About
Motez spent his formative years in New York City obsessing about the Yankees and Giants. He subsequently lived in Kuwait, Boston and New Orleans before settling in London during the heyday of Cool Britannia. Motez earned an MBA from Tulane University and was a new media / tech industry investor before turning his focus to journalism. He also holds a BA in Mathematics and Computer Science from Boston University and an MA in International Journalism from City University in London. A front-row Arsenal season ticket holder, Motez can sometimes be spotted chatting with Martin Odegaard during corners.
Motez released his first book Beating the NBA: Tales From a Frugal Fan in 2013, and released two books in successive months at the start of 2022. January 11, 2022 marked the release of the investigative ebook When the Sheikh met the King, a riveting tale of Michael Jackson's year spent in Bahrain. February 22, 2022 marked the release of Athletes Who Rock! (Cranthorpe Millner Publishers), a collection of 15 inspiring interviews with world-class athletes who have flourished as professional musicians. (The top photo shows Motez (left) interviewing Swiss Olympian snowboarder and singer-songwriter Pat Burgener for the book in Manhattan Beach, California.)
Motez is also a PhD researcher at the University of Leicester's School of Media, Communication and Sociology. He also served as a visiting professor at theGulf University for Science and Technology, teaching news writing in spring 2018.
His informed views on geopolitics and sports have recently been featured in several news stories. If you are a journalist or podcaster looking for a voice on this topic, feel free to reach out via email.
-
Awards and Nominations
2021 Tulane University, International Award for Exceptional Achievement
2020 The Best American Sports Writing, Notable Sports Writing inclusion for We All Have Hoop Dreams (CNN.com)
2019 The Best American Sports Writing, Notable Sports Writing inclusion for From humble beginnings, Gay Bowl attracts NFL sponsors and touches lives (CNN.com)
2019 Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS) nomination, Writing Best Colour for From humble beginnings, Gay Bowl attracts NFL sponsors and touches lives (CNN.com)
2018 Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS) nomination, Writing Best Column for NFL players learning how not to go broke -- with the help of MBAs (CNN.com)
2017 Drum Online Media Award Winner, Best Freelance Writer
2017 Goalden Times WorldBall list of best football writing of 2017 honorary mention for Son of the King (The Blizzard).
2016 Drum Online Media Award runner-up / commendation for Best Freelance Writer
2015 Sports Media Pearl Award nomination for Wimbledon: Below the top 10, a life of budget dwellings and last-minute deals. (CNN.com)
