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Defector

Lauren Theisen

Sabretooth, the mascot of the Buffalo Sabres falls to the ice after allowing plenty of intermission goals to youth hockey players on March 5, 2008 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.

The Sabres Finally Got Sick Of Kevyn Adams

<div dir="auto">Liz Cook is a freelance writer and recipe developer based in Kansas City. Her work appears in places like Serious Eats, Eater, the BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler. She also writes the experimental food newsletter <a href="https://haterade.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haterade</a>. </div>

Liz Cook

The entrance to 1587 Prime, a steakhouse that… looks like a steakhouse

Food

Two Nights Playing With Fire At Patrick Mahomes And Travis Kelce’s Steakhouse

Giri Nathan

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers guards against Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Mike Christy/Getty Images)

LeBron James And The Lakers Benefit From The Duality Of Dillon Brooks

Patrick Redford

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 06: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers runs down court during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Rocket Arena on December 06, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 99-94. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Cleveland Cavaliers Situation Is Alarming

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The front entrance of the Washington Post's offices in D.C.

Journalismism

Law Enforcement Teams Up With Washington Post To Make A Mess Of Investigation Into Brown University Shooting

Tom Ley

CBS News Hitches Its Wagon To These Two Duds

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

Dan McQuade

A Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals fan are seen prior to a game at Paycor Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. There is snow all around them.

The Bengals Left It To Their Fans To Clean Up The Snow

Ray Ratto

Philip Rivers of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates his touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on December 14, 2025. That's like five years after his last NFL game.

Philip Rivers Is Like A 44-Year-Old Kid Out There

Kelsey McKinney

a woman with brown hair wearing a jacket leans forward in the back of a car

Defector At The Movies

Everything I Remember About ‘Ella McCay’

Kirill Kaprizov #97 and Quinn Hughes #43 of the Minnesota Wild stand on the blue line during the National Anthem

Minnesota Goes Wild For Quinn Hughes

Maitreyi Anantharaman

K.J. Macura, Joe Sherburne #13 and Jairus Lyles #10 of the UMBC Retrievers address the media after the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 15: Out Of Court

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 14: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs lays on the ground after sustaining an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Patrick Mahomes Tore His ACL And The Chiefs Tore Off The Bandage

J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings leaves the field after his team defeated the Dallas Cowboys at AT&amp;T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

J.J. McCarthy Did A Little Dance He Wasn’t Supposed To Do

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 13: Navy Midshipmen celebrate during a game between the Navy Midshipmen and Army West Point Black Knights at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

College Football

Aaaaaaauuuuuggghhhhh!!!

David Roth

Victor Wembanyama and his long ass arms grab a rebound over Jaylen Williams of the Thunder during the fourth quarter of a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 13, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Spurs Showed How To Beat The Thunder

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 13: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines handles the ball in the second half against David Coit #8 of the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 13, 2025 in College Park, Maryland.

College Basketball

Michigan Is Routing Everyone

Dave McKenna

Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore

Fired Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore Arraigned On Home Invasion And Stalking Charges

Billy Haisley

Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 10, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

Soccer

Real Madrid Is Stuck

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 1: Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Tamari Davis compete in the women's 100m race at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania on June 1, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Track And Field

Michael Johnson’s Track Start-Up Declares Bankruptcy

Kathryn Xu

Daniel Craig as the detective Benoit Blanc in a still from 'Wake Up Dead Man'

‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Defines Justice Differently

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks onto the field prior to the game against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Bill Belichick’s Lackeys Have Become His Fall Guys

Becca Young

Arts And Culture

Maggie Nelson Sputters And Stalls In ‘The Slicks’

Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes a shot as Layla Hays #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes blocks in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 10, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

Audi Crooks Makes Every Minute Count

Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears walks off the field after a loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 7, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Podcasts

All Things Must Pass, With Matthew Coller

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

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills takes on the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL 2025 game between Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.