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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

David Roth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to his right, seemingly at The Distraction logo, with a towel over his shoulder, after the team's Game 4 loss in the Western Conference Finals.

Podcasts

Activating The Dunk Machine

Patrick Redford

Brazil's Joao Fonseca reacts after winning against France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert during their men's singles match on day 5 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Tennis

João Fonseca Loves The Pressure

Luis Paez-Pumar

An early game battle against Metal Face in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

The Backlog

‘Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition’ Is What A Remake Should Be


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

a headshot of Becca Beckham, a former AmeriCorps portfolio manager

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager

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<p>Sebastian Stockman is a Teaching Professor in English at Northeastern University, a writer whose work has appeared in the <em>Washington Post </em>and the <em>Boston Globe</em> among many other places, and a guy who publishes <a href="https://sebastianstockman.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sebastianstockman.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1748539688609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0eIUYaj1h-eA1-XIa8i0L7">A Saturday Letter,</a> a very occasional free thing. Follow him on Bluesky @<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/substockman.bsky.social">substockman.bsky.social</a>.</p>
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Sebastian Stockman

Florida, Miami, Arscht Performing Arts Center, The Miami Herald Spelling Bee, test, competition, stage, overview, contestants, judges, moderator, sit, chair, elimination, opera house,

Life's Rich Pageant

Confessions Of A Spelling Bee Pronouncer

Lauren Theisen

The Panthers Are A Nightmare For The Rest Of The NHL

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<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Goal in sunset, at Gärdet Stockholm Sweden

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Kicking Practice

Dave McKenna

Rick Derringer performs at Oakland Stadium in Oakland, California - July 23, 1977

Arts And Culture

Rick Derringer Made Rock And Roll Fun

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Thunder players smile on the sideline during their victory.

Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Oklahoma City

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kathryn Westbeld #24 (L) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with Alyssa Thomas #25 after defeating the Chicago Sky 94-89 in the WNBA game at PHX Arena on May 27, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

WNBA

The Mercury Are Getting Plenty Of Help From Their Intriguing Randos

BORMIO, ITALY - MAY 28: Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and Team UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Pink Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 108th Giro d'Italia 2025, Stage 17 a 155km stage from San Michele all'Adige to Bormio 1200m / #UCIWT / on May 28, 2025 in Bormio, Italy. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

Isaac Del Toro Meets The Moment

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the first quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 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.

Can The NBA Still Produce Interesting Coaches?

Samer Kalaf

Caitlin Clark reacts after a turnover in a game against the Liberty.

Media Meltdowns

Christine Brennan Won’t Rest Until Caitlin Clark’s Muscle Strain Is Treated As A National Crisis

Ray Ratto

Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up against the Dallas Stars in Game Four

Oh God, Stuart Skinner Controls The Oilers’ Destiny

Tom Ley

A woman wearing Save Girls Sport hat records a video of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the girls long jump at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School on May 24, 2025 in Moorpark, California.

Youth Sports

It’s A Great Time To Be A Pathetic Loser

<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>


Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

The Champagne Socialist And The Espresso Martini Capitalist

Albert Burneko

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a jump shot against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Faster Is Better

Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the dugout.

Dodgers So Desperate For Starting Pitching They Turn To DH

<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>


Drew Magary

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks during a Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor induction ceremony during halftime of a game against the Washington Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Funbag

Jim Irsay Can’t Meddle With The Colts Anymore, But His Kids Can

Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal

The Hurricanes Avoided The Garbage Can

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Soraya Roberts

Benny (Benito Skinner), Carmen (Wally Baram), Holmes in OVERCOMPENSATING

‘Overcompensating’ Is Not A Joke

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball against Julius Randle #30 and Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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’s What We All Want To See

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts to a play against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 26: Ball Don’t Lie (Themeless)

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) drives past Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25) and goes in for two during a WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on May 24, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.