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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

Defector Up All Night

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is—LUSK CALLS THE SNOW DAY. BREAKING NEWS: LUSK CALLS THE SNOW DAY

David Roth

Mac McClung is congratulated by a bunch of much more high-profile NBA players after winning the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend in Utah.

Podcasts

Mac McClung And The Soft Bigotry Of Low Expectations, With Israel Daramola

Israel Daramola

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers takes the field for player introductions prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Lions defeated the Packers 20-16.

This Is So Stupid

Aaron Rodgers’s Darkness Diary

Albert Burneko

Elon Musk and the Cybertruck, in front of a digital readout bragging about the caliber of gunfire it can withstand for some reason.

The Machines

Get A Load Of This Sorry Piece Of Crap

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a new species of voiceless frog, pictured here sitting on a leaf with hands politely clasped together. The frog is golden green with some silvery-gold mottling.

Creaturefector

A Quest For A Beautiful Toad Instead Discovers A Silent Frog

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

Dan McQuade

A photo of a New Jersey rest stop. In the foreground is Ed Harris, the actor. He is in a suit. The quote below him is: "Acting is like scoring a touchdown."

The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi Rest Stop Is Playing Fast And Loose With Famous Quotes

Ray Ratto

At Last, The NBA Season Is Set To Begin

Barry Petchesky

Museum educator Sabine Liener-Kraft looks at the replica of a skull of a Neanderthal a day before the official opening of the new State Museum of Archeology in Chemnitz, Germany, 14 May 2014. About 6,000 exhibits shed light on 300,000 years of human history. The conversion of the building from a shopping center into the museum cost 31 million Euro with another 13,5 million for the permanent exhibition. Photo: HENDRIK SCHMIDT/dpa | usage worldwide (Photo by Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Science

Neanderthals Just Sat There And Watched Us Go Pew Pew Pew With Our Cool Bow And Arrow

John Middleton Spoke The Forbidden Words Of Sports Ownership

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Nate McMillan Finally Freed From The Hawks Mess

Lauren Theisen

Pro Wrestling

The End Of Keiji Muto Was The Rebirth Of Japanese Wrestling

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kelsey McKinney

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

Defector Reads A Book

We Went Rogue With China Miéville’s ‘This Census-Taker’

College Basketball

Nate Oats Has To Be Trying To Be This Clueless

Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts as Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 21, 2023.

Soccer

Real Madrid Will Take What Is Given

LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 reacts to a play during the match between Boulogne-Levallois and JDA Dijon at Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan on February 10, 2023 in Levallois-Perret, France. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Where Should Victor Wembanyama End Up?

Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink (22) tries to block a shot during the women's college basketball game between the Stanford Cardinal and the USC Trojans on January 15, 2023 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Stanford Remains Very Tall And Very Good

Spring Training Speech Turns Terry Francona Into Mr. Bean

Laura Wagner

Canada team group as the players wear purple t shirts with enough is enough written on them during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup match between Canada and Brazil at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee

U.S. Soccer Has Nothing To Say About Canadian Women’s Protest

Arbitration Is Broken Because Owners Broke It

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

Funbag

Online Is What You Make Of It

Lonzo Ball watches a Bulls game from courtside, in a hoodie and ball cap.

Chicago Bulls Organization Experiences Performance-Limiting Brain Condition While Participating In Lonzo Ball Injury Updates

The Search For The Real Jason Heyward Continues

PSA: Points Lie

AL MUROOJ, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 31: Phil Mickelson of USA talks to the media during a practice round prior to the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on January 31, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia.

Golf

Phil Mickelson Has Sullied The Storied History Of HyFlyers GC

A naked mole rat queen stands inside a transparent tunnel.