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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

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

Melted chocolate with a heart shape in it.

Life Lessons

My Sweet Tooth

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

Dan McQuade

A screenshot of a guy playing Mario 64 on the drums

Video Games

This Guy Beats Video Games Using A Drum Kit As A Controller

Lauren Theisen

Christy Mathewson head and shoulders portrait photo

How To Throw A Baseball And Live Forever

Giri Nathan

ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli (left) sits alongside Kevin Foster, PIF Head of Corporate Affairs

Tennis

ATP Tour Announces Deal To Accept More Saudi Money

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Sarah Nurse #20 of Toronto smiles in a break in play with Natalie Spooner #24 against Montreal during the first period of their PWHL hockey game at Scotiabank Arena on February 16, 2024 in Toronto, Canada.

PWHL

Toronto’s Six-Game Heater Is Punishment For The Haters

Tom Ley

Life's Rich Pageant

What Do You Type Into YouTube?

An AI-generated image from the Willy's Chocolate Experience website promising "Encherining Entertainment"

Scottish Children Fed Meager Servings Of Jelly Beans, Large Helpings Of Disappointment At Willy’s Chocolate Experience

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

An image of Flaco in his chain-link exhibit at the Central Park Zoo

Birdfector

What Do We Owe Zoo Animals?

Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a home run

Enjoy Shohei Ohtani’s Dodger Highlights While They’re Still Harmless

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Teammates fling water onto Max Strus following his game-winner.

You Need Someone To Huck It On Up There

Serbian NBA basketball player Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets attends a horse race in his hometown of Sombor in native Serbia, on June 18, 2023. Jokic and his team the Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Oliver Bunic / AFP)

Defector Up All Night

Unforgiving. The Lightning Is Coming.

Patrick Redford

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Alex Morgan #7 of United States reacts after a goal by Mexico in the second half during Group A - 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup match at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 26, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Soccer

Mexico Finally Killed Off The Old USWNT For Good

Kathryn Xu

Screenshot of the opening screen of the video game Balatro.

It Is, In Fact, Preferable To Suck Real Bad At A Game Like ‘Balatro’

Ray Ratto

Even Canadian Pizza Can Be Its Own Reward

Funbag

Help! I’m Worried My Sons Will Turn Out To Be Total Assholes!

Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and other members of the Detroit Pistons look onto the court from the bench during a game against the Toronto Raptors

Searching For Dignity In A Dumpster Fight Between The Pistons And The Wizards

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

UAW members attend a rally in support of the labor union strike at the UAW Local 551 hall on Chicago’s South Side. UAW president Shawn Fain joined members in solidarity with the ongoing strike on October 7, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Unions Can Fix What’s Broken

Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.

Jen Ramos Eisen

A cartoon of an outfield wall with an encroaching shadow over the player standing looking at it. It feels dark and desolate. The baseball stadium is empty.

The Life Of An International Minor League Baseball Player Has Never Been Simple

Peter King pours a beer over Drew Magary’s head, in a still from a video from the old site.

10 Things I Think I Think On Peter King’s Retirement

Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool players including Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after winning the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024 in London, England.

These Pool Boys Became Pool Men

Aaron Gordon is a reporter covering transportation, infrastructure, and the environment. Most recently, he was a senior staff writer at Motherboard, VICE News’s tech and science website.

Aaron Gordon

A general overall aerial view of Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Good, The Bad, And The Unreachable: A World Cup Transit Report Ranking

Barry Petchesky

Flaco Never Escaped

The Rangers Have A Big Boy Who Fights

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton reacts after a play during a celebrity flag football game at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How Many Angry Fellas Does It Take To Dislodge Cam Newton’s Hat?

Charlie Maier checks the tags on merchandise in the frozen foods area at Whole Foods