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Defector Staff

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Announcements

Give A Gift That Doesn’t Suck, Get A Gift That Doesn’t Suck

<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>


Drew Magary

Photo by Tim Leedy 1/1/09Pork and Sauerkraut on New Year's day.Paul and Sara Wixon of Muhlenberg twp have a family dinner at Wegman's restaurant in Muhlenberg Twp.

Jamboroo

Eat Dinner Early

Israel Daramola

Listening Habits

The Rap Music That Defined 2025

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<p>Robert Rubsam writes fiction and nonfiction. His work has appeared in the NYT Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Baffler, and Liberties. He is a contributing writer for Commonweal Magazine.</p>
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Robert Rubsam

Arts And Culture

‘Train Dreams’ Is Afraid Of Its Own Shadow

Giri Nathan

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on November 04, 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images)

It Is A Moral Imperative For The Rest Of The NBA To Improve The Clippers

Ray Ratto

Keyshawn Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 15, 2002. He's kind of smirking a bit.

Can You Really Tell The Story Of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Just 10 Hours?

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on December 01, 2025 in Los Angeles, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Dillon Brooks Wants The Last Word

Lauren Theisen

Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with Gabriel Landeskog

Who Can Stop The Avalanche?

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


Chris Thompson

The Clippers Checked Out Early From Chris Paul’s Retirement Tour

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


Jae Towle Vieira

Podcasts

The Petty Feuds Of A Dog In Therapy

Tim Robinson Understands What The Boys Are Going Through

Barry Petchesky

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 26: An general view of the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena located in the Santa Giulia district on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. For the 2026 Olympic Games, a new multi-purpose arena will be inaugurated, where 16,000 people will be able to watch the best national teams and the great international stars of ice hockey and para ice hockey on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vincenzo Lombardo/Getty Images)

Olympics

What’s Going On With The Olympic Hockey Arena?


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

a photo of the set of the broadway musical Chess, with a sign that says CHESS, and the chorus standing for bows in front of it

‘Chess: The Musical’ Is Somehow More Of A Musical About Chess Than You Can Imagine

Journalismism

Suns Reporter Describes Death Threats And Moving His Family Out Of Phoenix After Charlie Kirk Tweets

Death To The NCAA

The Lane Kiffin Saga Shows Why You Should Never Cry For Coaches

Kathryn Xu

Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 02 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on November 30, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Racing

Either Red Bull Has Finally Made A Good Second-Seat Choice, Or Poor Isack Hadjar Is Doomed

Is It Even Possible To Cheat On ‘The Bachelor’?

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.

Funbag

Oh Shit, I’m A Crossword Dork Now

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.

Soccer

OGC Nice Fans Physically And Verbally Attacked Players After Loss

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

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>
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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.

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

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.

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.

College Football

Scandal-Plagued Michigan State Hires Scandal-Plagued Pat Fitzgerald

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri interviewed after the Qatar Grand Prix.