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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

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs battle for a rebound during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2024 in New York City. 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Victor Wembanyama Crafted A Fittingly Weird Christmas Masterpiece

Defector Staff

circa 1897: Portrait of actor John Martin Harvey (1867 - 1944) reading to two children on a postcard.

Year In Review

The Best Things We Read In 2024

Ray Ratto

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a foul call against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Chase Center on December 25, 2024 in San Francisco

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating

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


Chris Thompson

The 76ers Are Showing Signs Of Life Amid Brushes With Death

Barry Petchesky

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 01: NFL Christmas Gameday signage on a blimp advertising the NFL's two Christmas Day marquee games streaming live on Netflix on December 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Netflix NFL Viewership Claims Threaten Several International Incidents

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<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 22: Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal (93) recovers a fumble and celebrates with teammates in action during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on December 22, 2024 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.

Jamboroo

Go For It

The Best Things We Heard In 2024

John Saward

Clockwise from top: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Jimmy Hawkins, Larry Simms and Karolyn Grimes.

Arts And Culture

How Can A Life Be Wonderful?

What Did We Get Stuck In Our Rectums Last Year?

Kelsey McKinney

The Narrative Is All That Matters

Tom Ley

BARNET, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Santa Claus, who delivered the match ball waves to the crowd during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at the StoneX Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Barnet, England.

Defector Up All Night

Be Merry In The Christmas Open Thread

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


Sabrina Imbler

Rachelle Hampton

Justin Ellis

chad michael murray and two other male revue dancers are shirtless in suspenders in front of a green fundraising chart

Defector At The Movies

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘The Merry Gentlemen’

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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

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and JD Vance attend the Army-Navy football game on December 14, 2024.

Margin Of Error

Elon Musk Takes What He Can Get

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Giri Nathan

David Roth

Firefighters wash up after fighting the O'Brien Creek fire. Lolo national Forest, Montana, August 21, 1940.

Defector Reads A Book

Racing With Mortality In Norman Maclean’s ‘Young Men And Fire’

An old timey drive-in, with an old-timey pickup truck in front of it. The front of the drive in says "DRIVE-IN THEATRE. SIT IN YOUR CAR. SEE AND HEAR TALKING PICTURES. ON THE WORLD'S LARGEST SCREEN. Californa's First." There's also a neon entrance sign. The photo is black and white. The Year in Review Defector graphic is at the bottom.

The Best Things We Saw In 2024

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-4 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 22, 2024 in London, England.

Soccer

Liverpool Has The Premier League In A Stranglehold

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

<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

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

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.

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.

Jhon Durán Can’t Stop Putting Goals On Film

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

‘Babygirl’ Wants To Know Your Fantasy

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