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Defector

Billy Haisley

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.

Soccer

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

Albert Burneko

Cristiano Ronaldo, with mostly empty stands in the background

Cristiano Ronaldo Is Being A Butt Again

Samer Kalaf

Karim Benzema at his signing with Al Ittihad

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

A closeup of the Qatar World Cup gold medal

Capital

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

Tom Ley

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.

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

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

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

Golf

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

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

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan smiles.

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

Patrick Redford

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

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

Israel Daramola

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

The PGA Tour Has Suddenly Merged With LIV Golf

Luis Paez-Pumar

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.

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

Lauren Theisen

Stage of WWE's Crown Jewel event in Riyadh

Pro Wrestling

Saudi Arabia Hasn’t Bought WWE Yet, But Its Wrestlers Should Be Ready

Saudi coaches Herve Renard and Mohammed Ameen give a motivational halftime speech during the team's game against Argentina.

Yelling In Arabic Has Its Merits

Poland Advances To Knockout Stage By Playing Jabroni Soccer

David Roth

USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams applauds after the team's 1-1 tie against Wales in the 2022 World Cup. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Getting Stupid In A Global Sense

Salem Aldawsari of Saudi Arabia celebrates as he scores the goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Saudi Arabia Had Too Much Fight For Argentina To Handle

Ali Albulayhi of Saudi Arabia reacts during the international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Colombia at Estadio Enrique Roca on June 05, 2022 in Murcia, Spain.

Saudi Arabia’s Coach Is Hunky But Its Team Is Junky

PGA Tour Files New Lawsuit Against Saudi Public Investment Fund In Latest Escalation Of Golf’s Turf War

Ominous clouds over LIV Golf's slogan, "Golf, But Louder" at the tour's October event in Bangkok, Thailand.

Politics

The Future Feels Like LIV Golf

Laura Wagner

The Saudi Golf League’s Opening Press Conference Sure Went Well

Former Australian golfer Greg Norman, Chief Executive of LIV Golf, looks on during a press conference for the forthcoming LIV Golf event at The Centurion Club in St Albans, north of London, on May 11, 2022. - Greg Norman said on May 10, 2022, he has been given an extra $2billion (£1.6 billion) in funding from Saudi Arabia to build his breakaway LIV series of 54-hole events into a full league by 2024. (Photo by GLYN KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

LIV Golf’s Greg Norman On Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi: “We’ve All Made Mistakes”

AL MUROOJ, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 01: Phil Mickelson of The USA during a practice round prior to the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf &amp; Country Club on February 01, 2022 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson Really Stepped In It

KAEC, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 04: Bryson DeChambeau of the USA plays his tee shot on the 17th hole during Day One of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club on February 04, 2021 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)