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Defector

Patrick Redford

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Mike Brown, head coach of the Sacramento Kings, looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center on November 13, 2022 in Sacramento, California. 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Can The Sacramento Kings Be Bigger Than The Beam?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

circa 1960: Child actor Johnny Crawford looks forward to eating a pile of pancakes in an International House of Pancakes, a chain of eateries in the USA started in 1958 by Californian brothers Al and Jerome Lapin. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

Life Lessons

I Don’t Want Brain By Seventeen, I Want Body By Pancake

Ray Ratto

TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 11: A CFL logo on an official Canadian CFL league ball during warm-ups before the Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL game against the Toronto Argonauts on July 11, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

After 41 Years, Nonexistent CFL Team Slightly Closer To End Of Nonexistence

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks nearly smooch.

Draymond Green And Dillon Brooks Are The Most Annoying People In Sports

Laura Wagner

ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 23: Corinne Diacre Head coach of France reacts prior to kick off in the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 Quarter Final match between France and Netherlands at The New York Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Rotherham, England.

Soccer

French National Team Coach Fired Because Players Hated Her So Much They Quit The Team

Alex Pareene

Sarah Mody (C), Senior Product Marketing Manager, Global Search and AI, gives demonstrations in the Bing Experience Lounge with during an event introducing a new AI-powered Microsoft Bing and Edge at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington on February 7, 2023. - Microsoft's long-struggling Bing search engine will integrate the powerful capabilities of language-based artificial intelligence, CEO Satya Nadella said, declaring what he called a new era for online search.

The Machines

I Have Seen The Future Of User-Determined AI Bias

David Roth

Shohei Ohtani looking swole as hell during Samurai Japan's training before the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with The Distraction logo at upper left.

Podcasts

My Fabulous Vacation Home On Naboo, With Michael Schur

Giri Nathan

Kevin Durant’s Home Debut Ends During Warmups

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 30: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after being called for a foul during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on January 30, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Raptors 114-106. 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.

Fred VanVleet Can Afford To Roast As Many Referees As He Wants

Lauren Theisen

Nobody Scores In Minnesota

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

Dan McQuade

Aaron Rodgers takes a hit from a Jets defender.

Aaron Rodgers Could Be A Jet All The Way

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Maryland Terrapins head coach Brenda Frese talks to Maryland Terrapins guard Diamond Miller (1) during the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship sweet sixteen round game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Maryland Terrapins on March 25, 2022, at Spokane Veterans Memorial Stadium in Spokane, WA.

College Basketball

The Maryland Terrapins Are So Crazy They Just Might Work

LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 24: An Elvis Presley impersonator sings to World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon during his 64th birthday celebration in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pro Wrestling

How Would Betting On Pro Wrestling Even Work?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 08, 2023 in London, England

Tottenham’s Marriage To Antonio Conte Has Reached Its Logical End

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange looks on during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at JMA Wireless Dome on February 18, 2023 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

Jim Boeheim, Sour To The Last

Albert Burneko

Kylian Mbappé, looking skyward in frustration.

Champions League

Paris Ain’t Germane (To The Discussion Of Possible Champions League Winners)

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Chase Center on February 13, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Even The Warriors Seem Sick Of The Warriors

Tom Ley

Now Coming Onto The Pitch For West Ham: Wife

A basketball trophy from the City of Hoover.

Media Meltdowns

Innocent Misunderstanding Turns Youth Hoops Trophy Presentation Into Hell Of Online Outrage

Barry Petchesky

Lightning Live The Dream, Pummel Tony DeAngelo

DELRAY BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Matija Pecotic (CRO) competes during the qualifying round of the ATP Delray Beach Open on February 12, 2023, at the Delray Beach Stadium &amp; Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Florida.(Photo by Aaron Gilbert/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tennis

A Conversation With Matija Pecotic, The Office Guy Who Shocked The Tennis World

Why Doesn’t Anyone Want Lamar Jackson?

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer looking very interested during an October 2022 tour of the future Clippers arena, which it turns out will have a lot of toilets in it.

Entire Clippers Roster Gathers To Watch Team Owner Shout “Toilets!”

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 28: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum on February 28, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee.