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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

Ray Ratto

Gillian Zucker, left, president business operation, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Inglewood Mayor James Butts at the announcement that the 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be held at the team's new Inglewood arena, in January of 2024.

Steve Ballmer Betrayed His Fellow Billionaires, And They Are Not Pleased

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 04: LSU Tigers mascot Mike the Tiger looks on prior to the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Caesars Superdome on September 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

College Football

There’s Too Much Football Happening

Barry Petchesky

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco on February 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Fanatics)

Journalismism

There’s A New Loser In The Russini-Vrabel Scandal

Vikram Murthi

Defector At The Movies

‘It Ends’ Is The Gen Z Horror Movie Of The Year

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

two cyborg cockroaches with little computer backpacks

Creaturefector

You’re Trapped Under Rubble And These Guys Are Your EMTs. WYD?

Tom Ley

Owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after defeating the Golden State Warriors 103-102 at Intuit Dome on January 05, 2026

The Funniest Emails From The Kawhi  Leonard Investigation Are Also The Most Clarifying

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Sheel Tyle and Tom Dundon sit at the dais for a press conference.

Tom Dundon Isn’t Acting Alone

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer hands Kawhi Leonard his jersey as he and Paul George are introduced at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

NBA Crushes Clippers After Kawhi Leonard Investigation

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

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 21: Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos looks on during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field At Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Denver Broncos

Italy's Lorenzo Sonego returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during the men's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Tennis

Interminable U.S. Open Night Sessions Are Bad For Everyone Except Me

1950s FATHER LYING ON A SOFA WITH NEWSPAPER OVER HIS HEAD WHILE SON IS STANDING OVER HIM WITH BAT BALL AND BASEBALL GLOVE (Photo by D. Corson/ClassicStock/Getty Images)

Minor Dilemmas

How Can I Be A Good Parent If I’m Conflict-Avoidant?

Giri Nathan

France's Gael Monfils reacts after a point against Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo during the men's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Gael Monfils Can Make The Crowd Dance To A Swan Song

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 30: A TCU Horned Frogs helmet rests on the sidelines during Valero Alamo Bowl game featuring the TCU Horned Frogs and the USC Trojans on December 30, 2025 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

TCU Bans Hometown Newspaper After Locker Room Fight Report

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates defeating Mary Stoiana of the United States in the first round on Day 3 of the US Open

Alex Eala Is The Best Show In Town

TORONTO, ONTARIO - MAY 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors high fives rapper Drake during game four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on May 21, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Canada Vs. America, With Jake Bittle

Kathryn Xu

Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks walks into the dugout before the MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on August 31.

Ketel Marte’s Bridge-Burning Hat Raises, Leaves Unanswered Several Questions

Luis Paez-Pumar

Folarin Balogun #20 of United States looks on during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match against Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States.

Soccer

Folarin Balogun Had Every Right To Blow Up The Transfer Deadline

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Turn This Segway Around

LIV Golf signage as seen during the first round of LIV Golf Indianapolis

Golf

LIV Golf Hopes Screwing Its Own Players In Bankruptcy Will Secure Its Future

Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Arte Moreno sold a controlling interest in the Angel franchise to Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

After Imprisoning The Angels In The Toilet For Decades, Arte Moreno Is Cashing Out

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this NASA handout, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches with NASA'S Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope onboard from Launch Complex 39A, on August 30, 2026, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Roman will investigate dark energy and dark matter, conduct a statistical census of planetary systems, and enable a broad range of additional astrophysics research. Launch occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)

Science

There’s A New Space Telescope On Its Way To Help Answer The Biggest Question In The Universe

Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.

Matt Ufford

Head coach Sean McVay celebrates after a third quarter touchdown from Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Los Angeles Rams

Funbag

You Can Magically Ban One Sports Injury Forever. What Do You Pick?

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs takes the field prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 30, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.