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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.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Patrick Redford

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 16: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after they lost to the Denver Nuggets in the second half at Golden 1 Center on December 16, 2024 in Sacramento, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets v Sacramento Kings

It Feels So Over In Sacramento

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Albert Burneko

Pau Víctor, Robert Lewandowski, and Dani Olmo celebrate a win against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.

Pau Víctor and Dani Olmo

Soccer

Deadbeat Club Scrambling To Keep Players It Never Should Have Acquired [Update]

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


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Nicholas Russell

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Arts And Culture

‘Nosferatu’ Keeps You Waiting And Waiting

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Defector Staff

May Company Basement Sale, 1 March 1954. Crowd at May Company Basement Sale.;Caption slip reads: 'Photographer: McCarty. Date: 154-03-01. Reporter: Scott. Assignment: May Co. Basement Sale. 1/2/46/76/35/72/71/69/70/75: Crowd at May Co. Basement Sale'..

May Company Basement Sale, 1954

Year In Review

The Worst Things We Bought In 2024

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A clothing rack at a flea market showing a row of vintage sweaters of various colors.

Life Lessons

How To Buy A Sweater That Doesn’t Suck

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David Roth

A master swordsman named Bernard Ganter uses a saber to open an enormous bottle of Moet & Chandon at a celebration in Denver, Co.

Podcasts

The Fellowship Of The Champagne Saber

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)

San Antonio Spurs v New York Knicks

Victor Wembanyama Crafted A Fittingly Weird Christmas Masterpiece

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

J Martin Harvey

The Best Things We Read In 2024

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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

Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating

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Chris Thompson

Joel Embiid vs Boston

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

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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)

Christmas Day Football Streaming on Netflix

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 set to be released on May 13th, 2025 by Levine Querido. 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.

NFL: DEC 22 Lions at Bears

Jamboroo

Go For It

His Master’s Voice Advertisement

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.

One of the Final Scenes from Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life

How Can A Life Be Wonderful?

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What Did We Get Stuck In Our Rectums Last Year?

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Kelsey McKinney

“It Ends With Us” UK Gala Screening – VIP Arrivals

The Narrative Is All That Matters

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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.

Saracens v Northampton Saints – Gallagher Premiership Rugby

Defector Up All Night

Be Merry In The Christmas Open Thread


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


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

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Rachelle Hampton

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Justin Ellis

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

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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.

Trump Musk Vance

Margin Of Error

Elon Musk Takes What He Can Get

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Giri Nathan

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

Firefighters Wash Up After Forest Fire

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.

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The Best Things We Saw In 2024

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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.

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League

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

Profile: Ruediger Grube, Chairman of Deutsche Bahn

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 23: Parting Ways

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.</p>


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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)

Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury – Kingdom Arena – Riyadh

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.

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Defector’s Favorite Sports Moments Of 2024

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