Sports Politika

Sports Politika

Home
Podcast
Audio Originals
The Lost Files
Investigations
About

Reflections

My grandmother, the pioneering artist who captured the universe
A brief interlude from sports and politics...
 • 
Karim Zidan
2
Death by Balcony
I come from a country where mysterious "balcony deaths" claimed the lives of actors, politicians, and notorious spies. Olympic legend Buvaisar Saitiev's…
 • 
Karim Zidan
Moscow terrorist attack rekindles personal reflections from my time in Russia
The terrorist attack unfolded just moments away from the place I stayed for a week in Russia back in 2015. Here's my recollection of that time and why…
 • 
Karim Zidan
Why my name was inscribed on an artillery shell bound for Gaza
Israeli MMA fighter Haim Gozali did not take too kindly to my article exposing his hatred towards Palestinians. So he inscribed my name on an artillery…
 • 
Karim Zidan
12
The story that changed me
On New Year’s Eve, I reflect on one of the biggest investigations of my career and how it became a bittersweet reminder of the highs and lows of chasing…
 • 
Karim Zidan
14
On Quinn, my queer wife, and the power of visibility
Quinn’s presence and success on the global stage empowers my non-binary wife and countless others.
 • 
Karim Zidan
5
An obituary for NYT Sports
While sports journalism may not be on its death bed yet, The New York Times’s decision to shutter its sports desk is a sign that the sickness is…
 • 
Karim Zidan
7
That time I was cornered into watching MMA with a war criminal
In this week's Office Hours, I look back on more of the more absurd tales from my time in Russia.
 • 
Karim Zidan
2
How to piss off a Russian oligarch
In this week's Office Hours, Karim Zidan looks back at his coverage of Ziyavudin Magomedov, the Dagestani oligarch now languishing in Russian prison.
 • 
Karim Zidan
4
Are the death threats worth it?
Have you ever heard the saying "You'll never forget your first"? Well, that adage holds true even when it comes to death threats.
 • 
Karim Zidan
© 2025 Sports Politika
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture