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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

Albert Burneko

An old black-and-white photo of a game between the Celtics and Royals

A Timely And Data-Loaded 2023 NBA Finals Preview, For Basketball Idiots

Patrick Redford

Eric Lewis #42 looks on during the game during round two game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffson May 14, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Someone Tweeted NBA Referee Eric Lewis Out Of An NBA Finals Assignment

David Roth

Gabe Vincent, Bam Adebayo, and Caleb Martin stand together as the team is introduced before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Podcasts

Eat Culture, With Rohan Nadkarni

Ray Ratto

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - APRIL 30: A general view of a golf ball on the green of the first hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Golf Club on April 30, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas.

Golf

I Demand These Two Awful, Heroic Golfers Be Given A Hefty NIL Deal

<div class="gmail_default">Timothy Faust is a healthcare writer and author of the book <a href="http://www.healthjusticenow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.healthjusticenow.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1685593699820000&amp;usg=AOvVaw24V19Y2HTPgYkH_EpZ_lgj">Health Justice Now</a>. He and his long little dog, Ume, move around a lot.</div>
<div class="gmail_default"></div>

Timothy Faust

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 16: Zander Bathory steps on the back of the European Assassin during the AWF Wrestling Dojo Wrestling night July 16, 2004 in Sydney, Australia. For this group of die-hard sports professionals who spend most Saturdays training and wrestling in a small dojo in Sydney's South West. It's a ritual that goes way beyond dedication reaching into the realm of obsession. Founded in 1999, the AWF has now grown to over fifty professional wrestlers Australia wide. Hosting regular bout nights across the country, means these guys get a chance to do things they don't normally get to do, the blood is real and injuries happen, often. After starting a school for wrestling six years ago, AWF founder Greg Bowden has trained more than fifty pro wrestlers, in a bid to help promote the sport and build a substantial fan base. Unlike America's WWE group, which is broadcast regularly around the world via cable television, the AWF, despite numerous attempts, have been unable to secure television broadcast support, which constantly hampers the sport's promotion, keeping crowd numbers down and the group confined to low cost venues and shows. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Pro Wrestling

In American Indie Wrestling, Bodies Are Cheap And Healthcare Is Not

Tom Ley

TORONTO, ON - MAY 30: Anthony Bass #52 of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a statement to the media before playing the Milwaukee Brewers in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on May 30, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Even Anthony Bass’s Own Fans Know He’s A Jerkoff

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 14 : Fans cheering to game stage during the 2018 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational Groups Stage at the EU LCS Studio on May 14, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games via Getty Images)

Capital

The ‘League Of Legends’ Walkout Is A Warning

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

BOULDER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team warms up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 22, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Dadfector

Don’t Rank Your Children, You Domineering Prick

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Fans sit behind signs referencing plans for the Oakland Athletics to move to Las Vegas during a game against the Atlanta Braves at RingCentral Coliseum on May 29, 2023 in Oakland, California.

Oakland A’s: Thousands Of Fans Across The Country Will Flock To Las Vegas To Watch Us Play Awful Baseball

SEP 10 1989 Sitting in the Chair at the Press Conf for the Pit Bulls at the Denver Athletic Club is Punk. Credit: The Denver Post (Denver Post via Getty Images)

Life Lessons

Do You Have That Dog In You? Take The Defector Quiz!

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs general manager Bob Myers after the Warriors defeated the Kings 120-100 in game seven of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 30, 2023 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Warriors Are In Flux

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

The Chill Bride, The Boutonnieres, And The Hair Straightener

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

Dan McQuade

This Is So Stupid

Breaking: A-Rod Has Gum Disease

Lauren Theisen

Brett Sullivan of the Padres rubbing his eyes

Padres Blackouts Are Over, For A Price

Luis Paez-Pumar

Music

I Recommend Seeing Your Favorite Band Live 14 Times

WNBA

Breanna Stewart Went Home And Conquered

Primoz Roglic getting the push he needed.

Cycling

Primoz Roglic Got A Little Push From A Pal In His Quest For Redemption

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin (0) and Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne (11) looks on after a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Chicago Sky on May 26, 2023, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

Shakira Austin Is Right Where Elena Delle Donne Needs Her To Be

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jaylen Brown looks miserable during the post-game press conference.

Jaylen Brown Was Supermaximally Shitty When It Counted

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

The ‘Succession’ Misery Index: A Meal Fit For A King

Eight basketball players looking at the Last Supper but it's a basketball backboard

My Pointless Quest To Double The Number Of Apostles At The Last Supper

BOSTON, MA - MAY 1: Reggie Miller and Kevin Harland look on during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Funbag

An Extremely Mild And Possibly Temporary Endorsement Of Reggie Miller

The Stars Failed To Show Up

Defector At The Movies

It’s Good When Action Movies Remember To Be A Little Silly

Caleb Martin of the Miami Heat shoots over Derrick White of the Boston Celtics in Monday night's Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals