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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

Giri Nathan

Zion Williamson flexes during the pregame

Zion Williamson Left The Timberwolves Bruised And Salty

Lauren Theisen

A bloodied Eddie Kingston with a can of gasoline

Pro Wrestling

Some Wrestling Matches I Liked In 2022

Ray Ratto

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 8: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders yells to teammates while stretching prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 8, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

The Raiders Are Sending Derek Carr To A Farm Upstate

Defector Staff

Year In Review

The Best Things We Heard In 2022

Kelsey McKinney

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Dayna Evans is a baker and writer who got really into surfing recently. She runs Downtime Bakery in Mt. Airy, Philadelphia.

Dayna Evans

Cat eating a panettone while a little girl sleeping.

Chefector

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Attempts Panettone, For The Simple Joy Of Baking

The Commanders’ Playoff Hopes Now Rest With Carson Wentz

Presenting The 2022 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

Lam Thuy Vo is a journalist who marries data analysis with on-the-ground reporting to examine how systems and policies affect individuals. She is currently a <a href="https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/soros-justice-fellowships" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Soros Justice Fellow</a>, a <a href="https://www.typeinvestigations.org/blog/2021/06/14/announcing-the-2021-ida-b-wells-fellows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Type Investigations Ida B. Wells Fellow</a>, and a <a href="https://www.journalism.cuny.edu/2021/03/lam-thuy-vo-named-to-new-role-to-strengthen-data-journalism-curriculum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data-journalist-in-residence at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism</a>. Previously, she worked for BuzzFeed News, The Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera America and NPR&#8217;s Planet Money.

Lam Thuy Vo

A copy of Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing at the Brooklyn Public Library. Access to Gyasi's book was recently restricted at a high school in Nixa, Missouri.

Politics

When Adults Banned Their Books, These Teens Fought Back By Organizing

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after making the game tying basket against the New York Knicks with one second left in regulation to send the game to overtime at American Airlines Center on December 27, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.

Luka Doncic Did A Funny Little Dance And Scored A 60-Point Triple-Double

When It’s Just Basketball, It’s Just Basketball

Arts And Culture

Will Ticketmaster’s Death Knell Finally Toll?

Billy Haisley

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with (L) Granit Xhaka, (R) William Saliba, (2ndR) Eddie Nketiah, (3rdL) Martin Odegaard and (3rdR) Bukayo Saka during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 26, 2022 in London, England.

Soccer

At Least We Have Arsenal Back

Ashley Feinberg

Funbag

Trump Vs. DeSantis: Who Ya Got?!

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 18: General Manager George Paton of the Denver Broncos walks on the sidelines prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Empower Field At Mile High on September 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. ( (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

GM George Paton: The Broncos Have A Me Problem

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

Two boxing gloves on a red floor background, with deep shadows. The gloves are black, and laid at the wrists atop each other. The left glove has 1-2 on it. The right glove has 2-4 on it. This is painted on with stencils in red ink.

The Fights

On Punches

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 25: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to the sidelines before a play during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Who’s Going To Protect Tua Tagovailoa?

The Best Things We Watched In 2022

The Denver Broncos Head coach Nathaniel Hackett takes the field on December 25, 2022 in Inglewood, Colorado. The Los Angeles Rams take on the Denver Broncos during a Christmas Day game at SoFi Stadium.

The Broncos No Longer Have A Nathaniel Hackett Problem

A defender grabs Michael Jordan's jersey.

Overexplained Lists

What Jerseys Have You Seen Abroad?

1975: Jehovah's Witnesses singing at their convention at Twickenham Rugby Ground. (Photo by Angela Deane-Drummond/Evening Standard/Getty Images)

The Best Things We Read In 2022

Barry Petchesky

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Mike White #5 of the New York Jets looks to throw a pass against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

It’s Mike White Season Again

Aaron Gordon Got Up

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) takes the filed on December 25, 2022 in Inglewood, Colorado. The Los Angeles Rams take on the Denver Broncos during a Christmas Day game at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)