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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

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and LSU Tigers, January 4, 2025, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: JAN 4 Women’s – LSU at Vanderbilt

College Basketball

LSU Ate Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

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.

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Drew Magary

US President Barack Obama holds up a jar of salsa while shopping at the Golden Fig food store in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 26, 2014. The store offers Minnesota produced foods and gifts. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN

US-POLITICS-OBAMA-ICE CREME

Funbag

Can I Use Salsa As A Salad Dressing?

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Patrick Redford

agggggg

Podcasts

A Brief Lineage Of The NBA’s Supposed Swag Crisis, With Devon Walker

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Tom Ley

Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 2, 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Michigan State v Nebraska

Former Michigan State Player Makes Too Much Of A Scene For Even Tom Izzo To Tolerate

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Kathryn Xu

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates signing his first Major League Baseball contract by holding up a sock.

Chicago White Sox Introduce Munetaka Murakami

This Year’s Japanese Baseball Free Agents Might Just Be Guys

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Giri Nathan

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is seen in the pitlane after the sprint race ahead of the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail on November 29, 2025.

AUTO-PRIX-F1-QAT-SPRINT-RACE

Tennis

Novak Djokovic Washes His Hands Of The Quasi-Player Union He Co-Founded

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 26: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half of the game against the Detroit Pistonsat the TD Garden on November 26, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons v Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown Is Handling The Spotlight Just Fine

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Samer Kalaf

Keleki Latu #83 of the Buffalo Bills runs after the catch in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Jets.

New York Jets v Buffalo Bills – NFL 2025

Jets End Their Season With Zero Interceptions Or Dignity

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road on January 04, 2026 in Leeds, England.

Leeds United v Manchester United – Premier League

Soccer

When A Coach Gets The Can And It Makes Him Feel Grand, That’s Amorim

A couple look into the window at Katz's Delicatessen on March 20, 2015 in New York City.

Price Of Pastrami Rises As Cattle Inventory Is Down Due To Drought

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 5: Workplace Standards

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Ray Ratto

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 04: Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sidelines during the week 18 NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday January 4, 2026 at the Mercedes-Banz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NFL: JAN 04 Saints at Falcons

The Falcons Couldn’t Even Wait For Black Monday

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Barry Petchesky

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 04: Luke Hughes #43 of the New Jersey Devils skates during the first period of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes on January 4, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v New Jersey Devils

Rough Night At The Office For Luke Hughes

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers – NFL 2025

The Ravens And Steelers Made A Mess At The Classic Factory

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

American crocodile basking on jet ski, Broward County, Florida, USA December 2023. This crocodile was being tracked with a satellite transmitter as a component of ongoing research.

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Creaturefector

If You Give A Crocodile A Kawasaki Ultra 310LX

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - JANUARY 03: U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the media during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on January 03, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. President Trump confirmed that the United States military carried out a large-scale strike in Caracas overnight, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

President Trump Holds News Conference After US Captures Venezuelan President Maduro

Politics

Donald Trump Will Tell You Exactly What He Wants From Venezuela

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Eric Page #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles a punt return against the Carolina Panthers October 24, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Carolina recovered and won 31 - 13. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The NFC South Gets The Week 18 It Deserves

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Billy Haisley

Head Coach Enzo Maresca of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on December 13, 2025 in London, England.

Chelsea v Everton – Premier League

Unlikable Manager Loses Job At Detestable Club

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Albert Burneko

'Grok' logo is seen displayed on a mobile phone screen in front of a picture of Elon Musk in Ankara, Turkiye on July 17, 2025.

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The Machines

Who’s Responsible For Elon Musk’s Idiot Chatbot Producing On-Demand Child Sexual Abuse Material?

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Defector Staff

Austrian fortune-telling cards from a pack of 32, showing acorns, hearts, bells and leaves.

Austrian fortune-telling cards.

Underexplained Lists

Underexplained Predictions For 2026

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Israel Daramola

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal – Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential: Alabama v Indiana

College Football

Boy, Indiana Really Beat That Ass

Sean T. Collins has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Decider, Pitchfork, and many others. He lives with his family on Long Island.

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Sean T. Collins

AEW ballroom

Dadfector

This Is Awesome

MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 08: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Multiple exposures were combined in camera to produce this image.) Players competes during 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division Group B match between Poland and Italy at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on December 08, 2025 in Milan, Italy. The event serves as test event for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Poland vs Italy – 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division Group B

Here Are The American Hockey Men

Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal in the Sugar Bowl.

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal – Allstate Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss v Georgia

Ole Miss And Georgia Made A Classic Out Of Chaos

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David Roth

People take in a fireworks show on Lake Ontario at midnight from HTO Park in Toronto on January 1 2026.

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