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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

The Earth sets over the Moon, with Orion in the foreground.

Science

This Phone Video From Artemis Is So Damn Cool

Ray Ratto

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Mattias Samuelsson #23 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his third period goal against the Boston Bruins with Jack Quinn #22 and Jason Zucker #17 in Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on April 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

It Ain’t Over Till It’s Buffalover

Patrick Redford

Victor Wembanyama dribbles towards Deni Avdija

Victor Wembanyama’s Playoff Debut Was Worth The Wait

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 19: Arthur Fils of France jumps into a swimming pool with members of the Ball Team following victory against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) in the Men's Singles final match on day seven of the Barcelona Open of the Barcelona Open at Real Club De Tenis Barcelona on April 19, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis

Allow Arthur Fils To Reintroduce Himself

Justin Ellis

A paratrooper who crashed into the jumbotron at the Virginia Tech football stadium dangles from his parachute above the crowd before the spring football game on April April 18, 2026, at Lane Stadium

Life's Rich Pageant

Someone Appears To Be Stuck On The Jumbotron

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the second half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

LeBron James Still Has It

Lauren Theisen

Charle-Edouard D'Astous #51 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Alexandre Texier #85 of the Montréal Canadiens fight during the second period at the Bell Centre

The Sweeties And Enemies Of The NHL Playoffs

Kathryn Xu

14: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the ninth inning.

Mason Miller Is Blowing Everyone Away

Defector Staff

Hark! Follow The Sounding Of The Horns To The 2026 NBA Playoff Preview

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

LaMelo Ball Gets Let Off The Hook

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

Chefector

I Have Now Perfected My Blondie Recipe

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 09: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Calgary Flames prior to the game at Ball Arena on April 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Avs Have Won Nothing

Corey Atad is a freelancer writer based in Toronto with an unhealthy Air Bud obsession.

Corey Atad

Interviews

Steven Soderbergh And Ed Solomon Talk About Their Best Collaboration Yet

Billy Haisley

Michael Olise of FC Bayern München celebrates his 4-3 goal with Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern München and fans during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF.

Soccer

Bayern Munich Did Not Believe In Magic

David Roth

Sid Rosenberg on the set of "Gravesend" filming by Michael's on April 25, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York.

Media Meltdowns

Jarringly Red New York Radio Yutz Continues His Anti-Mets Tantrum In Yankees President’s Suite

Robert Pastore

Participant holding a sign at the rally. Survivors of solitary confinement

Politics

A Year After The Corrections Officer Strike, New York Is Still Failing Its Incarcerated Population

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets reacts after flying out against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citi Field on April 12, 2026 in New York City.

Podcasts

A New Space In Which To Be Stupid, With Michael Schur

The Warriors’ Old Guys Showed Up When It Mattered Most

Kelsey McKinney

jackson merrill stretches up above the outfield fence to steal a home run ball

The Robberies Have Begun Again

Samer Kalaf

New York Islanders Raise Money For A Convicted Killer Because He’s A Cop

OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 24: Anton Forsberg #31 of the Ottawa Senators and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres shake hands after a ceremonial face-off recognizing Craig Anderson after he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on October 24, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

It Is The Spring Of The Downtrodden

Inglewood, CA - February 15: NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver announces the MVP of the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday, February 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Behold! The ‘Nothing But Respect’ NBA Playoffs Mega-Preview

Dave McKenna

An illustration of feet walking over a chalk outline

Stories

The Killing That Won’t Let Go

Luis Paez-Pumar

Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool is checked on by Alexander Isak of Liverpool and Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain as he holds his ankle as he appears to be injured during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England.

Please End This Cursed Liverpool Season

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

A screenshot of Dianna Russini when she appeared on the Dan Patrick show. She's sitting in a chair and talking into a microphone