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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

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

Who Was The Fly Who Died In My House?

Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 30: Dylan Harper #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs out the court before their game against the Texas A&amp;M Aggies during the Players Era Festival basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aggies defeated the Scarlet Knights 81-77. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

College Basketball

Dylan Harper Is Big-Time

Kathryn Xu

Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a ninth inning pitch.

Yankees Make Big Moves To Rebuild Juan Soto In The Aggregate

Israel Daramola

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Even With Patrick Mahomes’s Injury, The Chiefs Feel Inevitable

Maitreyi Anantharaman

On the Cime de la Bonette climb during stage 19 of the 2024 Tour de France cycling race, from Embrun to Isola 2000 (144,6 km), in France, on Friday 19 July 2024.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 16: Lost At Sea

Barry Petchesky

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Linebacker Nick Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos jumps backwards into the end zone for a pick six touchdown as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and quarterback Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts look on during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Colts Gave Away Their Season

Ray Ratto

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook #4 runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

We’ll Take As Much Bills-Lions As You’ve Got

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

A bunch of Cardinals sit in their pointy white hats in a screengrab from Edward Berger's 2024 film Conclave.

Defector At The Movies

The Ending Of ‘Conclave’ Was Cheap And Stupid

David Roth

A small drone flies in front of the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building as the sun rises in New York City on August 11, 2023

Politics

It’s Time For A Little Recreational Mental Illness In New Jersey

Travis Hunter University of Colorado cornerback/wide receiver puts his tongue on the Trophy during the Heisman Trophy press conference at the Marriott Marquis on December 14, 2024.

College Football

Travis Hunter Wins Heisman, Hopefully Won’t Become Like His Coach

Defensive tackle Landon Robinson #96 of the Navy Midshipmen celebrates a sack against the Army Black Knights during the first half of 125th America's Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen.

Navy Consecrates Football’s Year Of The Fat Guy With Decisive Fake Punt

Hannah Hidalgo Plays Like A Woman Possessed

Billy Haisley

Memphis Depay of Corinthians celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Brasileirao 2024 match between Corinthians and Bahia at Neo Quimica Arena on December 3, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Soccer

Memphis Depay Was Made For Brazil

Tom Ley

This Is So Stupid

I Lost My Coffee

Alan Kluegel

Denzel Washington looking incredibly sinister and cool in Gladiator II.

II Decadent II Decrepit: The Politics Of ‘Gladiator II’

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

It’s A Good Time Be One Of Bill Belichick’s Lackeys

Lauren Theisen

Still from Carmelita Tropicana. A person in sunglasses and a person in leather holding a neon plunger interrogate a man tied to a chair.

Arts And Culture

‘Give Me Carmelita Tropicana!’ Seizes The Full Potential Of The Theater

Matthew Stafford hands the ball to Kyren Williams against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. It is a low-angle shot and raining as hell.

That Was Just Awful

Ben Tippett

India's grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju (R) reacts after winning against China's chess grandmaster Ding Liren in game 14 of the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore on December 12, 2024. The 18-year-old became "the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history", said the International Chess Federation in a post on social media platform X, after Ding resigned in a thrilling endgame that had been expected to end in a draw.

Chess

Gukesh D Unleashed The Zugzwang To Become The Youngest World Chess Champion In History

A birthday cake is seen for Jess Park of England (not pictured) at St George's Park Futsal Arena on October 21, 2024 in Burton upon Trent, England. It's kind of a saddish cake sitting on what looks like a couch. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

One Hundred Distractions Deep, With Eric Silver

Giri Nathan

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates the win on the logo after the quarterfinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2024 in New York City. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 108-100 to advance to the semifinal round. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)

Trae Young Goes For Cheap Heat In The Knicks’ House

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half of a quarterfinal game against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Emirates Cup at Toyota Center on December 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Steve Kerr Flips Out After Latest Warriors Meltdown

Dylan Cozens #24 of the Buffalo Sabres is driven toward the net

Sabres Still Bad

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Detail view of a DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement

Gambling

How Much Protection Do Online Sportsbooks Owe Their Patrons?

Annie Howard is a journalist and historian based in Chicago. She is currently at work on her debut manuscript, The City Made Me Trans.