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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.

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Defector

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Soraya Roberts

A childhood photo of the author during ballet class next to a current photo of her wearing her ballet clothes

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Elder Wisdom

Ballet Brought Me Back To My Body

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Chris Thompson

The Knicks Have Something

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Jurgen Klopp announces he will leave Liverpool in a 25-minute interview

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Soccer

Jürgen Klopp To Leave Liverpool At The End Of This Season

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Patrick Redford

January 23rd, 2024. New York Stock Exchange Ceremony Announcing Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has joined the Board of Directors for TKO. New York, New York. Vince McMahon at the podium.

TKO Announcement

Pro Wrestling

Former WWE Employee Sues Vince McMahon For Sexual Abuse And Trafficking

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Giri Nathan

Aryna Sabalenka folds her hands after beating Coco Gauff in the Australian Open semifinal

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Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka Gets Her Revenge Against Coco Gauff


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

An illustration of two dung beetles rolling a ball of dung

Creaturefector

Dung Beetle Study Suggests That Sisyphus Would Have Appreciated A Buddy

Jordan Henderson of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and RKC Waalwijk at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on January 21, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Dutch EredivisieAjax Amsterdam v RKC Waalwijk

Saudi Arabia’s Expensive Soccer Experiment Is Already Showing Cracks

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David Roth

October 16, 1972 Sports Illustrated cover and signed limited edition Wilt Chamberlain sports porcelain figurine on display during the press preview at Sotheby's Auction House on August 01, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Sotheby’s LA Hosts Press Preview For Wilt Chamberlain’s 1972 NBA Finals Jersey From 1st Ever Championship For Los Angeles Lakers

Podcasts

Radicalized, Sleepy, And Sick Of Brock Purdy

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Tom Ley

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Journalismism

Jeff Pearlman’s Advice To Young Sportswriters: Simply Write A Book About LeBron James And Kobe Bryant

The Wizards Avoided Firing Their Crappy Head Coach, By Promoting Him

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Lauren Theisen

A referee wears a Hockey Canada patch crossed with black ribbon

IHOCKEY-CANADA-ASSAULT

Members Of 2018 Canadian National Junior Team Take Leaves Of Absence Ahead Of Police Press Conference

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

A male blue jay, perched on a branch with green foliage in the fore- and background.

Blue Jay

Margin Of Error

The Omens Are Bad

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


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Drew Magary

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 13: &lt;&gt; during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 13, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs – Miami Dolphins v Kansas City Chiefs

Jamboroo

All Right-Thinking Americans Agree: We’re Sick Of The Chiefs

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Samer Kalaf

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The New York Times’ David Leonhardt Turns In A Nasty Piece Of Work

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during warm-ups prior to the 2024 CFP National Championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium on January 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

2024 CFP National Championship – Michigan v Washington

Jim Harbaugh Faces Most Difficult Task Yet: Making The Chargers Interesting

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Israel Daramola

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Arts And Culture

The Five New Playboi Carti Songs, Ranked

Daniil Medvedev retrieves a ball in his Australian Open quarterfinal against Hubi Hurkacz

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Daniil Medvedev Wins The Battle Of Enormous Counterpunchers

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Ray Ratto

Adrian Beltre jokes around during batting practice prior to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, July 8, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game

Unanimity Is The Wrong Benchmark For Hall-Of-Fame Angst

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 17: Doc Rivers looks on before the Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers game on January 17, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Lakers

Bucks Call Doc Rivers Off The ESPN Bench


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


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Diana Moskovitz

Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 20, 2023 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Kevin Porter Jr

Kevin Porter Jr. Accepts Plea Deal, Will Avoid Jail Time

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Billy Haisley

Real Madrid players celebrates after Daniel Carvajal goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v UD Almeria – LaLiga EA Sports

Real Madrid Is The Good Guy

Woman plays Wordle on her smartphone at the kitchen table of her home on 26th November 2023 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Wordle is a web-based word game played by millions of users / players worldwide often on their mobile devices. The game was created and developed by software engineer Josh Wardle, and owned by The New York Times Company since 2022.

Wordle Smartphone Game

Overexplained Lists

New York Times Games, Ranked

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Justin Ellis

Illustration of a father looking surprised at a baby on a changing table, surrounded by a pile of laundry and a vacuum cleaner.

Dadfector

No One Can Tell You How To Dad

A detail shot of a Hall of Fame baseball during the Hall of Fame Press Conference at the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings at Gaylord Opryland Resort &amp; Convention Center on Monday, December 4, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Hall of Fame Press Conference at the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings

Defector Up All Night

Here’s The Big Baseball News You’ve Been Waiting For

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Kathryn Xu

Clayton Keller #9 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates with teammate Sean Durzi #50 after a goal scored by Lawson Crouse.

Pittsburgh Penguins v Arizona Coyotes

Here’s How To Score On The Power Play Without Taking A Single Shot

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