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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 July 15

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Live Event

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Commentator and former NFL player Tom Brady (C) reacts on the field prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Washington Commanders v Detroit Lions

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 2: Can You Dig It?

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Tom Ley

George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, May 25, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Toronto Blue Jays v. Tampa Bay Rays

Blue Jays Rally Undone By George Springer’s Little Hops

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


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

Mamta Patel Nagaraja, a fired NASA associate chief scientist for exploration and research, giving a keynote at the Department of Transportation for a White House event

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Interviews

An Interview With A Fired NASA Associate Chief Scientist

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Kathryn Xu

Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing drives the Red Bull RB21 Honda.

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Racing

Max Verstappen Shatters The Illusion


<p>Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley competes in the girls high jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, California.

AB Hernandez

Youth Sports

Despite Online Outrage, The California State Track Meet Was Mostly Just A Track Meet

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers grabs the ball against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers – Game Six

The Pacers Were Just Too Much To Handle

Désiré Doué of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Paris Saint-Germain v FC Internazionale Milano – UEFA Champions League Final 2025

Soccer

Paris Saint-Germain Left No Doubt

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans plays the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in the fourth quarter February 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson Accused Of Rape, Domestic Violence In Lawsuit

<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

Tom Cruise arrives at the US Premiere of "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" at Lincoln Center Plaza in New York, New York on May 18, 2025.

US Premiere of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Red Carpet)

Arts And Culture

If Tom Cruise REALLY Loved Movies, He Would Let Me Watch Him Die

Stefon Diggs handing a pink substance to some women on a boat

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The Stefon Diggs Experience Reaches Its Inevitable Maritime Climax

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David Roth

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti, at center in glasses and a vest, was in attendance for the retirement of Kendrick Williams during a college basketball game between Texas Longhorns and the TCU Horned Frogs on February 3, 2024.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 03 Texas at TCU

What Is Sam Presti’s Name? The Answer(s) May Surprise You.

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Albert Burneko

Pork knuckles are grilled on a spit over a wood fire

This Is So Stupid

Dave McKenna Insists They Have Ham Trucks In France

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Ray Ratto

Miguel Andujar of the Athletics reacts at a called strike against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

Philadelphia Phillies v Athletics

The Athletics Have Hopped Back Into The Dumpster


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis look on during the main event of Money in the Bank 2011.

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Pro Wrestling

John Laurinaitis Says He Will Testify Against Vince McMahon

<p>The author can be reached at postpostdoc@protonmail.com.</p>


Post-Postdoc

Germany – : Homepage, Website of the search engine lycos

The Machines

The AI Floodwaters Are Rising Fast

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Kelsey McKinney

A logo for Ask the Book Doctor, with a woman with arm tattoos and a nose ring looking at a giant art book and flipping pages. It's a very 1980s clip art look

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Got A Reading Problem? Ask The Book Doctor!

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a pass against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers – Game Four

They Can’t All Be Thrillers

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.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Minnesota Timberwolves – Game Three

Podcasts

Activating The Dunk Machine

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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-FRA-OPEN-2025

Tennis

João Fonseca Loves The Pressure

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

Xenoblade Chronicles

The Backlog

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

a headshot of Becca Beckham, a former AmeriCorps portfolio manager

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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,

An overview of contestants at The Miami Herald Spelling Bee.

Life's Rich Pageant

Confessions Of A Spelling Bee Pronouncer

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Lauren Theisen

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Five

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

The Goal

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Kicking Practice

Dave McKenna

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

Rick Derringer Live

Rick Derringer Made Rock And Roll Fun

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