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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

Dave McKenna

Turki Al-Sheikh and actor Jason Statham (left) at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024.

Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury – Kingdom Arena – Riyadh

The Fights

Saudi Arabia’s Latest Boxing Spectacle Is A Times Square Fight Card With No Start Time And No Tickets

Dmitrii Bivol fights Artur Beterbiev as the headline act of Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo at Kingdom Arena on February 22, 2025 in Riyadh.

Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo – Fight Night

We’ll Take More Bivol Vs. Beterbiev, Less Of Everything Else

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Billy Haisley

Jhon Duran of Aston Villa gives a thumbs up during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and Celtic FC at Villa Park on January 29, 2025 in Birmingham, England.

Aston Villa FC v Celtic FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8

Soccer

Will Jhon Durán Ever Be Back?

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.

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Owen Lewis

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses for a photo with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, after being awarded the trophy following victory in his Men's Singles Final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain

Six Kings Slam 2024 – Day Three

Tennis

Saudi Arabia Got What It Wanted From The Six Kings Slam

Tyson Fury (third left) and Oleksandr Usyk (third right) pose alongside promoter Frank Warren (fourth left), actor Sylvester Stallone (centre) and The Saudi Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment Turki Alalshikh during a press conference at Outernet London.

Press Conference At Outernet

Don’t Expect Much Resistance To A Saudi Boxing Takeover

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Tom Ley

Deshaun Watson wearing traditional Saudi clothing.

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NFL’s Preeminent Creep Now Trying To Lure League To Saudi Arabia

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Giri Nathan

ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli (left) sits alongside Kevin Foster, PIF Head of Corporate Affairs

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ATP Tour Announces Deal To Accept More Saudi Money

Real Madrid players celebrates after scoring a goal during Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid - Super Copa de España Semi-Final on January 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid – Super Copa de Espa√±a Semi-Final

The Saudi Supercopa Is Great In Spite Of Itself

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

A photo of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

Golf

The PGA Tour Is Casting Around For Plan B

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Luis Paez-Pumar

A general view of the performance as Saudi Arabia is displayed on the LED Screen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 World Cup

Gabri Veiga of RC Celta celebrates after scores the team's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between RC Celta and FC Barcelona at Estadio Balaidos on June 04, 2023 in Vigo, Spain.

RC Celta v FC Barcelona – LaLiga Santander

Saudi Arabia Is Winning Europe’s Game

Neymar Jr of PSG looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Internazionale Milano at the Japan National Stadium on August 1, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.

Paris Saint-Germain v FC Internazionale – Preseason Friendly

Neymar To Become The Latest And Saddest Passenger On The Saudi Gravy Train

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Albert Burneko

Cristiano Ronaldo, with mostly empty stands in the background

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Cristiano Ronaldo Is Being A Butt Again

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Samer Kalaf

Karim Benzema at his signing with Al Ittihad

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Saudi Arabia’s Plan Is To Make A Better Version Of MLS

A closeup of the Qatar World Cup gold medal

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Capital

Qatar’s Interest In The Washington Wizards Is The Next Step

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Chelsea owner Todd Boehly gestures prior to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Chelsea FC v Real Madrid: Quarterfinal Second Leg – UEFA Champions League

What Should We Make Of Chelsea’s Reported Saudi Bailout?

Yasir Al-Rumayyan at a Donald Trump-owned golf club.

Golf’s Emerging Behemoth Might Be Too Big To Exist And Too Rich To Stop

Greg Norman stands with Yasir Al-Rumayyan at a LIV Golf event.

The PGA Tour Couldn’t Beat ‘Em, But LIV Golf Won’t Join ‘Em

Jimmy Dunne speaks during Golf Channel interview

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PGA Tour Board Member Vows To Kill Any 9/11 Perpetrators Involved In LIV Golf Merger

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan smiles.

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The PGA Tour’s High Ground Was Just A Bargaining Position

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Patrick Redford

DeChambeau begins his interview with Collins, minutes before he gets to the 9/11 stuff

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The LIV-PGA Shit-Eating Tour Is A Marvel To Behold

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Israel Daramola

A scoreboard at the LIV Golf event at Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on May 13.

LIV Golf Invitational – Tulsa – Day Two

The PGA Tour Has Suddenly Merged With LIV Golf

Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on April 30, 2023 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v FC Lorient – Ligue 1 Uber Eats

Lionel Messi’s PSG Vacation Has Fallen Apart

This Is So Stupid

LIV Golf’s “Team Finder” Knows Which Of Four Sandwiches Describes Your Values As A Sports Fan

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