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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

Shohei Ohtani Speaks In Dingers

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Chief Technology Officer of X Elon Musk speaks onstage during the "Exploring the New Frontiers of Innovation: Mark Read in Conversation with Elon Musk" session at the Lumiere Theatre during the Cannes Lions International Festival Of Creativity 2024 - Day Three on June 19, 2024 in Cannes, France.

Politics

Elon Musk Keeps Digging In

Maitreyi Anantharaman

A collage of Detroit Tigers in-game parlays on Bally Sports

Gambling

How Often Would You Lose On 81 Tigers Same-Game Parlays Pushed By Bally Sports Detroit?

Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at MetLife Stadium on July 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Crosswords

The Crossword, July 22: Light My Fire

<a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://demause.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://demause.net/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">Neil deMause</a> has covered sports economics for more publications than even he can shake a stick at. He’s co-author of the book <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Field-Schemes-Stadium-Swindle-Private/dp/1567511384?ascsubtag=c9dca64cfbbd6c35085d286f4423ee39b8350b2f&amp;rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F%5Bks%7Cgoogle%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1800657108%5Ba%7C1567511384%5Bau%7C5722120546910826704%5Bb%7Cdeadspinascsubtag%3D4eba2da0f6cc83fe1f221e8d8ca5894cd93bf2a7ascsubtag%3D33f4f2a16c1eda72859c34ee8aa577410b04a0d8&amp;tag=deadspinamzn-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga="[[&quot;Commerce&quot;,&quot;deadspin - Baseball Doesn't Need Collusion To Turn Off The Hot Stove&quot;,&quot;1567511384&quot;]]" data-amazonasin="1567511384" data-amazontag="deadspinamzn-20" data-amazonsubtag="[r|https://www.google.com/[ks|google[t|link[p|1831644811[a|1567511384[au|5722120546910826704[b|deadspin[lt|text" data-commerceready="true">Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</a>, and runs <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://fieldofschemes.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">the website of the same name</a>.

Neil deMause

A rendering of the future Willets Point soccer stadium.

Capital

How NYC Gave Hundreds Of Millions To The Yankees And An Oil Baron Sheikh For The Willets Point Soccer Stadium—No Questions Asked

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

Swimming pool , family , legs - stock photo

Dadfector

I Told My Kids I Peed In The Pool

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A trio of TikTok screenshots: "5 ways your FACE indicates Cortisol is High"; "4 SSIGNS YOUR BELLY FAT IS CAUSED BY A HORMONE IMBALANCE From a hormone nutritionist"; 6 SIGNS you may have HORMONAL IMBALANCE"

Under The Influence

This Summer’s Hottest Ailment Is Hormone Anxiety

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Thom Brennaman Pitied Himself Back Into The Broadcast Booth

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: U.S. President Joe Biden departs the White House on July 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden is traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada to deliver remarks at the NAACP National Convention and the UnidosUS Annual Conference.

It’s Joever!

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

150-million-year-old fossil of Stegosaurus specimen is on display at Sotheby's in New York on July 10, 2024.

Creaturefector

No One Person Should Be Able To Own A Dinosaur

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the 115th NAACP National Convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on July 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Biden returned to the campaign trail, delivering remarks at the NAACP convention today, and will tomorrow to the UnidosUS Annual Conference during a visit to the battleground state of Nevada.

BidenWatch: We’re In The Take Zone [Update]

Kelsey McKinney

Zillowing Out

A $2 Million Home With Soaring Views

A biblically accurate angel surrounded by wings

Wings Week

It’s No Longer Wings Week

Billy Haisley

Sávio Moreira of Brazil celebrates his goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA Group Stage match between Paraguay and Brazil at Allegiant Stadium on June 28, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Manchester City Ripped A Wing Off Girona Just Because It Can

Defector Staff

Three Chinese Bulbul chicks wait to be fed by adult birds in their nest at a cherry tree in Zaozhuang city, Shandong province, China, July 8, 2023.

Come Flap Your Gums With The Defector Staff

David Roth

Actor Wings Hauser poses for a portrait in circa 1980. The Defector Wings Week logo is on his shirt.

Wings Hauser, American Weirdo

Kathryn Xu

Rack of comic books and toys for sale at a flea market. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

When Comics Are Too Much Of A Good Thing

Dave McKenna

Cherish Every Wing Wednesday

Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.

Matt Ufford

A yellow-headed caracara close to reasonably priced children’s clothes and locked-up deodorant. Photo: Matt Ufford

Let The World Come To You On The Wings Of Vagrant Birds

How Long Is The Yzerplan Supposed To Take, Anyway?

Amy Schneider is a software engineer, cat owner, and Jeopardy champion who posts about her experiences on Twitter @Jeopardamy. She used to have a podcast, and odds are she will again some day.

Amy Schneider

380357 05: Orville Wright flying over Dayton, OH in September of 1910. (Photo by National Archive/Newsmakers)

You Motherfuckers Forgot About Dayton

orange baked breaded tofu in a skillet on rice

Defector Up All Night

Embrace Tofu Wings

Storm drain on street during Tropical Storm Hilary. August 19, 2023.

Podcasts

A User Guide To Feeling Bad

Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Dallas Wings celebrates after a play against the Indiana Fever at the College Park Center on July 17, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

How Did The Dallas Wings Ever Win A Trade?

a close-up of a male common noctule bat against a dark background. the wings week logo is in the leftmost corner