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Defector

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.

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.

Congratulations Kurt Suzuki, You Get To Manage The Opossum House

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

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.

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.

Jamboroo

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

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

Music

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

Justin Raden

The Machines

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

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.

Wemby’s Going To Make Things Ugly For These Guys

Patrick Redford

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)

Being Huge Is Cool Again

Soraya Roberts

Arts And Culture

Diane Keaton’s Solo Act

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.

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.

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.

Politics

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.

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.

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.

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)

Why Are There Still Pirates Fans?

Samer Kalaf

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel in the rain

Mike McDaniel’s Really Bombing Up There

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

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

Funbag

‘The Postmortal,’ 90,000 Copies Later

KINGS03E-C-03JUN02-SP-CG --- Kings's Vlade Divac, lays on the floor as he fouls out in the final minutes of regulation. The Kings lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the final seconds of overtime at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Ca. The Sacramento Kings played the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Arco Arena in Sacramento, Ca., on Tuesday, May 28, 2002.

Were The 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals Really Fixed?

Albert Burneko

Giri Nathan

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ray Ratto

Male students playing basketball, Western High School, Washington, D.C., circa 1899

Harken Ye Unto The 2025–26 NBA Season Preview, Which Stands Before You

Kelsey McKinney

Defector At The Movies

What Even Is ‘After The Hunt’?

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after game seven of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

The Sounds Of Autumn

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) after a week 11 NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs on November 20, 2016 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The Buccaneers won 19-17.

Doug Martin’s Family Says He Was Experiencing Mental Health Crisis Before Dying In Police Custody

George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a three-run home run to take the lead in the seventh inning during Game Seven of the American League Championship Series. He's like 18 inches off the ground and everyone in the stands is freaking out.

More Of This, Please

Charles Omenihu #90 of the Kansas City Chiefs grabs the face mask of Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.