Canadian music icon Drake has found himself on the wrong side of sports history after his bold $675,000 wager on Shohei Ohtani joining the Toronto Blue Jays spectacularly backfired.
The Million-Dollar Gamble That Went Wrong
Just days before Ohtani's earth-shattering decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Drake took to Instagram to showcase his confidence in the Blue Jays' pursuit. The Toronto native placed a staggering $675,000 bet through Stake.com that would have netted him a cool $1.35 million had Ohtani chosen Canada over California.
The rapper's now-infamous post featured the betting slip alongside the caption: "Shohei Ohtani I can't lose." The irony wasn't lost on baseball fans worldwide when news broke that the Japanese superstar was heading to Hollywood instead.
Ohtani's Record-Breaking Dodgers Deal
While Drake was counting his potential winnings, Ohtani was finalising one of the most monumental contracts in sports history. The two-way phenomenon agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, sending shockwaves through the baseball world and leaving Blue Jays fans heartbroken.
The timing couldn't have been more dramatic - Drake's confident wager came just as Ohtani was making his final decision, creating a perfect storm of social media frenzy and sporting disappointment.
The Drake Curse Strikes Again
Sports enthusiasts were quick to point out the notorious "Drake Curse" - the phenomenon where athletes and teams the rapper publicly supports often suffer unexpected losses or setbacks. From Connor McGregor to Serena Williams, numerous sports figures have experienced the curse's effects.
- Historical precedent: Drake's sports predictions have frequently gone awry
- Social media reaction: Fans flooded platforms with memes and commentary
- Financial impact: The $675,000 loss represents one of his more public gambling misfires
What This Means for Baseball's Landscape
Ohtani's move to the Dodgers fundamentally alters the balance of power in Major League Baseball. The Blue Jays, who were considered front-runners at various points during the negotiations, now face the challenge of regrouping after missing out on the sport's biggest prize.
Meanwhile, Drake's very public betting loss serves as a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of sports free agency and the risks of high-stakes gambling, even for multimillionaire celebrities.
