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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

view from my seat: Ishii and Boltin lock up

Pro Wrestling

New Japan Makes, The World Takes

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins talks to home plate umpire Nick Mahrley #48 in the first inning at Target Field on September 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 2: College Athletes

Tom Ley

Donald Trump wearing his stupid hat in the situation room at Mar-a-Lago

Politics

Donald Trump Can’t Even Pretend To Explain The Plan For Iran

The cover of Rooting Interest, next to a jump ball in a WNBA game.

Women's Basketball

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? 

Samer Kalaf

This picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab

Regime Change Is Blowing Up A School Full Of Children

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Ryan Lambert looks happy coming off the mound in a minor league game.

Mets Prospect Might Be 80 Percent Egg At This Point

Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder gets in between Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets

Enough Of Lu Dort’s Little Leg Bullshit

Steve Kerr Remembers Too Late That He Is Not A Doctor

Defector Staff

Undated group photo of the original "Our Gang."

Staff Chat

Come One, Come All, And Ask The Defector Staff Some Questions

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Los Angeles Superior Court after testifying on February 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Under The Influence

Meta’s Defense In Social Media Addiction Trial Is Basically A Shrug

This Is So Stupid

Victor Wembanyama Sighting Confirmed In Brooklyn

Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Chairman &amp; CEO Paramount David Ellison attends the UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Capital

Paramount Wins Hostile Takeover Bid For Warner Bros.

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

Life Lessons

Confessions Of A Bookanizer

Ray Ratto

Owner Michael Bidwill of the Arizona Cardinals speaks during a press conference introducing new head coach Mike LaFleur on February 3, 2026. He's kind of making an "ehhh" face.

The NFLPA Player Survey That Owners Hate Was Never Going To Stay Secret

Kelsey McKinney

Rob Rausch in a western shirt sitting in a chair

The Greatest Traitor Of All Time

Nate Rogers

Jason Lee at Netflix and Shondaland's "The Residence" Los Angeles Premiere at The Egyptian Theatre

Arts And Culture

A Complimentary Profile Of Jason Lee That Was Surprisingly Difficult To Publish

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Baby monkey named 'Punch' is seen with a stuffed animal at a zoo on February 20, 2026, in north of Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Abandoned by his mother at birth, the monkey found comfort with a stuffed animal.

Creaturefector

The Mournful Ballad Of Punch The Monkey

Victor Wembanyama celebrates while headed to the bench.

Wait, Whoa, The Spurs Are Way Ahead Of Schedule

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: (L-R) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, IOC President Thomas Bach, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani and President Gianni Infantino attend the Men's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Podcasts

What Sort Of NBA Does Adam Silver Want To Build In Europe?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Bodo/Glimt players celebrate in front of the fans following the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FK Bodo/Glimt at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Soccer

The Big Winner Of The Champions League Playoff Was Its Smallest Team

Fixing Tanking By Making Everything More Confusing, With Tom Ley

Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls reacts after dunking the ball in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

Jeffrey Epstein Appeared To Be A Big Joakim Noah Fan

Head coach Rick Pitino of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the first half at Fiserv Forum on February 18, 2026.

College Basketball

St. John’s Delivered A Truly Unholy Second Half Of Basketball

Israel Daramola

Listening Habits

What I Listened To In The Hospital

Kash Patel watches the gold medal hockey game