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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

MJ Melendez #1 of the New York Mets reacts after striking out

Delete The Mets

Kathryn Xu

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run.

Munetaka Murakami Watch: Big Homers, Wacky Numbers

Luis Paez-Pumar

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Soccer

Manchester City Helpfully Extends Arsenal’s Freefall

Maitreyi Anantharaman

A general view of the Heisman Trophy during The Heisman Trophy finalists press conference at the Marriott Marquis in New York on December 11, 2021 in New York City, NY.

Crosswords

The Crossword, April 20: Haute Cuisine

Ben Dowsett is a freelance technology and sports nerd based in Utah. His other recent work can be found at Wired, ESPN and elsewhere.

Ben Dowsett

The Block, As Remembered By The Guy Who Called It And The Guy Who Let It Be

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

Media Meltdowns

The Decline Of Pro Football Focus Is Bad News For Football Fans

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

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

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

Israel Daramola

LaMelo Ball Gets Let Off The Hook

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.

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.

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.