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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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Tom Ley

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Announcements

Enjoy A Defector Subscription For The Cost Of Two Large Eggs

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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)

Portland Trail Blazers v Philadelphia 76ers

Quentin Grimes Is The Tragicomic Protagonist Of The Terminal NBA Season


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Sabrina Imbler

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

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Interviews

An Interview With A Fired NOAA Director

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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Ray Ratto

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


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Chris Thompson

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Kathryn Xu

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

Woman Gazing Into Crystal Ball

Defector Reads A Book

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

<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

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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.

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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 Photo

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.

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NWSL

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

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Israel Daramola

Dave McKenna

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David Roth

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Lauren Theisen

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.

Led Zeppelin Live In London

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

BNP Paribas Open – Final Day

Tennis

Mirra Andreeva Grabs Center Stage

Rolling Loud California 2025

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.

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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.

New York Yankees v Washington Nationals

Joey Gallo Is Going To Give It A Shot

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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.

Los Angeles Angels v Chicago Cubs

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.

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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.

UC Irvine v UC San Diego

College Basketball

And Now It Is March

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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.

Liverpool v Newcastle United – Carabao Cup Final

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

Montana vs Northern Colorado – Big Sky Conference Championship

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

Scene from A Streetcar Named Desire

Arts And Culture

Four Blanches

Drivers take the start during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix

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Racing

The F1 Season Got Off To A Very Wet And Very Wild Start

Matt Hardigree

ROAR_Nationals_Photos – 15

The RC Car Racing Nationals Is Where Racing Gets Small

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Albert Burneko

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Animals

For Chop

Dan MacKinnon of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after his teams 3-1 victory to win the Stanley Cup in 2016. This is not a photo of him after trading his son to the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations.

2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Heartwarming: Hockey Executive Trades Son For Future Considerations

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Billy Haisley

Real Madrid players celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on March 12, 2025. Real Madrid won in a penalty shootout.

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid Is A Monster, And Every Derby Is Halloween

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<div><span id="m_-2092141782617832424gmail-docs-internal-guid-bb27737d-7fff-3697-05d8-6ce69444e1e4">Mike Sielski is the author of four books, including Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk and The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality. He has been a sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Inquirer.com since 2013 and was formerly a reporter at The Wall Street Journal.</span></div>
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Mike Sielski

David Lattin (42) and a Texas Western teammate compete for control of a rebound as Kentucky's Tommy Kron, left, and Pat Riley , right, look on during the 1966 NCAA Photos via Getty Images Championship. Texas Western defeated Kentucky 72-65 for the championship title and was the first team to have an.. all-.black starting five compete in the NCAA final

NCAA Photos Archive

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

How The Dunk Was Banned

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