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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.

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Defector

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Israel Daramola

Pittsburgh Steelers v Cleveland Browns – NFL 2025

The Steelers Really Love To Make Things Difficult

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

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.

Icy Hot & The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation Launch Latest Comebaq Court, In Partnership With Boys & Girls Club Of Northeast 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.

Ring V: Night Of The Samurai – Fight Night

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>.

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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)

Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars Junction: Week 17

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Defector Staff

Yawning Puppy on Bookshelf

Year In Review

The Best Things We Read In 2025

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Kelsey McKinney

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Brandy Jensen

Heated Rivalry – Episode 104

Arts And Culture

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

Screenshot 2025-12-28 at 9.13.03 AM

This Is So Stupid

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

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Ray Ratto

Detroit Lions v Minnesota Vikings – NFL 2025

The Detroit Lions Can Ruin Any Holiday If You Let Them

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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.

DENVER NUGGETS VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, NBA

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>.

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Eva Holland

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‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Bringing Me Back To Hockey

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Patrick Redford

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)

San Antonio Spurs v Oklahoma City Thunder

De’Aaron Fox Is In Control

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

Early gramophone in photo

The Best Things We Heard In 2025

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

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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.

Ebenezer Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Present

Jamboroo

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

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Barry Petchesky

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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.

Everton v Arsenal – Premier League

Defector Up All Night

Have A Wonderful Christmas Time In This Open Thread

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

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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.

Al Fong

Gymnastics

Gymnastics Coach Al Fong Suspended Five Years For Physical And Emotional Misconduct

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The 2025 Hate List

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Albert Burneko

Pedestrians pose for pictures in front of a giant Santa Claus figure displayed in a shopping mall in Berlin, on December 24, 2024.

GERMANY-ECONOMY-CHRISTMAS

Funbag

Advertisers Mustn’t Besmirch The Sacred Seasonal Shopping Demon

Draymond Green (23) argues an out of bounds call with referee Marc Davis (8) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Orlando Magic on December 22, 2025.

Golden State Warriors vs Orlando Magic

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating In The Meltdown Space

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Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: How To Shop For A Couch

Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) experimenting with the first motion picture machine. B/W photo,1905.

Thomas Edison with the First Film Projector

The Best Things We Saw In 2025

Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (4) walks off the field after the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.

NFL: DEC 07 Steelers at Ravens

DK Metcalf Suspended Two Games For Punching A Really Annoying Guy

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

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Screenshot 2025-12-17 at 4.17.46 PM

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘Merv’

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Duren #0 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on November 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Orlando Magic v Detroit Pistons

Podcasts

Project B For “Basketball”, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 21: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid rubs his head after a failed third down play during a game between the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs, December 21, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NFL: DEC 21 Chiefs at Titans

When The Window Closes, It Slams Shut

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