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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

Lauren Theisen

Gavin McKenna #9 of Canada reacts after winning best player for Canada during the Group B, Game 14 match against Denmark

Gavin McKenna Refuels The Hype Machine

Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Former first baseman Mark McGwire of the Oakland Athletics stands on the field during the team"u2019s Hall of Fame ceremony before the game against the Texas Rangers at the RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 12-3. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Podcasts

The Real Story Of Baseball’s Steroid Era Is A Labor Story

E.Y. Zhao is a writer and editor from St. Louis. Her debut novel, <a href="https://astrapublishinghouse.com/product/underspin-9781662603266/">Underspin</a>, set in the world of competitive table tennis, is out now. She holds a BA in history from Harvard College and an MFA from the University of Michigan.

E.Y. Zhao

Arts And Culture

‘Marty Supreme’ Bears Us Into The New World

Where Does ‘Marty Supreme’ Rank Among Recent Sports Movies?

Defector Staff

Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Prime Minister Goran Persson attend the Nobel Banquet at Stockholm City Hall, Sweden, 10 December 2003.

Year In Review

The Best Things We Ate In 2025

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Philip Rivers Had A Grand Old Time Leading The Colts Into Their Grave

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

flat-headed cat, small wild cat, camera trap, southeast Asia, Thailand

Creaturefector

What Would You Name This Cat?

Ray Ratto

San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy celebrates his 2nd quarter rushing touchdown against Chicago Bears on December 28, 2025. He's doing the cupped-ear "let me hear it" gesture into a TV camera's lens.

Brock Purdy Refuses To Remain Anonymous

VANCOUVER, CANADA - DECEMBER 27: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks gestures to a teammate prior to a face-off during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on December 27, 2025 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

Macklin Celebrini Is All Promise

Israel Daramola

The Steelers Really Love To Make Things Difficult

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Shaquille O'Neal with kids on the court during the Icy Hot &amp; The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation launch latest Comebaq Court event, in partnership with Boys &amp; Girls Club of Northeast Texas, on July 14, 2025 in Rockwall, Texas.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 29: Men Getting Hit By Football (Themeless)

Dave McKenna

Naoya Inoue punches David Picasso during the IBF, WBC and WBO World Super Bantamweight title fight between Naoya Inoue and David Picasso during the Ring V: Night Of The Samurai fight night at Mohammed Abdo Arena on December 27, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Fights

Naoya Inoue Is Becoming A Bigger Monster

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>.

Hamilton Nolan

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21: Mascot Jaxson de Ville of the Jacksonville Jaguars leaps from the light towers prior to the game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field on September 21, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Jaguars Junction: Week 17

The Best Things We Read In 2025

Kelsey McKinney

Brandy Jensen

Some Thoughts On ‘Heated Rivalry,’ Including But Not Limited To: Ahhhh, Mmmm, And [Crying Emoji]

a piece of paper that says magnetic, a string, and a strange bag on top of a rug

This Is So Stupid

Please Join Me In Understanding The Rules Of This Game I Got For Christmas

The Detroit Lions Can Ruin Any Holiday If You Let Them

Tom Ley

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets draws a triple team from Rudy Gobert (27), Jaden McDaniels (3) and Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 142-138 overtime win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

Nikola Jokic And Anthony Edwards Gave Us A Christmas Game For All Time

Eva Holland is a freelance writer and editor based in Whitehorse, Yukon. She&#8217;s a correspondent for Outside magazine and the author of the books Nerve and <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/no-sleep-til-fairbanks#/">No Sleep &#8216;Til Fairbanks</a>.

Eva Holland

‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Bringing Me Back To Hockey

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 25: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on December 25, 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)

De’Aaron Fox Is In Control

Early gramophone in photo on Norwegian postcard of young people listening to record on a gramophone, early thirties.

The Best Things We Heard In 2025

Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.

Matt Ufford

Reginald Owen, playing Scrooge, confronts the Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Lionel Braham, in the 1938 MGM production of "A Christmas Carol." Undated movie still.

Jamboroo

You Can’t Defeat Christmas, But You Can Survive It

Barry Petchesky

What Did We Get Stuck In Our Rectums Last Year?

A fan dressed in a snowman costume looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Defector Up All Night

Have A Wonderful Christmas Time In This Open Thread

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

A screenshot of gymnastics coach Al Fong from his YouTube podcast It shows Fong sitting at a desk, with a laptop screen nearby and a water bottle. He is talking into a microphone.