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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

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

ESPN Just Keeps Getting Smaller And Louder

Luis Paez-Pumar

LeBron James of the Miami Heat celebrates winning Game 7 of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena June 20, 2013 in Miami, Florida. The Miami Heat, led by NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, won the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 in game seven of the championship series.

Miami Heat Post, Then Remove, Video That I Am Taking To Mean LeBron James Is Definitely Coming Back To Miami

Natalie Weiner

Interviews

Colson Whitehead Talks About Embracing Change, Pulling Off A Heist, And Finding A Good Coffee Table

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Buster Posey, Larry Baer, and Greg Johnson huddle together.

Doofus Chaplain Takes The Giants’ Pride Night Victimhood To Instagram

Sarah Borus

Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies cannot field the ball on an infield RBI single

Trea Turner Is A True Two-Way Player

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

Children participate in a pasta eating competition

Funbag

I Demand We Normalize Chewing With Your Mouth Open

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Tennis

Tennis.com Lived And Died With The Internet

Billy Haisley

Lionel Messi watches players of Spain receiving the medals following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina

Soccer

What Messi Means

Lauren Theisen

Dennis Santana #60 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is restrained by teammates Rafael Flores Jr. #43 and Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates as Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees moves in during an altercation after the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium

Dennis Santana To José Caballero: Look Deep Into My Eyes Or I Will Kick Your Ass

Grace Byron is a critic, reporter, and novelist based in Queens. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Bookforum, and elsewhere. Her debut novel Herculine is out now.

Grace Byron

Books

Can Men Stop Hating Women?

Patrick Redford

This photograph taken on July 5, 2024, shows anti-doping testing kit materials displayed at the International Testing Agency (ITA) testing facility inside a truck at the finish line of the 7th stage of the 111th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 25,3 km individual time trial between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin. The overall leader yellow jersey rider and stage winner are systematically summoned to be tested for doping after the day's stage, along with any rider selected by ITA based on performance or intelligence from the organisation's investigative department. A chaperon escorts the rider to the facility where a supervised urine sample is collected for testing. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

Cycling

Intensified Doping Investigations At Tour de France Threaten Cycling’s Delicate Balance

Red Alert: Nick Sirianni Has Discovered ChatGPT

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

For Better Or Worse, ‘The Odyssey’ Is Peak Christopher Nolan

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a long-time soccer writer, currently contributing to The Guardian and elsewhere. He is the author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722130/the-long-game-by-leander-schaerlaeckens/">The Long Game: U.S. Men&#8217;s Soccer and its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts</a>. He teaches journalism and sports communication at Marist University. He will cover his fourth World Cup in 2026.

A photo of the author Leander Schaerlaeckens taken by Asha Fuller.

Leander Schaerlaeckens

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino after presenting the FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy to Spain in the World Cup Final. Trump's kind of leaning like there's a very heavy wind.

FIFA Got What It Came For

Giri Nathan

Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at State Farm Arena on January 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia

Lu Dort And Zaccharie Risacher Involved In Depressing Trade

Announcements

Hey Look, We Redesigned Our Website

Kathryn Xu

George Russell climbs out of his car after crashing out on the opening lap.

Racing

Is Mercedes Conspiring Against Its Own Driver? (No.)

Sohini Desai

Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being called out for runner's interference

Where Am I Supposed To Look When I Look At Baseball?

Charlotte Rosen

How Cops Consolidated So Much Power Over Local Governments

Maitreyi Anantharaman

ABC/ESPN sideline reporter Katie George interviews head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs after the Friday afternoon college football game between the UGA Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on November 28, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.

Crosswords

The Crossword, July 20: No Half Measures

LE LIORAN, FRANCE - JULY 14: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Polka dot Mountain Jersey competes during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 10 a 166.6km stage from Aurillac to Le Lioran 1240m / #UCIWT / on July 14, 2026 in Le Lioran, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Jonas Vingegaard Felled Yet Again By The Cruelty Of His Sport

Ray Ratto

U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino look on after presenting the FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy to Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

A Hater’s Coda To The World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino directs U.S. President Donald Trump after the team’s victory following during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina

Looking Good, Sir!

Rodri #16 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy after the team’s victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Spain Won As Only Spain Can

Jude Bellingham #10 of England scores his team’s sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Final between France and England at Miami Stadium on July 18, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.