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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

Barry Petchesky

FBI Director Kash Patel is sworn in before testifying during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on September 16, 2025. Patel faces the Senate panel amid criticism of his handling of the investigation into the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Politics

Anyone Want To See Kash Patel Fall On His Ass While Playing Hockey?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Internazionale Milano at BayArena on December 10, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany.

Soccer

Why Is Soccer’s Most Famous Scoopster Doing PR Work For Saudi Arabia?

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

The NWSL Offseason Put Important New Faces In New Places

Giri Nathan

Daniil Medvedev poses with the trophy after his victory in the Men's Singles Final against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands on day fourteen of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)

Tennis

Daniil Medvedev’s Tennis Plans Interrupted By Unrelated Global Crisis

Patrick Redford

Belgium Remco Evenepoel, Slovenia Tadej Pogacar and France Paul Seixas pictured on the podium after the Men Elite raod race, a 202,5 km from Privas to Guilherand-Granges, at the UEC road European cycling championships, Sunday 05 October 2025, France. The European cycling championships Drome-Ardeche takes place from 1 to 5 October, France. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Cycling

Cycling Prodigy Paul Seixas Accepts The Sport’s Defining Burden

Ray Ratto

Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley raises his fist as the Lakers take the lead and go on to win game 4 in the final seconds to defeat Boston, 107-106. Photo is from June of 1987 and Riley's suit is immaculate.

Pat Riley To NBA Coaches: Would It Kill You To Put On A Nice Suit For Once?

Pape Matar Sarr and Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur look dejected after the team's defeat in the Premier League match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on March 01, 2026 in London, England.

Tottenham Is Not Too Big To Fail

<p>Erin Somers is the author of the novel <i>The Ten Year Affair</i>.</p>


Erin Somers

Interviews

Talking To A. Natasha Joukovsky About Men, Myths, And March Madness

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

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

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


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

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.

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Life Lessons

Confessions Of A Bookanizer

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


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


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.