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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

Patrick Redford

A general view of an NBA on NBC camera during the game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 25, 2025.

Let’s Check In On The State Of The NBA’s National Broadcasts

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Somewhere Between Pettiness And Journalism Lies Netflix’s Diddy Documentary

Dave McKenna

Head coach Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines looks on before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

College Football

Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore Fired, Arrested On Same Day

Lauren Theisen

Pete Alonso #20 and Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals

The Mets Are Going To Look A Lot Different Next Year

Tom Ley

Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka

Tennis

An Extended Conversation Between Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, And Aryna Sabalenka Was Always Going To Turn Transphobic

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Kelsey McKinney

a photo of a woman dressed in drag as Santa Claus holding a flaming shot glass looking at a blurry man

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘My Secret Santa’

Ray Ratto

Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies in South Bend.

Notre Dame’s Ongoing Diaper Blowout Is Bringing College Football Together

A. Frog is a freelance writer living in Japan.

A. Frog

A screencap of a video showing the backside of a green frog and a hornet inside a plastic box

Creaturefector

I Shall Never Mess Up Again

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

Podcasts

The Tulip Clause

Barry Petchesky

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 9: Ville Husso #33 of the Anaheim Ducks protects the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 9, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

If It Wins Like A Duck

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Bryce Young hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Capital

Whose League Is It Anyway?

Giri Nathan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 08: Derik Queen #22 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a play during the second half of a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Smoothie King Center on December 08, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

Derik Queen Might Be Good Enough To Make A Colossally Dumb Decision Look Slightly Less Dumb

Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds the fans after the English Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool in Leeds, Britain, on Dec. 6, 2025.

Soccer

Everyone Loses In The Liverpool-Mo Salah Clash

Kathryn Xu

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko before free practice at the Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Racing

Farewell To Helmut Marko, Ignorant Loudmouth

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

Funbag

Pat McAfee Is Intolerable

Shams Charania breaks some news, grainily

Sources: The Opening Domino Of The 2025 Shamsy Selection Process Has Fallen Invariably, Will Spawn Numerous Pathways For Unique News

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Philip Rivers in a Colts uniform, from 2020

Colts Audition Philip Rivers In Possible Act Of Elder Abuse

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: David Ellison attends the 48th Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on December 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shannon Finney/WireImage)

Paramount Launches Hostile Takeover Bid For Warner Bros. Discovery

Daiyan Henley #0 of the Los Angeles Chargers at hits Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles as he throws during the second quarter SoFi Stadium on December 08, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Jalen Hurts Won The Disaster Contest

Jack Hanson

Patricia Lockwood’s Inexhaustible Mind

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

Dan McQuade

The Bills’ Hallmark Christmas Movie Is An Infomercial For A Health Insurer

Billy Haisley

Phil Foden of Manchester City and Rayan Cherki of Manchester City celebrate 4th goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Rayan Cherki’s Pass Was A Thing Of Beauty

Death To The NCAA

The College Football Playoff Is Here And No One Is Happy

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Seth Harp Talks About The Rot At The Core Of America’s Empire

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 19: Portrait of (L-R) Second Baseman Jeff Kent #21 and Left Fielder Barry Bonds #25 both of the San Francisco Giants during game one of the World Series against the Anaheim Angels on October 19, 2002 at Edison Field in Anaheim, California. The Giants defeated the Angels 4-3. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)