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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

Soraya Roberts

A garden party scene from The Zone Of Interest

Arts And Culture

‘The Zone Of Interest’ Is About Cognitive Harmony

A. Andrews is a thirty-something disabled queer/trans writer and illustrator. They spent the majority of their young life sketching in hospitals and experienced their first heartbreak at age 8 during Game 6 of the &#8217;96 NBA championships. When they aren’t writing and drawing their guts out, they’re hanging with their dog, George, and drinking too many coffees. They will probably never tell you “what’s wrong with [them]” and you shouldn’t ask! They were named one of The Advocate&#8216;s 2021 People of the Year, are a 2020 Tin House Summer Workshop scholar, and their debut graphic novel, A Quick and Easy Guide to Sex &amp; Disability topped 2020 lists for the NYPL best books for teens, and YALSA&#8217;s best books for teens, and is available anywhere books are sold. You can find more of their work at Washington Post, Esquire, the Nib, and other fun corners of the internet.

A. Andrews

Art of a person seen from behind wearing a hoodie and shorts, with tattoos on their legs, in the process of lifting a barbell

Life Lessons

Lost And Found At The Weight Machines

Joshua Needelman is a journalist based in New York City who has written for The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The Guardian and more. He has dabbled in yoga and meditation for more than a decade. He enjoys eating (and making) pizza, as well as rooting for the New York Knicks, whom he is available to coach next season.

Joshua Needelman

Eddie Kingston, with his eyes closed, in the ring.

Pro Wrestling

How New York’s Eddie Kingston Became Pro Wrestling’s “King of the Bums”

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots passes against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 15: Play It Again

Lauren Theisen

Jared Goff walks off the field after the conclusion of the Rams-Lions game

Thank God

Samer Kalaf

Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys watches action during the second half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers

It’s Time To Make Fun Of The Bamboozling Disgrace That Is The Dallas Cowboys

A view of an ESPN Monday Night Football logo on a TV camera.

Journalismism

If The NFL Buys A Stake In ESPN, Expect More Ass-Kissing

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Adama Bal #4 of the Santa Clara Broncos reacts after making the game winning basket against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Leavey Center on January 11, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

College Basketball

Gonzaga Is A Bubble Team Now

Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs has a cracked helmet during Saturday's playoff game against the Dolphins.

Have You Heard? It Was Cold In Kansas City

Christian Harris drags Joe Flacco to the ground in the Browns-Texans wild card game.

The Texans Send Joe Flacco Back To His Couch

Tom Ley

A New England Patriots fan in the stands during their game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Defector Up All Night

Let’s Have A Wild Card Weekend Open Thread

David Roth

A screenshot of one of the scammy AI-generated listings on Amazon; the product's name is just the boilerplate apology text created by OpenAI when it's asked to do something it can't do.

Capital

The Future Of E-Commerce Is A Product Whose Name Is A Boilerplate AI-Generated Apology

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to throw a pass against the Green Bay Packers in the second half at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Kirk Cousins Has To Go

Ray Ratto

Nikolaj Ehlers #27 and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate with teammates following a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Canada Life Centre on January 11, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Winnipeg Just Keeps Winning, Even If Nobody Notices

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

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Mary Lou Retton signs a Wheaties box in 2003. By her side is her longtime coach, Bela Karolyi

Gymnastics

Mary Lou Retton’s Third Act Is Her Most All-American

Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder tumble after a loose ball during the second half at Paycom Center on January 11, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

The NBA Is The Best At Showing Us The Worst

Kathryn Xu

Guenther Steiner during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2023.

Racing

Guenther Steiner Is Out At Haas, But His Linguistic Genius Is Immortal

Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center on January 07, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Warriors Are On A Two-Game Meltdown Streak

Dave McKenna

A photo of Liz Patrick with her Emmy Award, and with Lee Corso's face clumsily pasted on top of hers.

Media Meltdowns

ESPN Busted In Dumb Scheme To Score Bogus Emmys For On-Air Stars

Tua Tagovailoa makes a semi-Jim Face during warm-ups before the Dolphins' Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Podcasts

Pantsless On New Year’s Eve, With Rohan Nadkarni

Luis Paez-Pumar

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick announces he is leaving the team during a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on January 11, 2024.

Bill Belichick Exits As He Entered: As A Bore Who Never Won Without Tom Brady

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, along with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs and teammates react after defensive tackle Chris Jones (not pictured) of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after sacking quarterback Easton Stick (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half of a NFL football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Jamboroo

This Postseason, Root For The Money

Giri Nathan

Isaiah Hartenstein celebrates with Julius Randle

Isaiah Hartenstein Is New York’s Big Dog Now

Justin Ellis

New York Mayor Eric Adams speaking at Healing for Heroes Gala in Brooklyn, in front of a painting of himself