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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

Lauren Theisen

Wings Week

Baseballs Fly In Arlington, Almost As If They Had Wings

Barry Petchesky

LONDON - APRIL 4: A creation made from Red Bull cans is seen at the Red Bull Art Of Can private view and awards at the The Old Truman Brewery on April 4, 2005 in London, England. Applicants had to use at least one Red Bull can in their creations, and the evening also features an auction of celebrity entries including a car by David Coulthard, an Olympic inspired medal by Jason Gardener and a shoe by Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

I Drank Every Flavor Of Red Bull In A Row To See If It Would Give Me Wings

Giri Nathan

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain kisses the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following victory against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the Gentlemen's Singles Final during day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Is Eating Well At The Big Table

Tom Ley

Jayson Tatum #0 high fives Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

When Did Basketball Get Wings?

TORONTO, ONTARIO - FEBRUARY 02: Wild Wing of the Anaheim Ducks competes in the NHL mascots game during the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Scotiabank Arena on February 02, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Wild Wing Keeps The Ducks Mighty

<p>Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.</p>


Hamilton Nolan

Welterweight contender Jaron Ennis trains during a media workout for his upcoming fight against Custio Clayton at Churchill Boxing Club on May 11, 2022 in Santa Monica, California.

The Fights

Philly Has A Hero Named Boots

Maitreyi Anantharaman

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford reacts after conceding their side's first goal of the game to Spain's Nico Williams (not pictured) during the UEFA Euro 2024 final match at the Olympiastadion, Berlin.

Crosswords

The Crossword, July 15: False Wingers

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Ben Braymer #40 of the Rochester Red Wings throws a pitch in the third inning against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at Frontier Field on May 18, 2021 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

An Interview With The Biggest Washington Nationals Prospect Sicko Any Of Us Know

Ray Ratto

A closeup view of the Detroit Red Wings logo during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 16, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout.

All Hail The Winged Wheel Of Detroit

A biblically accurate angel surrounded by wings

It’s Wings Week

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain scores his sides second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Soccer

Spain Was Unstoppable To The Very End

two actors sitting on stage, looking at each other, in Illinoise

Arts And Culture

‘Illinoise’ Carries The Spirit That Makes Sufjan Stevens Special

Theater marquee asking "Who is the Mole?"

The Winner Of ‘The Mole’ Broke The Game

Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after striking out against the Minnesota Twins on July 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

The White Sox Can Be Eliminated On August 9, And Other All-Star Break Truths

Kelsey McKinney

Life's Rich Pageant

This Is NOT A Damn Bell!!

Albert Burneko

Some lovely beefsteak tomatoes, still growing on the vine.

The Great Outdoors

Another Garden Check!

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Wimbledon Is The Theater Of The Comeback

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

CHICAGO - MAY 27: of the Chicago Blackhawks of the Philadelphia Flyers during Stanley Cup media day at the United Center on May 27, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

What’s The Use Of Insiders If They Only Scoop Press Releases?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 11: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 11, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Save Paul Skenes’s Arm, For The All-Star Game

Defector Up All Night

An Important Bro Summer Update: Drink Of The Summer

Patrick Redford

VILLENEUVE-SUR-LOT, FRANCE - JULY 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate crop) Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Team Intermarche - Wanty - Green Sprint Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner ahead of (L-R) Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Pascal Ackermann of Germany and Team Israel - Premier Tech and Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin - Deceuninck during the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 12 a 203.6km stage from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot / #UCIWT / on July 11, 2024 in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Biniam Girmay Is The New Sprint King

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

US President Joe Biden speaks as he hosts a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (out of frame) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2024.

Margin Of Error

What’s The Story With Joe Biden?

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 05: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House August 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Biden delivered remarks on the administration’s efforts to strengthen American leadership on clean cars and trucks. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Joe Biden Should GTFO, With Rohan Nadkarni

Gregg Berhalter, Head Coach of United States reacts after the first half during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 Group C match between Panama and United States at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

The Era Of Low Expectations Is Over

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