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Defector

Lauren Theisen

Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred

It’s Gambling

Patrick Redford

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 is interviewed with teammates Chet Holmgren #7 and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder after beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Why The Thunder Have Been Cast As The NBA’s Villains, With Tyler Parker

Defector Staff

Announcements

We Have A New Culture Newsletter

Goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) of the Dallas Stars saves a shot bu right wing Valeri Nichushkin

The Central Is So Nasty

Ray Ratto

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle interviews an A's player, who is sadly Addison Russell, during Spring Training in 2014.

Journalismism

Who Told Scott Ostler He Was Allowed To Retire?

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

Dan Hurley holding a little jar of almond butter

This Is So Stupid

The Hottest Snack Of The NCAA Tournament Is Almond Butter

Jonah Walters

Arts And Culture

Stephen Fishbach’s Reality-TV Novel Is More Reality TV Than Novel

Barry Petchesky

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Team United States defeated Team Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the Gold medal. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Hockey Boy Wants His Hockey Puck

David Roth

Arizona Wildcats players pour confetti on the head coach Tommy Lloyd after winning the Big 12 Tournament championship game between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats on March 14, 2026.

College Basketball

There Is No Resting State Of March Madness

<a href="https://twitter.com/kenpomeroy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ken</a> has been cranking out college basketball statistics at <a href="http://kenpom.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kenpom.com</a> since 2004. He’s written at The Athletic, Slate, the late ESPN The Magazine, and the late Basketball Prospectus. He hopes to live long enough to see the men&#8217;s game start using quarters, like every other basketball league in the world.

Ken Pomeroy

Braden Smith of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates with his teammates after being named outstanding player of the tournament after winning the championship game of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Championships on March 15, 2026.

March Madness’s Phony Rules Were Made To Be Broken

Dave McKenna

Howard players celebrate their victory in the locker room

Howard’s First NCAA Tournament Win Was A Long Time Coming

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics, Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm, Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces, Sonia Citron #2 of the Washington Mystics and Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA

The WNBA And Players’ Union Have A Verbal Agreement On A New CBA

Samer Kalaf

Team USA looks on after losing to Venezuela in the WBC final

Good Riddance To Red Asses

Giri Nathan

Alex Caruso tries to block a shot with his shoe

Oklahoma City Thunder Defense Innovates With Sneaker Block

Israel Daramola

Life's Rich Pageant

Let’s Catch Up On The Hilarious Afroman Defamation Trial

Luis Paez-Pumar

Members of Team Venezuela celebrate on the podium after the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

Viva Venezuela, A Champion At Last

The Titans Will Dress Like A Real NFL Team This Season

Cubans gather in front of their houses during a blackout in Havana on March 16, 2026. Cuba suffered a widespread power cut on March 16, 2026, according to the national electricity company, against the backdrop of a severe crisis on the island caused by the US energy blockade. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP)

Politics

Donald Trump Is Strangling Cuba To Death

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the pre-game ceremony prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Team USA Lost For The Troops

Tamika Tremaglio, Executive Director of the NBA Players Association, speaks during the NBPA 2023 All-Star Weekend Press Conference at the Hyatt Regency on February 18, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Interviews

Former NBPA Head Tamika Tremaglio Discusses The WNBA Labor Battle And The Art Of Bargaining

Aryna Sabalenka, left, hugs Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan after winning their Women's Singles Finals match

Tennis

I Can’t Get Enough Of The Kaiju Battle Between Aryna Sabalenka And Elena Rybakina

Funbag

I Can’t Stop Reading Music History Books

Jaya Saxena

Fair Pay Feels Good In A Place Like This

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

the water scavenger beetle Regimbartia attenuata

Creaturefector

Even After Being Eaten, This Beetle Has Two Ways Out Alive

Adam Silver, commissioner of the National Basketball Association, watches the game during the second half between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz at Moda Center on March 13, 2026. He is looking extra turtle-ish.

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