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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

A beautiful Streaked Shearwater in flight seen in the sea of Toshima.

Creaturefector

Get Ready With Me (A Streaked Shearwater)

Barry Petchesky

Harvey Weinstein and James Dolan at House of Elyx on December 13, 2015 in New York City. Dolan has a drink in his hand.

Music

Lawsuit Accuses James Dolan And Harvey Weinstein Of Sexual Assault

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jordan Poole scratches his head during the loss.

The Wizards Leave You Nothing To Root For But The Other Guys

Patrick Redford

The Ray Ratto raffle winners, along with Ray Ratto and Patrick Redford, enjoying some lobster from a truck.

Announcements

We Have Successfully Subjected Two Of You To The Ray Ratto Experience

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

Corey Atad

Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone in The Curse

Arts And Culture

‘The Curse’ Showed Just Enough To Unsettle

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

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 21: A guest wears a black shiny leather crocodile print pattern jacket, a black and beige Dior Oblique Jacquard Saddle shoulder bag from Dior, outside Dior, during Paris Fashion Week - Menswear F/W 2022-2023, on January 21, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Funbag

Some Basic Rules For Proper AirPod Etiquette

Luis Paez-Pumar

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat celebrates a 95-94 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on January 15, 2024 in New York City.

There Goes Miami’s Herro

Lauren Theisen

Damontae Kazee fails to tackle Josh Allen

The Steelers Let It Not-Slide Away

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 15: Darius Slay #2 of the Philadelphia Eagles is carted off the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Raymond James Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

I Told You So

Tom Ley

A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan holds a sign that reads, "Cry Eagles Cry!!!" during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

The Eagles Saved Their Biggest Humiliation For Last

Soraya Roberts

A garden party scene from The Zone Of Interest

‘The Zone Of Interest’ Is About Cognitive Harmony

A. Andrews is a thirty-something disabled queer/trans writer and illustrator. They spent the majority of their young life sketching in hospitals and experienced their first heartbreak at age 8 during Game 6 of the &#8217;96 NBA championships. When they aren’t writing and drawing their guts out, they’re hanging with their dog, George, and drinking too many coffees. They will probably never tell you “what’s wrong with [them]” and you shouldn’t ask! They were named one of The Advocate&#8216;s 2021 People of the Year, are a 2020 Tin House Summer Workshop scholar, and their debut graphic novel, A Quick and Easy Guide to Sex &amp; Disability topped 2020 lists for the NYPL best books for teens, and YALSA&#8217;s best books for teens, and is available anywhere books are sold. You can find more of their work at Washington Post, Esquire, the Nib, and other fun corners of the internet.

A. Andrews

Art of a person seen from behind wearing a hoodie and shorts, with tattoos on their legs, in the process of lifting a barbell

Life Lessons

Lost And Found At The Weight Machines

Joshua Needelman is a journalist based in New York City who has written for The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The Guardian and more. He has dabbled in yoga and meditation for more than a decade. He enjoys eating (and making) pizza, as well as rooting for the New York Knicks, whom he is available to coach next season.

Joshua Needelman

Eddie Kingston, with his eyes closed, in the ring.

Pro Wrestling

How New York’s Eddie Kingston Became Pro Wrestling’s “King of the Bums”

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots passes against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 15: Play It Again

Jared Goff walks off the field after the conclusion of the Rams-Lions game

Thank God

Samer Kalaf

Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys watches action during the second half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers

It’s Time To Make Fun Of The Bamboozling Disgrace That Is The Dallas Cowboys

A view of an ESPN Monday Night Football logo on a TV camera.

Journalismism

If The NFL Buys A Stake In ESPN, Expect More Ass-Kissing

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Adama Bal #4 of the Santa Clara Broncos reacts after making the game winning basket against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Leavey Center on January 11, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

College Basketball

Gonzaga Is A Bubble Team Now

Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs has a cracked helmet during Saturday's playoff game against the Dolphins.

Have You Heard? It Was Cold In Kansas City

Christian Harris drags Joe Flacco to the ground in the Browns-Texans wild card game.

The Texans Send Joe Flacco Back To His Couch

A New England Patriots fan in the stands during their game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Defector Up All Night

Let’s Have A Wild Card Weekend Open Thread

David Roth

A screenshot of one of the scammy AI-generated listings on Amazon; the product's name is just the boilerplate apology text created by OpenAI when it's asked to do something it can't do.

Capital

The Future Of E-Commerce Is A Product Whose Name Is A Boilerplate AI-Generated Apology

Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to throw a pass against the Green Bay Packers in the second half at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Kirk Cousins Has To Go

Ray Ratto

Nikolaj Ehlers #27 and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate with teammates following a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Canada Life Centre on January 11, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Winnipeg Just Keeps Winning, Even If Nobody Notices

Billy Haisley

Real Madrid players celebrates after scoring a goal during Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid - Super Copa de España Semi-Final on January 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.