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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

<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

David Benavidez waits for the start of a fight for an interim WBC light heavyweight title against Oleksandr Gvozdyk at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Boxing

David Benavidez Underwhelmed In Victory

Ray Ratto

Ronaldinho Gaúcho of União sends a kiss to his fans during Futebol Solidário match at Maracana Stadium on May 26, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Soccer

Ronaldinho Blames It All On The Deodorant

The NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the NHL Stanley Cup are pictured in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

The Playoffs Go Tinfoil

Billy Haisley

Patrick Redford

Luis Paez-Pumar

Bukayo Saka of England reacts during the international friendly match between England and Iceland at Wembley Stadium on June 7, 2024 in London, England.

A Guide To The 2024 Euros With A Depth Of Analysis Surpassed Only By Its Timeliness

<p>Rachel is a writer, performer and improv instructor from Boston, Massachusetts. She has written for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Reductress, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. She thinks the sports horror novel she is working on could be her <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1325514-max-landis" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1325514-max-landis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1718077591839000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0XT84xOkGfzjDGoFo6dhG7"><em>Bright</em></a>.</p>


Rachel Andelman

Luka Doncic does kind of a weird follow-through as he watches a shot against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 13, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

A Field Guide To Luka Doncic’s Many Busted Sports-Watching Setups

Journalismism

The ‘Longform’ Podcast Told The Story Of An Industry

Tom Ley

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) in action during a NWSL match between the Seattle Reign FC and the Orlando Pride on May 19, 2024 at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA.

The NWSL Is There For Barbra Banda’s Taking

Lauren Theisen

Connor McDavid is stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky

The Charge Of The Oil Brigade

Barry Petchesky

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 13: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers skates past Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game Three of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 13, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Panther Sticks Are Everywhere

Kelsey McKinney

Samuel John Peploe, R.S.A's 'Pink Rose in a Glass Vase with Fruit' is hung on a wall for auction.

Arts And Culture

Everyone Loses When We Start Talking About Art Like It’s Real Estate

David Roth

Gourmet specialty donuts are being displayed at a shop in Unionville, Ontario, Canada, on June 03, 2023.

Podcasts

100 Foods To Throw In The Garbage, With Megan Greenwell

Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann stand during a private ceremony for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2020

Politics

Two Bad Neighbors

<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

Elon Musk, with blue bar stating "Your likes are private. Only you can see them." over his eyes

The Machines

Please Let Me See Your Twitter Likes

DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 12: Luka Dončić #77 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 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)

Luka Doncic Embarrassed Himself

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


Sabrina Imbler

a large red deep-sea squid holds a mass of brownish eggs in her tentacles while her big eye stares out at the camera

Creaturefector

Did Your Mother Cradle You Lovingly In Her Suckers?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

The United States Women's National team celebrate their victory during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

WNBA

Basketball Isn’t A Popularity Contest, Except When It Is

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A young woman in a swimsuit and sun hat poses with a drink at the edge of a pool

Announcements

The Normal Gossip Summer Guide To Eavesdropping

Jeimer Candelario celebrates after hitting a home run

Jeimer Candelario Silenced The Hater

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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

19th October 1964: A robot designed by Claus Scholz of Vienna answers the phone, unfortunately he can't speak.

Margin Of Error

Garbage In, Garbage Out

<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

1956: EXCLUSIVE Full-length image of stunt performers on Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California. Four men lift four women in the air, all in bathing suits, on the boardwalk stage. (Photo by Gene Lester/Getty Images)

Elder Wisdom

IT’S SUMMERTIME, MOTHERFUCKERS

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

The Celtics Keep It Simple

NBA reporters Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania

Lakers’ Messy Coaching Search Revives The Scoopster Standoff Between Woj And Shams

Tennis

Defector Blogger Calls Aggregator Tweets “Pathetic” In Furious Takedown. Do You Agree?

<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-kelly-180886217/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Christopher “Kit” Kelly</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> is a professor of criminal justice at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.</span></p>


Kit Kelly

<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-spraggins-49638227b/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ray Spraggins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> graduated in 2024 from Saint Joseph’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice.</span></p>


Ray Spraggins

Lady Justice, wearing an Eagles helmet and weighing a football and some alcohol.

Eagles Court Could Only Have Existed In Philadelphia

Two men celebrate the July Fourth holiday on the Coney Island boardwalk in New York, one wearing a hot dog costume and the other in red, white and blue overalls.