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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

Buy a Defector Gift Subscription, Get A (Different) Gift Subscription

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2025 gift subs

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Magnus Carlsen (NOR),Sanan Sjugirov (RUS) during the FIDE Chess World Rapid Blitz 2021 in Warsaw, Poland, on December 29, 2021.

FIDE Chess World Rapid & Blitz 2021

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 20: Refresher Course


<p>Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles competes in the balance beam event during the Core Hydration Classic at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 18, 2024.

Simone Biles 2024

Gymnastics

Simone Biles Somehow Looks Even Better

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Tom Ley

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Karl-Anthony Towns (32) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

DENVER NUGGETS VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, NBA

Minnesota Has The Bedrock

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Kathryn Xu

Second placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna.

landoNorrisImolaEmiliaRomagna

Racing

For Lando Norris, One Win Is No Longer Enough

Shota Imanaga #18 of the Chicago Cubs looks on from the dugout prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs.

shotaImanagaAppreciationHours3

Now Let Us Praise Shota Imanaga

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Albert Burneko

P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs.

thunder-mavs

Thunder–Mavericks Deserved A Better Ending

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David Roth

Harrison Butker wearing a knit cap and a cowl while warming up on the field in cold temperatures before the Chiefs' January 13, 2024 Wild Card game.

AFC Wild Card Playoffs – Miami Dolphins v Kansas City Chiefs

Harrison Butker Overestimates His Range

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


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Chris Thompson

Absolute Skenes

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Billy Haisley

Xavi Hernandez, with Deco and Joan Laporta, during the press conference called by FC Barcelona to announce his continuity as coach of the club until June 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, on April 25, 2024.

FC Barcelona Manager Xavi Confirms Decision To Stay

Soccer

Xavi, Who Once Went All “You Can’t Fire Me, Because I Quit!” Before Then Deciding To Stay, Is Maybe About To Get Fired

Scottie Scheffler arrives to the course during the second round of PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

PGA Championship

This Is So Stupid

Officer’s Pants Tragically Struck Down In Confrontation With Scottie Scheffler

Gardening

Elder Wisdom

How To Make (Or Possibly Not To Make) A Vegetable Garden

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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

U.S. Senator JD Vance takes pictures as Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Manhattan criminal court, Monday, May 13, 2024, in New York.

J.D. Vance

Margin Of Error

Dress For The Job You Want

i (1)

Golf

Don’t Worry, Scottie Scheffler Will Make His Tee Time. He Just Had To Get Arrested Real Quick

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Barry Petchesky

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 16: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring a goal against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 16, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Six

Chris Kreider Saved The Rangers’ Asses

Anthony Edwards holds up seven fingers to indicate a Game 7.

Anthony Edwards Game 7

That Was Violence!

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Patrick Redford

draymond_tnt

Draymond Green Brings Nothing To ‘Inside The NBA’

New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies

Toward A Better Or At Least Different Way Of Determining “Record Vs. Winning Teams”

Caitlin Clark disputing a call during her first WNBA game, a loss to the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 14, 2024,

Indiana Fever v Connecticut Sun

Podcasts

When The Planes Become Available, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Samer Kalaf

Al Horford reacts during the Boston Celtics' Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers

celtics-cavaliers-game-5-horford

The Celtics Are Waiting For A Real Challenge

<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

pump-it

Music

Electric Callboy Is The World’s Heaviest And Greatest Boy Band

<p>Annie Howard is a journalist and historian based in Chicago. She is currently at work on her debut manuscript, <em>The City Made Me Trans</em><i>.</i></p>


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Annie Howard

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Arts And Culture

‘I Saw The TV Glow’ Unfurls The Great Trans Unknown

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Kelsey McKinney

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Giri Nathan

A photographer of author James Baldwin smoking a cigarette.

James Baldwin Sitting Smoking A Cigarette

Defector Reads A Book

Come And Sit By ‘The Fire Next Time’ With Defector Reads A Book

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


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Sabrina Imbler

a mimic blenny hiding in a burrow in a rock in a coral reef in Indonesia

Mimic Blenny, Aspidontus taeniatus, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Creaturefector

The World’s Sneakiest Fish Just Got Sneakier

SHAOYANG, CHINA - FEBRUARY 16: People read books at Songpo bookstore during the Spring Festival holiday on February 16, 2021 in Shaoyang, Hunan Province of China. (Photo by Teng Zhizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

Bookstore In Shaoyang

Life Lessons

Buy Yourself A Gift Card

Dave McKenna

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team plays their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.

Colorado Spring Football Game

College Football

Deion Sanders Gives Rare Sweet Sendoff To Controversial Colorado Receiver

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