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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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA Playoffs Will Be A Clash Of Generations And Styles

Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce during the Adobe Women's FA Cup semi-final match at the Joie Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday April 12, 2025. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

Manchester City v Manchester United – Adobe Women’s FA Cup – Semi Final – Joie Stadium

Soccer

Phallon Tullis-Joyce Makes Her Case As The USWNT Holds First Keeper Tryout In 30 Years

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Billy Haisley

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (centre left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game from a free-kick during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Manchester City v Crystal Palace – Premier League – Etihad Stadium

Kevin De Bruyne Has One More Job

Team Visma-Lease a Bike's French rider Pauline Ferrand Prevot cycles in a breakaway during the fifth edition of the Paris-Roubaix women's race, 148,5 km between Denain and Roubaix, northern France on April 12, 2025. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

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Cycling

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s Quick Return Makes A Great Cycling Season Better

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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

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer looks on as US President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on April 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Margin Of Error

The Bargain Vs. The Boot

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Soraya Roberts

Meghann Fahy as Violet in Drop, directed by Christopher Landon.

Drop

Arts And Culture

‘Drop’ Is Not A ’90s Thriller Because The ’90s Are Unfortunately Over

Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain salutes the fans as he exits the match during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 09, 2025 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v 	Aston Villa FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg

Désiré Doué Is The Coolest Of The Cool

<p>John Semley is a writer and researcher based in Philadelphia.</p>


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John Semley

People queue outside indie record store Flashback Records to shop for vinyls on Record Store Day in London on April 20, 2024.

BRITAIN-CULTURE-MUSIC-RECORD STORE DAY

Music

How Record Store Day Became The Stupidest Day In Music

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Tom Ley

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Brandy Jensen

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


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Chris Thompson

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David Roth

Reacher

Is Reacher Too Big Now? A Roundtable Discussion

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum on April 10, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Minnesota Timberwolves v Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant Is Doing A New Thing, And That Thing Is Grenade

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Israel Daramola

President Trump Signs New Executive Orders At The White House

Politics

Welcome To The Scam Century

Elon Musk speaks during a cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2025. He's backlit and is doing his Thinking Hands and is wearing a stupid hat. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Beavises In The Code Base, With Tim Marchman

Octavio Dotel pitches for the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Minnesota Twins on August 15, 2012 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Detroit Tigers v Minnesota Twins

Octavio Dotel Made A Life In Baseball

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Kathryn Xu

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his walkoff walk as Julio Rodríguez #44 jumps on home plate.

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The Mariners Find Catharsis In A Walk-Off Walk

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Barry Petchesky

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 08: A general view of the Progressive Field scoreboard with Opening Day signage prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox v. Cleveland Guardians

This Is So Stupid

Are The Cleveland Guardians Creating A Dynamic Brand Experience That Deepens The Connection Between The Team And Its Fans, And Reflects The Team’s History, Its Commitment To Cleveland, And Its Vision For The Future, On And Off The Field?

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Samer Kalaf

Ms. Rachel attends the Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala

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Ms. Rachel Is Hamas Now

<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>


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Drew Magary

during the first round of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia.

The Masters – Round One

Golf

Jim Nantz Is Being Weird About The Masters Again

Dave McKenna

ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 6: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Wayne Gretzky and Gary Bettman after scoring his 895th career goal, passing Gretzky for the all-time scoring record, during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/NHLI via Getty Images)

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

I’m The Idiot Who Bet Against Ovechkin

<p>Lindsey Adler is a writer based in Brooklyn. She exclusively covered sports for a decade but has other interests, too.</p>


Lindsey Adler

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 28: Jesse Lacey of Brand New performs during the 2017 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience at City Park on October 28, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2017 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience – Day 2

Brand New Tour, Same Old Question

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks v New York Yankees

If You’re Going To Get Food Poisoning, At Least Visit Flavortown First

Luka crying

You Would Cry Too If It Happened To You

Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves leaves the court after a game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on February 21, 2025 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)

Minnesota Timberwolves v Houston Rockets

The Timberwolves Collapsed In The Worst Way At The Worst Time


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Sabrina Imbler

A photo of Jules Reynolds, a fired USDA program coordinator, sitting near a valley of farmland

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Interviews

An Interview With A Fired USDA Program Coordinator

Side-by-side photos of Luis M. Castillo and Luis F. Castillo, both Mariners pitchers.

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The Definitive Guide To Mariners Pitchers Named Luis Castillo

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


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