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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

Patrick Redford

Start of the race 16 Charles Leclerc of Monaco, Scuderia Ferrari, SF-23 - Ferrari, action 04 Lando Norris of United Kingdom, Mclaren Formula 1 Team, MCL60 - Mercedes, action during the Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix of FIA Formula One World Championship from 19th to 22th of October, 2023 on the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas, United States of America. (Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Journalismism

Road & Track EIC Tries To Explain Why He Deleted An Article About Formula 1 Power Dynamics

David Roth

Albert Burneko

Sen. Kyrtsen Sinema (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference after the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act at the Capitol Building on November 29, 2022.

Politics

Point/Counterpoint: Senator Kyrsten Sinema Retires

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 04: Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings passes the ball around Alex Caruso #6 and Jevon Carter #5 of the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Golden 1 Center on March 04, 2024 in Sacramento, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

We Tracked A Night’s Worth Of NBA Assists, And Many Of Them Are Baloney

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

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 09: Kirk Cousins throws a mini football at Radio Row at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center ahead of Super Bowl LVIII on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

KirkWatch: America Holds Its Breath

Baseball: World Series: Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll (7) in action, rusn to first base vs Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Game 2. Arlington, TX 10/28/2023 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164447 TK1)

Funbag

Road Grays Are Dogshit

Danny Sullivan writes <a href="https://theunderline.substack.com/">The Underline</a>, a newsletter covering books, movies, and ideas. He lives in Santa Fe.

Danny Sullivan

Arts And Culture

‘Dune’ Novels, Ranked By Unfilmability

(Original Caption) New York, NY: Converging arrows show the spot where a prodigious home run blasted by Mickey Mantle landed, during the first game of the Yanks-Senators twin-bill at Yankee Stadium on May 30. The towering shot, traveling 370 feet, struck the facade of the right field roof, just a few feet from going out of the stadium. No one has ever hit a fair ball out of this ball park. Mantle's monumental clout, which hit the stands 118 feet above the ground, came with two men on base and sparked the Yanks to a 4-3 win over Washington.

A Scholarly Discourse On Which Types Of Dingers Are Best

Lauren Theisen

The Florida Panthers celebrate after defeating the New York Rangers

The Panthers Are On A Rampage

Kathryn Xu

TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Matt Moore #55 of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona.

How To Watch Spring Training Baseball

Tom Ley

Head coach Barry Odom of the UNLV Rebels yells to fans in the second quarter of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Allegiant Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Defector Up All Night

Should A 47-Year-Old College Football Coach Attempt To Ride A Bull?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Racing

How Much Will Red Bull Racing Endure To Stand By Christian Horner?

Ray Ratto

Boston Celtics center Al Horford (second from left) and the bench react to a slam dunk by Boston Celtics guard Svi Mykhailiuk (not pictured) in the fourth quarter. The Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors, 140-88.

The Celtics Served The Warriors A Beating, And The NBA A Message

Sting puts the scorpion death lock on Matthew Jackson in his last match

Pro Wrestling

Sting Went Out Crazier Than He Came In

Israel Daramola

Giri Nathan

Radiohead performing onstage in support of their 2007 album "In Rainbows," with the Defector Music Club logo right in the middle.

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Reviews The People’s Radiohead Album

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Englishmen in Paris gathered in Galignani’s library, 1820. English gentlemen read books, newspapers and periodicals. Doctor Syntax discovered by his wife in a bookshop. Handcoloured copperplate drawn and engraved by Charles Williams from Doctor Syntax in Paris; or a Tour in Search of the Grotesque, W. Wright, London, 1820.

Interviews

“It Really Matters If Somebody Has Bad Taste”: An Interview With Book Critic Becca Rothfeld

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Goalkeeper Alex Cavallini of the United States competes during the ice hockey women's gold medal game of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 4: Double Team

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: Michael Rubin attends Michael Rubin's MLBPA x Fanatics party at City Market Social House on July 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Michael Rubin Will Never Get The Benefit Of The Doubt With Crummy Sports Apparel

Billy Haisley

Phil Foden of Manchester City scores a goal to make it 2-1 during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 3, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Soccer

Phil Foden Paints Manchester Sky Blue

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 2, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

The Nuggets Own The Lakers

Max Verstappen of Netherland and Oracle Red Bull Racing lift the winner trophy of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 02, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain.

New Formula 1 Season, Same Old Max Verstappen

Paul Pogba of Juventus in a match against Torino on December 1, 2012.

The Failure Of Paul Pogba

Andrey Rublev yells at a linesperson at the Dubai Open.

Tennis

Andrey Rublev Defaulted From Dubai Open After Russian-Speaking Linesperson Says He Cussed

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Two adult male humpback whales. one whale has its penis inserted into the genital opening of the whale below it An injury is visible on the mandible of the whale underneath.

Creaturefector

Fleeting Joy, Unexpected Despair, And Eventual Peace; Or, The Time I Learned About Two Gay Humpback Whales

Jay Willis is a writer who covers law and democracy. His work has appeared in GQ, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. He is the editor-in-chief at Balls &amp; Strikes, an outlet for progressive commentary on the legal system.

Jay Willis

Giant portraits of the news anchors at Fox News headquarters building in New York City. Very cursed image.

Tim Burke’s Indictment Is A Political Choice Disguised As A Legal Act

Mother trying to make daughter (4-5) finish food at table. It's an old stock photo from the 1940s.