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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

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


Chris Thompson

Giri Nathan

Luis Paez-Pumar

Patrick Redford

Ray Ratto

Tom Ley

A circa-1900 black-and-white photo of basketball players receiving dance lessons from a lady in a flapper hat and dress.

A Preview Of The 2024-25 NBA Season, Accurately Enumerating Everything That Will Happen In It

<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

In an old black-and-white photo, a pair of cute kids use an ear trumpet to communicate.

Funbag

How To Go Deaf

Barry Petchesky

UNITED STATES - MAY 01: Photo of MEGADETH (Photo by Michael Uhll /Redferns)

Music

Megadeth’s Big ‘Risk’ Did Not Pay Off

<p><a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://demause.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://demause.net/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]"><em>Neil deMause</em></a><em> has covered sports economics for more publications than even he can shake a stick at. He’s co-author of the book </em><a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Field-Schemes-Stadium-Swindle-Private/dp/1567511384?ascsubtag=c9dca64cfbbd6c35085d286f4423ee39b8350b2f&amp;rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F%5Bks%7Cgoogle%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1800657108%5Ba%7C1567511384%5Bau%7C5722120546910826704%5Bb%7Cdeadspinascsubtag%3D4eba2da0f6cc83fe1f221e8d8ca5894cd93bf2a7ascsubtag%3D33f4f2a16c1eda72859c34ee8aa577410b04a0d8&amp;tag=deadspinamzn-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga="[[&quot;Commerce&quot;,&quot;deadspin - Baseball Doesn't Need Collusion To Turn Off The Hot Stove&quot;,&quot;1567511384&quot;]]" data-amazonasin="1567511384" data-amazontag="deadspinamzn-20" data-amazonsubtag="[r|https://www.google.com/[ks|google[t|link[p|1831644811[a|1567511384[au|5722120546910826704[b|deadspin[lt|text" data-commerceready="true">Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</a><em>, and runs </em><a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://fieldofschemes.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]"><em>the website of the same name</em></a><em>.</em></p>


Neil deMause

Philadelphia skyline with white puffy clouds focusing on William Penn Statue Broad Street area, Pennsylvania. (Photo by: Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Philadelphia Has A Lot To Lose On The New 76ers Arena


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Feasterville-Trevose, PA - October 20 : Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump hands out food while standing at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, PA on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.

Politics

Donald Trump Played Pretend In A McDonald’s I Once Knew Intimately

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale reacts after conceding the late winning goal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Southampton, England.

Soccer

Southampton Is Too Stubborn For The Premier League

David Roth

Pete Alonso flat on the ground with the brim of his helmet jammed into the earth after fouling a ball off his foot in Game Six of the NLCS in Los Angeles on October 20, 2024.

The Mets Ran Out Of Magic

A black and white photo of people around a craps table gambling in Las Vegas in 1963

Risk Week

If You Must Gamble, Gamble In Person, Like An Adult

an old-timey family sitting around the radio

Announcements

Programming Notes

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jonquel Jones #35 and Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty celebrate after winning Game Five of the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime to win the championship.

WNBA

The Liberty Were Built, Bought, And Blessed

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Students observe a classroom demonstration in an old black-and-white photograph from the 1930s.

Under The Influence

I Took A TikTok Class. What Happened Next Blew My Mind

Phoebe Bridgers, winner of the Best Alternative Music Album award for "The Record"- Boygenius, Best Rock Song award for "Not Strong Enough", Best Rock Performance award for "Not Strong Enough" and Best Pop/Duo Group Performance award for "Ghost In The Machine", poses in the press room at the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 21: Sub-liminal Messages

Let Me Push The Win Button

Manager Dave Roberts celebrates with bench coach Danny Lehmann, right, as the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the New York Mets 10-5 to win game 6 of a National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

History Is For The Dead And The Boring

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Crying Deshaun Watson Carted Off Field After Non-Contact Leg Injury

Forward Temwa Chawinga #6 of the Kansas City Current dribbles the ball with defender Abby Dahlkemper #13 of Bay FC defending in the second half during a game between Bay FC and the Kansas City Current at PayPal Park on October 12, 2024 in San Jose, California.

NWSL

Temwa Chawinga Has Conquered The NWSL

Juan Soto #22 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrate after Soto hit a home run in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Yankees Have Power In All The Right Places

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty defends against Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx d2q in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Target Center on October 18, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Lynx And Liberty Are Getting Too Close For Comfort

Defector Staff

Undated group photo of the original "Our Gang."

Staff Chat

Staff Chat Starts Now!

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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

A big campaign sign that is just Kamala Harris's head, in front of a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Margin Of Error

The Candidates Have Nothing Left To Tell You

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

‘Anora’ Gets Lost In Its Own Excess

Chess

Teenage Grandmaster Christopher Yoo Booted From U.S. Championships, Arrested After Post-Loss Meltdown

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 17: David Fry #6 of the Cleveland Guardians gets doused with water after hitting a walk off two-run home run to beat the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot at Progressive Field on Thursday, October 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Elder Wisdom

Point/Counterpoint: Friday Night Playoff Games

Kathryn Xu

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers returns to the dugout after winning Game 4 of the NLCS.

Dodgers Lifehack: Just Don’t Chase, Dummy

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looks on before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&amp;T Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.