Category: Sports (en)

The LIV Tour, the new professional golf circuit, recruits another big name from the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka, former world number 1, joins the tour created by rich Saudis.

According to the Telegraph, the American Brooks Koepka will join the rebel golf circuit today as did before him for a fortune Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, among others.

The amount obtained by the four-time major winner has not yet been revealed, but should be close to $150 million (US ) in advance, like what Dustin Johnson obtained a few weeks ago.

Brooks Koepka, 32, will play in the first LIV Tour event on American soil next week in Portland.

The LIV Tour is funded by Saudi Arabia. The tour run by former champion Greg Norman offers to poach the best players on the planet a fortune to its stars. For its part, the PGA Tour has suspended the players who defected.

Natela Dzalamidze, a tennis player of Russian origin, has decided to change her nationality to Georgian. This will allow her to participate in the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament.

The most important grass court tournament of the year, organized by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, refuses to welcome all Russian players following the invasion of Ukraine by their country.

Natela Dzalamidze, a doubles specialist, is ranked 43rd in the world. The 29-year-old right-hander is now officially listed as having Georgian citizenship on the WTA website and can compete with her doubles partner, Serbian Aleksandra Krunić, when Wimbledon begins on June 27.

“The nationality of players, defined as the flag under which they play at professional events, is an agreed process that is governed by the Towers and the ITF,” said theWimbledonspokesman.

The decision of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club will result in, among other things, that the men’s world number 1 Daniil Medvedev and the women’s world number 6 Aryna Sabalenka will not be able to take part in the event.

The Wimbledon tournament will be held this year from June 27 to July 10, 2022.

Vince McMahon, the mastermind behind the WWE‘s success, has stepped down amid controversy.

The WWE founder and CEO has “voluntarily stepped down” as general manager and chairman of the board of the world’s largest professional wrestling organization.

Vince McMahon is the subject of an internal investigation stemming from allegations that he paid $3 million to silence an employee with whom he allegedly had an affair.

Early echoes of that investigation revealed by theWall StreetJournalsuggest several other, older settlements related to misconduct claims filed by other WWE employees against the 76-year-old executive, as well as WWE talent relations manager John Laurinaitis.

“Vince McMahon will retain his role and responsibilities related to WWE’s creative content during this time and remains committed to cooperating with the ongoing review,” the company said.

Vince McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie, will serve asinterim CEO and president, according to WWE.

According to emails seen by the newspaper,Vince McMahon hired the woman as a legal assistant for a salary of $100,000, then increased her salary to $200,000 after their relationship began. McMahon also “gave her as a toy” to Laurinaitis, according to the emails.

The eight independent WWE directors have reportedly hired the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP to conduct the investigation.

Floyd Mayweather is an active retiree! The undefeated boxing champion will be back in the ring this September in Japan.

The man known as Money is expected to get another big payday, this time to fight mixed martial arts fighterMikuru Asakura. The Japanese fighter has a record of 20 wins and three losses since turning pro in 2012.

Yesterday, when the fight was announced,Mikuru Asakura tried to intimidateFloyd Mayweather, who has seen it all.

The rules and duration of the fight are not yet known. Nevertheless, it would be surprising ifFloyd Mayweather accepted another type of fight than boxing, he who has an immaculate record of 50 wins, no losses, 27 wins by referee stoppage before the limit.

Since retiring five years ago, Floyd Mayweather has sporadically returned to the ring for lucrative exhibition bouts. In June 2021, the champion was paid $100 million to fight Logan Paul.

Floyd Mayweather was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last Sunday in the United States.

Los Angeles Lakers starLeBron James wants to own a new NBA franchise in Las Vegas.

The 37-year-old athlete made this revelation on The Shop.

“I want a team in Vegas,” the star confided.

LeBron James, who was recently certified a billionaire by Forbes magazine, will have to wait to make his dream come true, however, as the NBA does not intend to increase its current 30-team roster at this time.

The veteran of 19 seasons in the NBA is ranked as the 2nd highest paid athlete in the world in 2022. Only Lionel Messi earns more money than the 2m06 giant, who pocketed $121.2 million this past year.

Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, two other big names in golf, are reportedly preparing to join the new LVI Tour professional golf circuit.

According to The Telegraph, the two former major winners are reportedly planning to compete in golf tournaments hosted by the LIV Golf Series when the tour introduces its first tournaments in the United States next month.

DeChambeau and Reed would join other PGA greats who have decided to leave the tour in order to cash in on the millions of dollars promised to them by the tour’s wealthy Saudi promoters.

Already, the former world number one Dustin Johnson has confirmed his defection for a fee of 125 million (US). The left-hander Phil Mickelson also announced this week that he would be in the first tournament of the new circuit. For his part, the fee offered by the Saudis would be 200 million.

According to the New York Post, Bryson DeChambeau, one of the longest hitters on the circuit, would get 100 million for defecting.

According to The Telegraph, Rickie Fowler would be the next big star to leave the PGA Tour. No information has yet been released about him.

