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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

Tom Ley

Announcements

How To Pitch Defector

Laura Wagner

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 19: Karl Malone looks on during the NBA All-Star Game as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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

Karl Malone Is Sick Of Being Asked About Impregnating A Child


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nick Sirianni: I Would Punt The Ball Back To Patrick Mahomes Again

Ray Ratto

20230215E0621DS - Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks to the media

The Owners Are Getting Ornery

Soraya Roberts

Arts And Culture

AI Art Only Looks Like Art If You Don’t Care

Israel Daramola

The NBA All-Star Game Was What It Always Is

Richard Belzer during 55th Annual Writers Guild of America East Awards - Arrivals at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Richard Belzer Was An Old Crank To The End

Lauren Theisen

Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalen Hill (1) and Texas Longhorns forward Timmy Allen (0) fight for the ball

Death To The NCAA

Someone Please Save Big 12 Basketball!

Maitreyi Anantharaman

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 18: Mac McClung #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk Contest as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mac McClung Was A Star All Along

Michael Bunting celebrates his second goal

The Leafs Are Stepping Out Of Their Comfort Zone

Albert Burneko

Soup cans on a supermarket shelf, with a big Chefector logo in front

Chefector

It’s Good To Make Your Own Stock Sometimes

Rafi Schwartz

Overexplained Lists

The 10 Dumbest Congressional Caucuses, Ranked


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (52) exits the game in the fifth inning during a regular season game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on August 06, 2022, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

Mike Clevinger Told His Story, So Olivia Finestead Told Hers Too

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<div><i>You can follow Nate Fisher on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/bozomode">@BozoMode</a>. He also does 80 voices on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-closer-look-podcast/id1561306479" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-closer-look-podcast/id1561306479&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1676741332975000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lHbqww1jqCCFc3nPLp5LF">the A Closer Look Podcast.</a></i></div>
</div>
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Nate Fisher

Racing

Your Guide To The 2023 NASCAR Season, Which Will Claim Your Mortal Soul

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


Sabrina Imbler

A chimpanzee beckoning with an outstretched hand.

Creaturefector

Let Me Hold Your Hand While I Eat Bugs Out Of Your Hair

BOTSWANA - 2014/06/12: Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in river near Chitabe in the Okavango Delta in northern part of Botswana. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Animals

Here’s To Hippos

Kirill Kaprizov Needs A Friend

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 16: A generic basketball photo of the Official NBA Wilson basketball during NBAE Media Circuit Portraits as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Dean/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Best Part Of The All-Star Break Is The Break

Alex Pareene

View, looking up, at a bunch of balloons released above Christopher Street (between Hudson and Bleeker streets) during the annual New York City Pride March, New York, New York, June 24, 1979. (Photo by Suzanne Poli/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Has Anyone Seen My Balloons?

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


Chris Thompson

Maybe It’s A Bad Idea To Alienate Your Best Player In Order To Save Some Pocket Change

"Father, I cannot tell a lie: I cut the tree" / painted by G.G. White ; engraved by John C. McRae. Print showing George Washington as a young boy telling his father that he cut the tree.

I Cannot Tell A Lie: These Proposed George Washington University Nicknames Stink

Four tweets from Chargé 'Affaires Karen Decker (@USAmbKabul) As I reflected on his legacy this week, it occurs to me to ask -Who is Afghanistan's MLK? What Afghan person, driven by their faith and a desire for peace, can lead the Afghan people "to the mountaintop?" Are Afghans familiar with #BlackGir|Magic and the movement it inspired? Do Afghan girls need a similar movement? What about Afghan Women? Teach me, ready to learn. #BlackHistoryMonth®® @Beyonce @lizzo @ReginaKing Abe Lincoln born today in 1809. He did some stuff. It's also NAACP Day - home of grassroots activism, inclusive communities and making sure Black voices are heard. What does that look like for Afghans struggling to be heard? #BlackHistoryMonth • @NAACP @LincolnsCottage Super Bowl LVII. 2 elite QBs who happen to be Black made history in epic showdown. Congrats to @Chiefs for thrilling victory! Afghans - what's the most exciting sports match you remember? #BlackHistoryMonth°

Life's Rich Pageant

U.S. Ambassador To Afghanistan Celebrates Black History Month With Deranged Tweets

No, That Movie Was Not All A Dream

Fans are seen waving flags inside the stadium as they await the unveiling of new FC Barcelona Head Coach Xavi Hernandez during a press conference at Camp Nou on November 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Soccer

Barcelona Insists There’s Nothing Weird About Paying A Referee $1.3 Million

David Roth

Patrick Mahomes about to complete a pass while leading his team to (spoiler alert) a win in Super Bowl 57.