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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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Israel Daramola

College Football

Ohio State’s Comeback Tour Ends With A Championship

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to throw under pressure from defensive end Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 25-22 in overtime.

Super Bowl LVIII – San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 20: Passing Through

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Ray Ratto

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens drops a pass on a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Baltimore Ravens v Buffalo Bills

The Ravens Will Just Have To Stew In Their Failure

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Samer Kalaf

A pile of Rams and Eagles players in the snow.

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Eagles Win, Despite Their Best Efforts

Dave McKenna

Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin smile after beating the Lions in the divisional round.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Washington Commanders v Detroit Lions

The Commanders Are Happy To Be Here, And Happier To Beat Down The Lions


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

A white piece of paper with the Packers, NFL Wild Card, and Eagles logos at the top. Written below in pen are drive charts for each team.

eagles-packers-gameday-chart-top

These Are The Items Your Dedicated Eagles Sicko Needs For A Game

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs the ball after a reception against the Houston Texans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game

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The Chiefs Are Experts In Demoralization

Arts And Culture

David Lynch Was The Artist of Our Time

An Eagles fan yells at Packers fans at the game

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A Thorough Analysis Of This Latest Philly Sports Fan Bullshit

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Patrick Redford

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempts to drive past Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center on January 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers v Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder Articulate A Philosophy Of Pressure

The building of the Washington Post newspaper headquarter is seen on K Street in Washington DC on May 16, 2019.

Washington Post Logo

Journalismism

The Familiarity And Sadness Of Watching The Washington Post Go To Hell

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Cleveland Cavaliers

What Could Possibly Be The Problem With More Cavaliers-Thunder?

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

‘Vidcom’ de Cannes

Under The Influence

TikTok Users Learn The Internet Isn’t Forever

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Tom Ley

Great Perfecting Printing Press

Announcements

Transactions, January 17


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


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Diana Moskovitz

An aerial view of a street in the Eaton fire. The entire street is burned and decimated. It looks like a bomb went off. A sole person walks down the empty steet.

Eaton Fire aerial view

We Need A New Deal To Save Local Journalism

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Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Could Be A New Solution To The WNBA’s Old Problems

<div dir="ltr">Dom Cosentino is a writer in Brooklyn who takes Pittsburgh sports way too seriously.</div>
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Dom Cosentino

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens

What’s Mike Tomlin’s Standard Now?


<p>Michael is a writer who has worked with The Atlantic, The New Yorker, WIRED, Vox, The New York Times, and other publications. His first book, <em>The Other Olympians</em>, which uncovers the stories of several European athletes who transitioned gender in the 1930s, is now available for purchase.</p>


Michael Waters

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (C) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-VA) (L) raise their hands when asked if they know a transgender woman during an event to celebrate the House passing The Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act outside the U.S. Capitol on April 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden has promised to veto the legislation, which defines sex as 'based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth' and would ban all transgender women and girls from competing in female school sports.

House GOP Members And Female Athletes Mark Passage Of The Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act

Politics

The Trans Sports Ban Portends Something Much Darker

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David Roth

An Enchanted Tools robot called the Mirokai is displayed during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show CES in Las Vegas.

U.S.-LAS VEGAS-CES-ROBOTS

Podcasts

The Future Feels Like The Raiders, With Ed Zitron

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 15: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies tries to dunk over Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Frost Bank Center on January 15, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies v San Antonio Spurs

Ja Morant Summited Mount Wembanyama

<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>


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Drew Magary

19th century drawing of a physician holding death at bay.

Drawing of Two Figures Warding off Death

Jamboroo

Fear Of Death Will Kill Us All

Bob Uecker walks onto the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

League Championship Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Milwaukee Brewers – Game One

Bob Uecker Was Just The Best

<p>Katelyn Burns is a freelance journalist and columnist for MSNBC. She co-hosts the Cancel Me, Daddy podcast and is a co-founder of The Flytrap, a worker-owned feminist newsletter. Find her on BlueSky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/katelynburns.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/katelynburns.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737039410886000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0AGF3RbPU2rsUfV7tUou_r">@katelynburns.com</a></p>


Katelyn Burns

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Video Games

Can Pro ‘Overwatch’ Be Brought Back To Life?

Day'Ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Bones Hyland #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Intuit Dome on January 15, 2025.

Brooklyn Nets v Los Angeles Clippers

It Doesn’t Get Any Less Essential Than Nets-Clippers

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Barry Petchesky

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Ryan McLeod #71 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against Sean Walker #26 of the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL game on January 15, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v Buffalo Sabres

How To Complete A Hat Trick Without Taking A Shot

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