In order to attract the best golfers in the world, the LVI Tour is loosening its purse strings, to say the least.

The tour, led by former champion Greg Norman, is offering $25 million in prize money per event, double that of the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson also decided to exit the PGA Tour and signed on for a fortune with his new competitor, the LVI Tour.

Just as Dustin Johnson did less than a week ago, another big name on the PGA Tour has defected. The most famous left-hander on the planet, Phil Mickelson, has entered the first tournament of the year on the new tour funded by wealthy Saudis.

Sources say the winner of 45 career tournaments, including six majors, has accepted a $200 million advance to join the new professional tour.

The LVI Tour will begin operations on Thursday, June 9, with the first tournament held in suburban London, with a total purse of $25 million (U.S.), double that paid by the PGA Tour.

In addition to Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen areamong the other big names on the listof42 players who entered the first tournament.

Phil Mickelson, 51, caused quite a stir in the golf world last February. He dared to be positive about the arrival of the Saudis and their new tour, saying the players would benefit from the competition.

So it’s no surprise that the great left-hander is making the jump to the LVI Tour. It remains to be seen how the PGA Tour will respond, as they have threatened sanctions against deserters.

In a recent book, Phil Mickelson is portrayed as a bettor who lost $40 million between 2010 and 2014.

The $200 million offered by the Saudis would easily get rid of that problem.

Diversity takes another step forward.

For the first time in its history, the NFL will welcome a transgender woman into its ranks.

Justine Lindsay, 29, joins the TopCats, the Carolina Panthers ‘ NFL cheerleading squad.

The cheerleader is no stranger to opening some doors that were closed until now.

“I think more people need to see this. It’s not because I want recognition. It’s just to shine a light on what’s going on in the world,” the woman who joined the Panthers last March tells BuzzFeed.

On Instagram, Justine Lindsay saluted in passing those who made this new opportunity possible.

“I would like to thank the beautiful and talented dancers who have supported me along the way… This is a moment I will never forget and I can’t wait to show you all what this girl has to offer.”

Justine Lindsay told the New York Post that she was terrified to come out as trans online. She who had kept her true gender identity a secret, even from her best friend, whom she considers a sister.

“I was so scared. I just felt like when I posted it, whatever reaction I would get from, everyone, it didn’t matter. And then my phone started blowing up.”

The new NFL season begins on September 8. Justine Lindsay will make her debut with the Carolina Panthers in their inaugural game on September 11.

The sports world is increasingly making room for transgender women. In July 2020, model Valentina Sampaio became the first transgender woman to pose for the Swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated magazine. In June 2021, Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand became the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, and Canadian soccer player Quinn of the Canadian soccer team became the first-ever openly transgender woman to win an Olympic medal, a gold medal.

LeBron James becomes only the second NBA player to join the select circle of sports billionaires, according to Forbes.

The Los Angeles Lakers player, with an annual salary of $121.2 million this year that gives him the second-highest income in sports in 2022, now exceeds $1 billion in value.

LeBron James is only the second player in the NBA after Michael Jordan, but the only active player, worth in the 10 figures.

Besides, sports billionaires are not legion. Michael Jordan was the first. He was joined by golfer Tiger Woods, boxer Floyd Mayweather and soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.

LeBron James has an impressive track record.He was selected 18 times as an NBA all-star, won the NBA championship four times, and twice won an Olympic gold medal.

Despite this latest career achievement, the 37-year-old billionaire could not lead the Lakers to the NBA playoffs this year. It was only the fourth time in 19 seasons in the NBA that the 2.06-meter giant did not participate in the big spring dance.

According to Forbes,LeBron James has earned$385 millionin hiscareerwith theCleveland Cavaliers,Miami Heat andLos Angeles Lakers.Off the court, he has earned more than $900 million in revenue from endorsement deals and other commercial activities.

Dustin Johnson, one of the best golfers on the planet, has decided to join the LIV Tour, a new circuit competing with the PGA Tour.

The news of the departure ofDustin Johnson, former number 1 in the world, currently ranked 13th in the world,to join the new circuit created by rich Saudis, resounds like a thunderclap in the world of professional golf.

Reactions were quick to follow. RBC, one of the golfer’s sponsors since 2018 and sponsor of a golf tournament, has just dumped him in order to remain loyal to the PGA Tour.

The decision of one of the biggest names in professional golf will have an impact for the future.WillDustin Johnson be followed by other top seeds when theLIV Tour promises bigger prize money than the PGATour?

The PGA Tour is not about to watch its stars walk away. It has threatened players with potential suspensions and even bans as punishment for participating in its competitor’s events.

Dustin Johnson will undoubtedly be the favorite at the LIV Golf Invitational, the first event on the new tour to be held at the Centurion Club in London June 9-11. Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia are also among the other big names on the 42-player entry list.

Phil Mickelson has yet to confirm his attendance, although he has been under pressure since making comments threatening to use the Saudi-backed tour as leverage against the PGA Tour.