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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ruediger Grube, CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG and DB Mobility Logistics AG, travels by a Deutsche Bahn regional express train from Berlin to Potsdam

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 23: Parting Ways

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

Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk during the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBO World Heavyweight championship contest at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Boxing

Someone Got Inside Tyson Fury’s Head For A Change

Defector Staff

A fan lands himself just foul in the upper level leftfield seats as he keeps cool and takes in the Dodger/Seattle interleague game, Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Year In Review

Defector’s Favorite Sports Moments Of 2024

Billy Haisley

Jhon Duran of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester City FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2024 in Birmingham, England.

Soccer

Jhon Durán Can’t Stop Putting Goals On Film

Ray Ratto

A video message displayed in the stadium after Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Indiana Hoosiers on December 20, 2024, during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

College Football

The College Football Playoff’s Shitty First Weekend Did Its Job

Multiple exposure of Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (24) in action, stealing base vs San Francisco Giants. Game 1. Oakland, CA 10/14/1989

Rickey Henderson Believed In Rickey Henderson

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 19, 2024: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts after Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) scored on a 34 yard touchdown to ice the win over the Denver Broncos at So-Fi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Nothing Gets Jim Harbaugh’s Motor Running Like An Obscure Rule

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

‘Babygirl’ Wants To Know Your Fantasy

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a brown armored catfish that has been named the blob-headed catfish for its extremely sizable blob-shaped face/schnoz region

Creaturefector

Blob-Headed Fish Sets New Standard Of Fishy Blobbiness

Rachelle Hampton

Two reflective gold wine glasses emblazoned with "Love is Blind" are held up against the sky.

Could Unionizing Protect Contestants From The Reality Of Reality TV?

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

The 2024 Williams Sonoma Haters Guide title graphic, featuring a man in a blue apron holding a baking dish with Williams Sonoma digitally written on it. 'Embroidered' on the apron it says 2024 Williams Sonoma Haters Guide. He's in front of a marble background.

Hater's Guide

The 2024 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog

David Roth

Malcolm Gladwell and Carlos Watson speak onstage during OZY Fest 2018 at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 22, 2018 in New York City.

Podcasts

Feeling Like Ozymandias, With Susie Banikarim

Woody Johnson (center) and his sons attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Report: New York Jets Plagued By Woody Johnson’s Meddlesome Teen Sons

Kathryn Xu

Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App RB prepares to drive in the garage during practice.

Racing

Liam Lawson Enters The Red Bull Second-Seat Gantlet

Automobile in a winter landscape with a man coming from Christmas shopping trip with packages, Christmas Tree, etc. Undated photograph circa 1911.

Jamboroo

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Giri Nathan

Presenting The 2024 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

Barry Petchesky

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 15: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers reacts after losing to the St. Louis Blues 3-2 at Enterprise Center on December 15, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

What Is Up With The Rangers?

Julie Kliegman is a writer and editor in Queens, New York. They wrote <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/mind-game-9798216378051/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/mind-game-9798216378051/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763134080975000&amp;usg=AOvVaw15Dx3xf4fCxIqYQnD4bF_R">Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes</a>. Their next book, the biography Finding Renée Richards, is due out in August 2026. Kliegman’s work has also appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, Bookforum, Slate, The Ringer, Texas Monthly, Vulture, BuzzFeed News, and The Verge.

Julie Kliegman

a female golfer floats in space, looking down on a giant moon-like golf ball

Golf

Hailey Davidson Loves Golf, And Golf Wants To Get Rid Of Her

Patrick Redford

College Basketball

Doug Gottlieb Humbled By Michigan Tech, Life

Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Falcons Choose Buyer’s Remorse Over Kirk Cousins

A still from a video capturing a red male cardinal staring menacingly at his reflection in the side-view mirror of a white car

Birdfector

It’s So Confusing Sometimes To Be A Bird

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Carlos Watson caught mid-speech in a press conference.

Media Meltdowns

Carlos Watson Played The Wrong Game And Lost

Luis Paez-Pumar

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks lifts the championship trophy as he celebrates with teammates after the Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 to win the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Bucks Rode A Big Third Quarter To An NBA Cup Win They Definitely Care About

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Some kids who are fans of the Charlotte Hornets.

Hornets Cruelly Bait-And-Switch Child By Promising PS5 But Giving Him PS5 And Hornets Tickets

Lacey Chabert and her ex-husband in the movie The Christmas Quest, in an attic-like space shining a flashlight on something