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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

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.

Owen Lewis

Josh O'Connor feeds a churro to Mike Faist in a scene from Challengers

Tennis

Who Wins The Match In ‘Challengers’?

Lauren Theisen

This Is All Anyone Could’ve Hoped For

Luis Paez-Pumar

Robin Hranac of Czechia concedes an own goal, the first goal for Portugal, as cze during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Portugal and Czechia at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 18, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

Soccer

The Czech Republic Was Undone By Its Own Center Back

Ray Ratto

Willie Mays walking across the outfield at the Polo Grounds as a member of the San Francisco Giants during a 1962 game against the New York Mets.

Willie Mays Was Baseball

Tom Ley

Defector Up All Night

Who Says Contact Hitters Aren’t Fun?

Patrick Redford

Turkey celebrates their side's victory in the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match at the BVB Stadion Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany. Picture date: Tuesday June 18, 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Turkey-Georgia Was Perfect

Hell Is Playing Against A Peaking Servebot

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 17: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Al Horford Earned It

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

A robot using artificial intelligence is displayed at a stand during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, on May 30, 2024. Humanity is in a race against time to harness the colossal emerging power of artificial intelligence for the good of all, while averting dire risks, a top UN official said. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Funbag

AI Isn’t Intelligent Until You And I Say So

Patrick T. Dorsey is the writer of and a producer on the feature film FUTURE DATE, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Comedy Feature. You can hear him Thursdays on Defector Trivia, whenever Diana Moskovitz shouts, “Baaaaaaabe!”

Patrick T. Dorsey

Team USA celebrate victory during the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies &amp; USA 2024 match between USA and Pakistan at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on June 06, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

Cricket

How The United States Is Finally Getting Kind Of Good At Cricket

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Keith Hernandez, Mookie Wilson, and Sesame Street's the Count.

Life's Rich Pageant

Local Athletes, Leave Me Alone

a bloody Minoru Suzuki with Kenoh in a wrestling ring

Pro Wrestling

Minoru Suzuki Is Having The Coolest Midlife Crisis Ever

Israel Daramola

Music

It’s Pop Girl Summer

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics exults near the Larry O'Brien Trophy after his team's win in the decisive Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics Are Champions, Among Other Things

Barry Petchesky

The mated Russian-built Zarya (left) and U.S.-built Unity modules are backdropped against the blackness of space over Earth's horizon shortly after leaving Endeavour's cargo bay December 13, 1998. After being released from the shuttle Endeavour, the international space station was orbiting the Earth on its own today -- ``a bright new star'''' not to be visited again until May. (photo by NASA)

Science

What If We’re Stuck Down Here?

Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Celtics Were Built To Shine

Kathryn Xu

David Hamilton #70 of the Boston Red Sox dives home safely as catcher Jose Trevino #39 of the New York Yankees moves to make a late tag.

The Red Sox Have A Formidable Competitor In The Race To .500

Dave McKenna

Maryland State Police troopers bowing their heads on stage during a graduation ceremony in 2019.

Policing

How Qualified Immunity Protects Cops Who Kill

Nicolae Stanciu of Romania scores his team's first goal past Andriy Lunin of Ukraine during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Romania and Ukraine at Munich Football Arena on June 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany.

These Are The Bangers Fox Is Hiding From You

Tyson Fury (third left) and Oleksandr Usyk (third right) pose alongside promoter Frank Warren (fourth left), actor Sylvester Stallone (centre) and The Saudi Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment Turki Alalshikh during a press conference at Outernet London.

The Fights

Don’t Expect Much Resistance To A Saudi Boxing Takeover

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Poland and Netherlands at Volksparkstadion on June 16, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany.

Just Give It To The Big Lad

Rihanna performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 17: You’re Out

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after getting hit by a pitch during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on June 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

There Is No Replacing Mookie Betts

Jude Bellingham of England celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Serbia and England at Arena AufSchalke on June 16, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Nobody Does Dispiriting Wins Better Than England

JJ Redick is seen prior to Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.