defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_post_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_post_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_3:2

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero_1:1

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_post_card_square

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_16x9_full_width

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_3x2_full_width

lede_article_featured_1x1

lede_article_featured_1x1_full_width

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_featured_flexible_full_width

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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-no-empty-space

Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

headshot1

Patrick Redford

Former Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao arrives at federal court in Seattle, Washington, on April 30, 2024. Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former chief executive of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, was sentenced today to four months in prison after he pleaded guilty to violating laws against money laundering. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP)

US-crypto-management-JUSTICE

Capital

Donald Trump’s Crypto Corruption Machine Is Whirring Along At A Stunning Pace

IMG_5859

Giri Nathan

shams-charania-investigation

Shams Charania Tries Out Legal Commentary, With Perplexing Results

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
&nbsp;

Capture

Lucy Bloom

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Manager Dan Wilson #6 of the Seattle Mariners takes the ball from Bryan Woo #22 during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

American League Championship Series – Seattle Mariners v Toronto Blue Jays – Game Seven

How Not To Run A Bullpen

image0 (5)

Israel Daramola

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

Tennessee v Alabama

College Football

It Is Once Again All About ‘Bama

headshot

Barry Petchesky

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 23: Gavin Brindley #54 of the Colorado Avalanche fights for the puck against Charles-Alexis Legault #62 of the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period at Ball Arena on October 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v Colorado Avalanche

The NHL Has A Uniform Problem

IMG_6025-800

Albert Burneko

Donald Trump delivers an announcement on his Homeland Security Task Force in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 23, 2025 in Washington, DC

President Trump Makes An Announcement In The State Dining Room Of The White House

Politics

What Can’t The President Do?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks onstage at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 at The Plaza Hotel on September 24, 2025 in New York City.

Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025

Adam Silver’s Job Is About To Get So Much Harder

Terry Rozier #2 of the Miami Heat looks on against the New York Knicks during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on March 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Chauncey Billips of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center on October 22, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

billups-rozier

Chauncey Billups And Terry Rozier Arrested In Connection With Federal Gambling Investigations

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

Shohei Ohtani rs rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Distraction logo is at upper left.

National League Championship Series – Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Four

Podcasts

No That’s Too Good, With Justin Halpern

Kurt Suzuki, left, takes questions after being announced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels by General Manager Perry Minasian during a press conference at the stadium in Anaheim, CA on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. He looks kind of freaked out.

Kurt Suzuki named manager of LA Angels

Congratulations Kurt Suzuki, You Get To Manage The Opossum House

-b9trzb

Lauren Theisen

The Montreal Canadiens celebrate on ice after a win in overtime against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 22, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Montreal Canadiens v Calgary Flames

More Like The Calgary Wet Logs

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.

drewkid-1-e1599592436888

Drew Magary

Adam Prentice #46 and Troy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after Franklin's receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants at Empower Field At Mile High on October 19, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

New York Giants v Denver Broncos

Jamboroo

This Is The Lowest Form Of Analytics And We Must Kill It

GettyImages-2147793502

Music

Tyler, The Creator Doesn’t Want To Reap What He Has Sown

IMG_9916

Justin Raden

AI Academia

The Machines

Higher Ed’s Rush To Adopt AI Is About So Much More Than AI

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to a score during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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.

San Antonio Spurs v Dallas Mavericks

Wemby’s Going To Make Things Ugly For These Guys

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 21: Steven Adams #12 of the Houston Rockets keeps control of the ball from Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on October 21, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Oklahoma City Thunder

Being Huge Is Cool Again

authorpic1294q9q7qfnn

Soraya Roberts

TCL Chinese Theatre Hosts Handprint And Footprint In Cement Ceremony For Actress Diane Keaton

Arts And Culture

Diane Keaton’s Solo Act

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on October 21, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3

Soccer

Arsenal Shows No Mercy

ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 21: Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders looks on against the San Jose Sharks at UBS Arena on October 21, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

San Jose Sharks v New York Islanders

Get Excited About The Islanders’ Fearless Teen

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner seen in a blue sweatshirt on a boat in an image from his campaign ad. He has red hair and a beard.

PlatnerBoat

What Job Is A Guy With A Nazi Tattoo Qualified For?

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson looks on prior to an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, TN.

New York Jets v Tennessee Titans

Woody Johnson Doesn’t Think Anyone Could Win With The Pile-Of-Shit Quarterback He Signed

Dave McKenna

Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin leaving the first presidential debate on The Tonight Show, at Virgin Media Television Studios in Dublin. Picture date: Monday September 29, 2025.

Irish presidential election

Small-Time Political Scandals Still Have Consequences In Island Nation Called Ireland

Keith Paradise is a freelance writer who somehow won a Keystone Press Award during his 
decade spent as a newspaper reporter in Pennsylvania, where he covered sports, education, and 
the murder of a neighborhood turkey. Originally from Pittsburgh, he is a senior writer for 
Billiards Digest magazine and his name has appeared twice in the notable section of The Year’s 
Best Sports Writing anthology—including in 2024 for his Defector article on the rise and fall of 
sports clothing icon Starter.

unnamed

Keith Paradise

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 4: A general overall interior view of PNC Park in the fourth inning during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park on September 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers v Pittsburgh Pirates

Why Are There Still Pirates Fans?

skalaf-photo

Samer Kalaf

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel in the rain

Miami Dolphins v Cleveland Browns

Mike McDaniel’s Really Bombing Up There

A crazy-ass map of the Thunder as Agentic basketball team

agentic1

An Interview With The Guy Anthony Edwards Called “Fly As Fuck” While Giving Timothee Chalamet The White Boy Of The Year Award

All Articles