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

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


drewkid-1-e1599592436888

Drew Magary

A spectator attempts to complete a newspaper crossword during the Vitality County Championship match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan at College Ground on July 01, 2024 in Cheltenham, England.

Gloucestershire v Glamorgan  – Vitality County Championship

Funbag

Oh Shit, I’m A Crossword Dork Now

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nice's fans cheer their team with smoke flares during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on November 21, 2025.

FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-NICE-MARSEILLE

Soccer

OGC Nice Fans Physically And Verbally Attacked Players After Loss

headshot1

Patrick Redford

BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1984: Referee Earl Strom #12 looks on prior to the start of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics circa 1984 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Strom was an NBA referee for 29 years. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Earl Strom

Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics

Podcasts

The Ray Ratto Guide To Officiating

<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">, which you can read for free but support </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.</span></p>
<div class="gs">
<div class="">
<div class="WhmR8e" data-hash="0"></div>
</div>
</div>


Marc Normandin

ob Nutting of the Pittsburgh Pirates talks with Adam Frazier #26 before the game against the New York Yankees during the home opener at PNC Park on April 4, 2025. He's got weird little sunglasses on. He looks like he's in a disguise somehow.

New York Yankees v Pittsburgh Pirates

Why MLB’s Cheapest Teams Are At Least Trying To Seem Like They’re Trying

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

A general view of the OU logo and signage for 50 Conference Championships, 7 National Championships, and 31 Bowl Championships on June 8, 2025, on the facade of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JUN 08 University of Oklahoma

Politics

The Conservative Grievance Business Is Always Hiring

Dave McKenna

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats is seen during the 2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days

College Football

Scandal-Plagued Michigan State Hires Scandal-Plagued Pat Fitzgerald

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

image

Kathryn Xu

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri interviewed after the Qatar Grand Prix.

Qatar Grand Prix 2025 – Lusail International Circuit

Racing

The Formula 1 Title Will Be Decided In The Final Race, Thanks To McLaren’s Buffoonery

James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after a no foul call during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

James Harden Clippers

The Clippers Are Circling The Toilet

<p>Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.</p>


R1byyuOh_400x400

Hamilton Nolan

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Andrew Wingard #42 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates after a victory against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans – NFL 2025

Jaguars Junction: Week 13

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

TRYHARD_ShowArtwork_png

Ronald Young Jr. Comes Clean


<p>Visual Editor. Currently on medical leave.</p>


DFmBbTQF_400x400

Dan McQuade

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 30: Charlie Smyth #39 of the New Orleans Saints attempts an onside kick against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

charlie-smyth-onsides

Charlie Successfully Kicks Football

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chappell Roan attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.

The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” – Arrivals

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 1: I Gotta Feeling

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels reacts after a penalty against the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. He's yelling and throwing his ipad like a little kid.

Kiffin Florida v Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin And LSU Deserve Each Other

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

rodgers

Aaron Rodgers Is All Fucked Up

headshot

Barry Petchesky

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring touchdown during the fourth quarter of the NFL 2025 game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers v Cleveland Browns – NFL 2025

Everyone Wants To Punch Jauan Jennings In The Nuts

IMG_5859

Giri Nathan

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks attempts a layup against John Collins #20 and Nicolas Batum #33 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Intuit Dome on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Clippers

Cooper Flagg Makes History Against The Ancient Clippers

skalaf-photo

Samer Kalaf

Football coach Lane Kiffin in Ole Miss gear.

Ole Miss v Mississippi State

Our Long National Nightmare Is Over: Lane Kiffin Has Picked A Job

UNC head coach Bill Belichick in a big puffy coat

bill-belichick-unc-puffy-coat

Bill Belichick’s First Season At UNC Ends With A Mumble

Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass the ball against Saddiq Bey #41 of the New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors

The Warriors Without Steph Curry Are Bad, But The Pelicans Are Still Worse

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff #16 throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions

jared-goff-detroit-lions

Nothing Is Coming Up Lions

Ralph Jones

“Late Fame” Photocall – The 82nd Venice International Film Festival

Interviews

An Illuminating Conversation With The Man Who Was Willem Dafoe’s Stunt Penis

Diana Nyad speaks at the FEMME Awards 2025 at Terranea Resort on March 20, 2025 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

FEMME Awards 2025 ‚Äì Inside

Swimming

Diana Nyad Finally Got Her Plaque

Vikings on a boat preparing for a fortress raid in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

ass-creed-valhalla-backlog-1

The Backlog

‘Valhalla’ Is Assassin’s Creed At Its Most Bloated

A barn near Litchfield, Connecticut. It is painted in a faded red, and there's an American flag painted on the front of it. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Barn near Litchfield, Connecticut

A Long Weekend In “Magary Country”

All Articles