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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

Kelsey McKinney

display of flight board inside Newark airport

Politics

The Mess At Newark Airport Is Only The Beginning

Luis Paez-Pumar

Davide Frattesi central midfield of Internazionale and Italy celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 6, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

Soccer

Inter Survived A War For The Ages

Jasper Hutson is a lapsed journalist.

Jasper Hutson

Fitness

Any “Halfway Decent Person” Can Join And Own Ireland’s Oldest Gym

Lauren Theisen

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates after a goal

Leon Draisaitl Makes Everything Easier

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

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

Podcasts

Rolling The 20-Sided Dice On Love

Ben Goldfarb

A bulldozer moves a pile of dirt, which features two hoofs sticking out of the top

Capital

An Abundance Of Concrete

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Tyrese Haliburton celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers

Tyrese Haliburton Sure Knows How To Pick His Spots

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

A grey tabby cat with some white features on the bottom of her head in a small yurt-like cat cave. She has one paw out, and is looking at the camera.

Animals

Oh No, It’s Another Emotional Story About My Cat!

Albert Burneko

Jayson Tatum holds up three fingers to celebrate making a three-pointer in a game in which the Celtics missed an NBA playoff–record 45 threes, and lost in overtime.

The Celtics Will Just Keep Doing This Until We Are All Driven Insane

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A photo of fired EPA program analyst Amanda Cronin holding the text of Executive Order 14096

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired EPA Environmental Justice Program Analyst

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

My Yang right, and Pang Nhia of Minneapolis look for CD's at the Sam Goody store in City Center in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday.

Funbag

What’s The Worst CD You’ve Ever Purchased?

Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens sits on the bench

Ravens Release Justin Tucker, Claim It’s A “Football Decision”

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrates the teams victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Gave Liverpool Everything It Needed

Ray Ratto

Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on October 21, 2017.

Gregg Popovich Was Too Far Ahead To Be Patient

Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON - MAY 5 - Referee Chris Rooney (5) blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) lays on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 5, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

It Wouldn’t Be A Panthers Postseason Without A Cheap Shot By Sam Bennett

Tom Ley

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the fourth quarter of Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on May 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.

That Was All Mark’s Dang Fault

Dave McKenna

Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (R) punches Ramon Cardenas in the fourth round of their title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inoue retained his titles with an eighth-round TKO.

The Fights

Naoya Inoue And Ramon Cardenas Salvaged Boxing’s Meek Weekend

Kathryn Xu

Frederic Vasseur speaks on the phone outside of the Ferrari garage in the Miami International Autodrome paddock.

Racing

It’s Another Ferrari Radio Meltdown Classic

Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets stands on the ice in front of the Whiteout crowd prior to puck drop

Connor Hellebuyck Earned A Reprieve

Niko Stratis

Jakob Dylan, in 1997, singing in front of a microphone. He has short curly hair, maybe has a little beard, and he's in a long sleeve collared button-front shirt. He's playing guitar. In the corner there's an image of a book cover: The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman, by Niko Stratis

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Got To Be Something Better Than In The Middle

a headshot for Charla Burnett, a fired science for development fellow at USAID

An Interview With A Fired Science For Development Fellow At USAID

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during their game at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2025 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images)

How To Watch Basketball

Maitreyi Anantharaman

An Indianapolis Colts fan reacts after the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 5: Ice Queens

The Pacers Out-Styled The Cavaliers And Swiped Home-Court Advantage

Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Houston Rockets after making a three-point basket during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.