In 1994, Simpson was famously involved in a highly publicized police chase and was subsequently arrested and tried for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. The trial, often referred to as "the trial of the century," concluded with his acquittal but continued to stir widespread discussion on various social issues including race, celebrity, and domestic violence. Simpson later faced legal troubles again and served nine years in prison on charges unrelated to the murder case, including armed robbery and kidnapping.


Federal officials have accused Ippei Mizuhara, the long-serving interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers standout Shohei Ohtani, of federal bank fraud. They claim he siphoned more than $16 million from the baseball player to pay off gambling debts and bets. Mizuhara, who has been a regular fixture beside Ohtani at baseball games since 2018, allegedly exploited the trust Ohtani placed in him and the language barrier to embezzle funds from a bank account to which only he had access.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada described how Mizuhara's integral role in Ohtani’s professional life made him the player’s "de facto manager." This position of trust allowed him to manipulate bank withdrawals — sometimes even pretending to be Ohtani in communications with bank staff — to support his uncontrollable compulsion for illegal sports betting.


Harvard University has announced that it will reinstate the requirement for applicants to submit standardized test scores for admissions, starting with those applying for the fall 2025 semester. This decision aligns with actions taken by other prestigious institutions such as Yale and MIT, which have also reverted to mandating standardized test scores after making them optional during the pandemic.

Previously, Harvard had declared a test-optional policy extending through the class of 2030, set to begin in fall 2026. Despite the test-optional policy, the majority of applicants in the years following the onset of the pandemic continued to include their standardized test scores in their applications, according to the university.