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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

Albert Burneko

Xavi Hernandez, head coach of FC Barcelona follows the match during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano on May 19, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

Xavi, Who Quit And Then Un-Quit And Then Was Maybe Gonna Get Fired, Is Now Fired

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Anoint Yourself, Dammit!

Dave McKenna

Peyton Ham, a 16-year-old from Leonardtown, Md, stands next to his grandfather, Keith Raley, while doing tree clearing work. Two days after this photo was taken Ham was shot and killed by a Maryland State Police trooper.

Policing

Federal Appeals Court Questions Handling Of Case Against Cop Who Killed Peyton Ham

Luis Paez-Pumar

Referee Peter Bankes shows a yellow card to Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Bournemouth, England.

West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá Charged With Betting Breaches

Patrick Redford

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 23: Domantas Sabonis, #8 of Unicaja Malaga in action during the 2013-2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Top 16 Date 4 game between FC Barcelona Regal v Unicaja Malaga at Palau Blaugrana on January 23, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Rodolfo Molina/EB via Getty Images)

NBA Reveals Inexplicably Pro-Kings Awards Voter

Barry Petchesky

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after his game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the second overtime in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 23, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Oilers Bailed Out Connor McDavid And He Returned The Favor

Tom Ley

The NCAA logo is covered by confetti after the South Carolina Gamecocks defeat the Oregon State Beavers during the Elite Eight round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at MVP Arena on March 31, 2024 in Albany, New York.

Death To The NCAA

The NCAA Settlement Should Be The Beginning, Not The End

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Louisville police badge is seen during the second round of PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville Police Have Very Little To Say

David Roth

Paul Schrader attends the "Oh, Canada" press conference ahead of the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2024 in Cannes, France.

Podcasts

Staying On Paul Schrader’s Good Side, With Stephen Rodrick

Defector At The Movies

Please Do Not Strive For Documentary Realism In A Movie (Spoiler Alert) Where A Huge Worm Bursts Out Of A Man’s Eye-Socket

Israel Daramola

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (C L) hugs teammate tight end Travis Kelce (C) as they celebrate with teammates during the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Make The Chiefs The Official Team Of The Culture War

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 11: Dereck Lively II #2 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 11, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Dereck Lively II Is The Man Of The Moment

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A single ant eating a drop of honey on a white background

Creaturefector

If You Give An Ant A Panera Charged Lemonade It Will Become More Powerful Than You Could Possibly Imagine

Lauren Theisen

Announcements

Defector Media Promotes Devin The Dugong To Chief AI Officer, Unveils First AI-Generated Blog

Kathryn Xu

Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners looks on against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 22, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

The Mariners Should Be Better Than Good

Justin Ellis

A photo of the scoreboard screen at the Target Center in Minneapolis displaying the words "Bring Ya Ass"

Whomst Has Brought The Ass?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

MAY 21: Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on May 21, 2024 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WNBA

The Small Mercury Are Big Fun

Willi Castro #50 of the Minnesota Twins catches a home run sausage after hitting a two run home run during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals.

The Twins’ Summer Sausage Has Not Yet Expired

Libby Watson is a writer, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/libtron">streamer</a> and <a href="https://www.patreon.com/whatsallthisthen">podcaster</a>.

Libby Watson

A tabletop laden with various delicious salads and some roasted potatoes and spreads, with a cartoon logo.

Perfectly Fine Dinner Party Club

Dazzle Your Dinner-Party Friends With Bread

Tyrese Haliburton is hounded on the sideline by Jayson Tatum.

The Silly Pacers Handed It To The Celtics, Over And Over Again

The Mets Are Worse Than Bad. They’re Tedious

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

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 28: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves slam dunks the ball ahead of Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of game four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 28, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 122-116 and win the series 4-0. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

More Ant Dunks!

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

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

The Dream Of The Future Is Alive In That Musky Dorm Room

1950s 1960s MAN IN STRIPED PAJAMAS SMILING ASLEEP IN BED (Photo by ClassicStock/Getty Images)

Life Lessons

I Love My Jammy-Jams

Kelsey McKinney

Vincent Namatjira (Western Aranda people) with Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour, installation view