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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.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Hoang&#8211;Kim Vu is the co-editor of the Defector Crossword. His puzzles have appeared in multiple venues, including the New York Times, L.A. Times, and USA Today.

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Hoang-Kim Vu

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after Enrique Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a triple in the fifth inning during Game One of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

World Series – New York Yankees v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 1

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 28: A Cryptic!

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Barry Petchesky

Chicago Bears v Washington Commanders

The Commanders Pulled Off The Perfect Hail Mary

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Samer Kalaf

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets walks off the field after the game against the New England Patriots

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The Jets Are All Out Of Scapegoats And Need A Quarterback

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Patrick Redford

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers asks for the crowd to quiet down as Anthony Davis #3 shots free throws against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter

Sacramento Kings v Los Angeles Lakers

These Lakers Already Feel Different

LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates against the Houston Rocketsduring the second half at Toyota Center on October 23, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

Charlotte Hornets v Houston Rockets

The Hornets Are Under Construction, But LaMelo Ball Is Still Really Fun To Watch

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sustains a shoulder injury while trying to seal second base during the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 4-2 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series

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Ah Shit, Shohei Ohtani Messed Up His Shoulder

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Ray Ratto

Freddie Freeman points his bat at the sky in the foreground while various Dodgers fans watch his game-winning grand slam home run and freak out in the background. This was from Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, at Dodgers Stadium.

World Series – New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers – Game One

That’s How You Start A World Series

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Luis Paez-Pumar

A family plays the board game Risk at home

Coronavirus – Living at home

Risk Week

In A Game Of Risk, The Frustration Is The Point

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Soraya Roberts

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Music

In Communion With MJ Lenderman

David Gardner is a writer based in New York. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, The Ringer, and other outlets.

David Gardner

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

Taylor Swift performs onstage for night one of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 07, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Taylor Swift in KC

Capital

How Public Stadiums Keep Some Profits Private

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

A screenshot of two blonde women looking at each other, one playing the slots, in a 60s-era casino

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If You Don’t Play, You Can’t Win

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

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Nicholas Russell

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Defector At The Movies

‘Rap World’ Remembers The Truth About Suburban Malaise

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Albert Burneko

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, illuminated by somewhat spooky crimson light during the pregame ceremonies ahead of Thursday night's road game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Victor Wembanyama in red light

Victor Wembanyama’s Hands Missed Opening Night

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Alex Sujong Laughlin

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Everything I Expect From Atlantic City, Based On The ‘Rugrats’ Vacation Episode

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.

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Drew Magary

Voiture 4x4 de marque Jeep Cherokee à Tignes, France.

Jeep Cherokee √† Tignes

Jamboroo

Let’s Remember Our Cars

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David Roth

Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees grimaces/smirks after a strikeout in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the ALCS.

Championship Series – New York Yankees v Cleveland Guardians – Game 4

Podcasts

There’s No Rutgers Football In The Champagne Room

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.

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Owen Lewis

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses for a photo with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, after being awarded the trophy following victory in his Men's Singles Final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain

Six Kings Slam 2024 – Day Three

Tennis

Saudi Arabia Got What It Wanted From The Six Kings Slam

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Nate Crudster

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This Is So Stupid

No Matter What Happens In This Election, Nobody Is Allowed To Get Mad At Me

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Kelsey McKinney

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What Do You Risk In Revisiting A Piece Of Culture You Once Loved?

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Lauren Theisen

Boise State wide receiver Jerard Rabb dives into the end zone

NCAA Football – Tostitos Fiesta Bowl – Boise State vs Oklahoma – January 1, 2007

Boise State Will Always Be The Greatest Underdogs

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Chris Thompson

A finished pear tarte tatin, from the show.

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Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Scrambles To Survive Caramel Week

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip and Namedropping. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

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Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

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It’s Always Garbage Man Appreciation Week In Our Hearts

Dave McKenna

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Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Blows Up The Chicken Man

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 28: Dolphins swim in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Atlantic City on August 28, 2022 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. With warming waters, dolphins and other mammals have been seen swimming and feeding closer to the shoreline. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

General Views of New Jersey

Animals

Animals, Ranked By How Magical They Are To See

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Giri Nathan

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Tom Ley

A circa-1900 black-and-white photo of basketball players receiving dance lessons from a lady in a flapper hat and dress.

nba dance lessons

A Preview Of The 2024-25 NBA Season, Accurately Enumerating Everything That Will Happen In It

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