Dave Portnoy and Dan Katz Reject $10 Million Saudi Offer

Chicago, IL — Barstool Sports personalities Dan Katz, known as “Big Cat,” and Dave Portnoy have turned down a lucrative $10 million offer to attend a boxing match in Saudi Arabia.

Katz revealed this decision during a recent episode of his show, “Pardon My Take.” He discussed how the two were invited to the unspecified boxing match but could not agree on a financial arrangement. Katz stated, “We talked on the phone and we were like, ‘Give us like $15 million and we’ll do it.’ They were like, ‘We can do $10 million’ and we were like, ‘No.’”

The discussion about the offer coincided with Katz’s remarks about Saudi Arabia’s investment in sports, which he called a successful form of “sports washing.” This term refers to efforts by countries to improve their image through heavy financial investment in global sports events, especially when facing criticism over human rights issues.

While Katz did not disclose the specific boxing match they were invited to, he mentioned that their participation would have brought a significant payment to Barstool Sports as well. He added, “It’s a sh*tload of travel,” highlighting the logistical challenges of attending the event.

The pair’s rejection of the offer draws attention to the ongoing trend of celebrities and sports figures being wooed by Middle Eastern investments. Organizations such as LIV Golf and WWE have previously partnered with Saudi entities, further promoting these large financial exchanges in the sports world.

As for Katz and Portnoy, they face no immediate financial struggles, indicating their decision was not based on a need for funds. Katz noted humorously that turning down the money was unexpected, given the ease of simply attending the match.