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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.

Defector

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

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.

The Fights

Don’t Expect Much Resistance To A Saudi Boxing Takeover

Tom Ley

Deshaun Watson wearing traditional Saudi clothing.

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

Giri Nathan

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

Tennis

ATP Tour Announces Deal To Accept More Saudi Money

Billy Haisley

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.

Soccer

The Saudi Supercopa Is Great In Spite Of Itself

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A photo of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

Golf

The PGA Tour Is Casting Around For Plan B

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.