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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

Lauren Theisen

How Late Is Too Late To Get Popcorn At A Baseball Game?

Ray Ratto

(Original Caption) Lakers' Jerry West (C) is guarded closely by Celtics' Bill Russell (L) as he goes in for a layup, 3rd period, 1st game of championship playoffs of the NBA, Boston Garden (4/18). Celtics' Willie Naulls is on the right. Celtics won the game, 142-110.

Jerry West Never Left His Game

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

Podcasts

Love In The Time Of Overalls

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<div><a href="http://lillianstone.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lillianstone.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1718218980346000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2u5kEh7Ge04YvIIiNqdkoU">Lillian Stone</a> is a culture writer and the author of the humorous essay collection <i>Everybody&#8217;s Favorite.</i></div>
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Lillian Stone

Los Angeles Kings music director, Dieter Ruehle, plays a 1941 Wurlitzer organ during the ribbon cutting and reopening of the LA Kings Iceland at Paramount on October 26, 2022 in Paramount California.

The Stadium Organ Is Alive And As Goofy As Ever

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


Sabrina Imbler

a gif of a dragonfly and other flies flying into a mountain pass in the Pyrenees

Creaturefector

The Big Bug Migration Of The Pyrenees Mountains

Giri Nathan

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Patrick Redford

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 2: Corentin Moutet of France in action during Day 8 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Tennis

The Defector Tennis Desk Bids Adieu To The French Open

Kathryn Xu

Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners throws in the first inning during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Bryan Woo Thinks Walks Are For Dogs And Babies

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

NHL team officials watch prospects take part in testing during the NHL Combine at HarborCenter on June 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York.

Asking NHL Prospects These Questions Will Fix Your Franchise

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever talks to the media before the game against the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena on June 07, 2024 in Washington, DC.

WNBA

The Olympic Roster Is Not Just A Marketing Tool

<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>


Drew Magary

Funbag

What Makes A Power Ballad?

A photo of the west side of the South Lawn in front of Columbia University's Butler Library at the Morningside campus. This picture, taken right before sunset, depicts an encampment set up by protestors on a lawn with turf and a big event tent. Students are scattered throughout, and there are multiple banners and signs depicting pro-Palestine statements.

Politics

Why Did I Sleep On The Turf?

Evan Rodrigues celebrates after scoring a goal

The Panthers Kept The Faith

16 Nov 1999: The Mascot of the Colorado Avalanche smiles for the camera during the game against the Ottowa Senators at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Senators 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

Utah Hockey Must Seize Howler The Yeti For Their Own Nefarious Purposes

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><span id=":g4.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> </i>and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/"><i>Infinite Inning </i>podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF"><i>Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</i></a>.</span></div>
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Steven Goldman

A general view of the DraftKings Bet Live Now signage during the Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on July 7, 2022.

Gambling For Life

Aaliyah Edwards #24 of the Washington Mystics shoots a free throw during the game against the New York Liberty during a 2024 Commissioner's Cup game on June 9, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. 2024 NBAE

The Mystics Are Losers Of Note

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Iga Swiatek of Poland in action against Jasmine Paolini of Italy (not seen) during the Women's Singles Final match on day fourteen of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros Complex in Paris, France on June 8, 2024.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 10: What’s The Deal?

Barry Petchesky

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - DECEMBER 13: Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis (R) arrives for the announcement of a new sports arena for the Washington Wizards NBA basketball team and Washington Capitals NHL hockey team, December 13, 2023 in Alexandria, Virginia. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a tentative agreement with Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment that would move the Wizards and the Capitals from Washington, DC to what Youngkin called a new "visionary sports and entertainment venue" in northern Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals, You Have Made A Powerful Enemy Today

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics attempts to dunk the ball against P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Celtics Are Winning Everywhere

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning match point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Men's Singles Final match on Day 15 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Diamonds Under Pressure

Earthrise - Apollo 8, December 24, 1968. This view of the rising Earth greeted the Apollo 8 astronauts as they came from behind the Moon after the fourth nearside orbit. The photo, by&#xa0;astronaut&#xa0;William Anders, is displayed here in its original orientation, though it is more commonly viewed with the lunar surface at the bottom of the photo. Earth is about five degrees left of the horizon in the photo. The unnamed surface features on the left are near the eastern limb of the Moon as viewed from Earth. The lunar horizon is approximately 780 kilometers from the spacecraft. Height of the photographed area at the lunar horizon is about 175 kilometers.

Science

Bill Anders First Saw The Earth

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JUNE 08: Tim Weah #21 of the United States reacts during the second half against Colombia at Commanders Field on June 08, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Soccer

The USMNT’s Loss To Colombia Was A Comprehensive Embarrassment

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a tough save in the first period during game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Bob Was As Good As Goalies Get

Kelsey McKinney

Zillowing Out

A €4.5 Million Home Where We Can Live in Opulent Disgust

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain serves against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men's Singles Semi-Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)