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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

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


Chris Thompson

Hmm, What About The Clippers?

<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

Arts And Culture

Gun Assembly Required

Tom Ley

A person holds a sign calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil as pro-Palestine demonstrators rally for Gaza in Times Square on March 18, 2025 in New York City. Israeli forces carried out renewed airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, killing over 400 people, according to Gaza officials. The attacks broke a temporary ceasefire with Hamas, heightening fears of a return to full-scale conflict.

Politics

Read Mahmoud Khalil’s Letter From An ICE Detention Facility

Mitch Voit pretending to snort a line of cocaine

Defector Up All Night

Michigan Baseball Player Sorry For Doing The Cocaine Thing

Lauren Theisen

Demonstrators hold signs as they protest the deportation of Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Rasha Alawieh of Brown University at the State House in Providence, Rhode Island

We’re All We’ve Got Left

Announcements

Enjoy A Defector Subscription For The Cost Of Two Large Eggs

Patrick Redford

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 03: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 03, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Quentin Grimes Is The Tragicomic Protagonist Of The Terminal NBA Season

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


Sabrina Imbler

a selfie of Sarah Cooley, the former director of NOAA's ocean acidification program, with an orange life vest on a river

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired NOAA Director

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Ray Ratto

Kathryn Xu

Woman holding her hand over a crystal ball and gazing into the future. Seated 1/2 length photograph.

Defector Reads A Book

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 10: Reflecting Near The End

Funbag

Lessons From A B-Minus Dog Owner

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the field during player introductions prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome.

Baseball’s Sort Of Back

<p>Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.</p>


Lesley Ryder

Detail of the Bedazzled NWSL ball prior to the NWSL match between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave at BMO Stadium on March 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

NWSL

NWSL Soccer Is Back, But The Scandals Haven’t Gone Away

Israel Daramola

Dave McKenna

David Roth

John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page from rock group Led Zeppelin perform live on stage at Earls Court in London on 24th May 1975. The image is in black and white; the Defector Music Club badge, at upper right, is not.

Music

Defector Music Club Is Getting The Led Out

TENNIS 2025 , BNP PARIBAS OPEN, INDIAN WELLS TENNIS GARDEN, INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA, WTA 1000, ATP 1000, MASTERS, HARD COURT, OUTDOOR, ATP, WTA, 2025, USA HARD COURT SWING, MEN’S SINGLES, WOMEN’S SINGLES, MEN”S DOUBLES, WOMEN’S DOUBLES, SUNSHINE SWING, © TENNIS PHOTO NETWORK

Tennis

Mirra Andreeva Grabs Center Stage

Playboi Carti Goes Big Game Hunting

France's wing Damian Penaud (C) holds the trophy while France's players celebrate winning the Six Nations international rugby union tournament at the end of their match against Scotland, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris' suburb, on March 15, 2025.

Rugby

France Deposes Ireland As Six Nations Champs While Disappointing Failed Imperialist Country Where Rugby Was Invented

Joey Gallo about to take the field during a Yankees/Nationals game at Nationals Park in August of 2024. He looks kind of faraway and a little sad, but not much more than most Nats guys do.

Joey Gallo Is Going To Give It A Shot

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Carson Kelly #15 of the Chicago Cubs and umpire Sean Sparling #53 in action during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park on February 27, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona.

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 17: Penalty Boxes

All My Favorite Lines From ‘With Love, Meghan’

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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

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) walks back towards the senate side of the building at the U.S. Capitol on March 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Tensions have flared over the shutdown within the Democratic caucus after Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced Thursday that he will vote to advance a House-passed six-month government funding bill, despite opposition from many Democrats who argue it would create a "slush fund" for former President Trump and Elon Musk.

Margin Of Error

Chuck Schumer Is Responsible

Hayden Gray #3, Justin Rochelin #5, and Yaqub Mir #22 of the UC San Diego Tritons celebrate after their team's 75-61 victory against the UC Irvine Anteaters to win the Big West Men's Basketball Tournament on March 15, 2025.

College Basketball

And Now It Is March

Luis Paez-Pumar

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United F.C. celebrate with fans after scoring the second goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England.

Soccer

Newcastle Exposed The Cracks In Liverpool’s Armor

Head coach Travis DeCuire of the Montana Grizzlies talks with the team during a time out against the Northern Colorado Bears the Big Sky Conference Championshi

You Should Only Get One Timeout In Basketball

Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski and Vivien Leigh as Blanche Du Bois in a scene from the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire

Four Blanches

Drivers take the start during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix