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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

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Shannon Sharpe Stepping Away From ESPN Following Sexual Assault Lawsuit

David Roth

Shedeur Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes runs with the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field on November 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.

Journey Within The Football Guy Brain, With Mike Tanier

Patrick Redford

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 23: Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the first half against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 23, 2025 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Jalen Green Stops Killing The Rockets Long Enough To Kill The Warriors Instead

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

The Vermillion Vanguard prepares to march

Soccer

The Vermilion Vanguard Is On The March

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


Sabrina Imbler

a photo of matt o'malley, a fired USDA agricultural engineer, smiling in front of mountains

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired USDA Agricultural Engineer

<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

Jamboroo

Secrets Of The World’s Foremost NFL YouTube Grinder

Barry Petchesky

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores a goal against Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in the second period during Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez /NHLI via Getty Images)

The Oilers Are Getting Carved Up Like A Moist And Tender Turkey

Kathryn Xu

Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets celebrates with his team after driving in the winning run.

Mets Invincible, Phillies On Bullet-Train To Hell

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a walk-off hit in the bottom of the tenth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Cubs Love To Get Crooked 

<p>Alex Shultz is a journalist based in Brooklyn. He&#8217;s a writer for <a href="https://www.hardresetmedia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hardresetmedia.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763581679564000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07bi0TNndgTXDN2QH72s3J">Hard Reset,</a> a newsletter about tech, labor, and power.</p>


Alex Shultz

A tabloid style Sports Illustrated cover in the checkout line

Journalismism

Horny Sports Blogging Makes A Bewildering Return To Sports Illustrated

Luis Paez-Pumar

Agustin Ramirez #50 of the Miami Marlins in the game against the Cincinnati Reds at loanDepot park on April 21, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Enjoy The Agustín Ramírez Show For As Long As It Lasts

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

Podcasts

The Fine Line Between A Prank And A Crime

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


Chris Thompson

James Wood Is A Special Case

<p>Jake Romm is a New York City-based writer and the Associate Editor of Protean Magazine.</p>


Jake Romm

Politics

The Paranoid Fantasies Of ‘October 8’

Albert Burneko

Painting of Science Fiction Scene with Robot Woman by Anton Brzezinski

Henry Blodget Invents, Hires, Sexually Harasses, Blogs About Nonexistent AI Subordinate

Ray Ratto

General manager of the Dallas Mavericks Nico Harrison looks on before the game of the Play-In Tournament against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 18, 2025.

The Mavericks Just Keep On Sending Nico Harrison Out There

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons react after a call during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2025 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 Al Bello/Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson Is The NBA’s Premier Falling-Down Artist

Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes runs away from a tackle attempt by Dylan Smith #11 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys after a catch in the third quarter at Folsom Field on November 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.

Funbag

Let Travis Hunter Be Football Ohtani

The Hobbled Braves Are Hanging In There


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a collectors card depicting the assassination attempt during the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. The White House is expecting thousands of children and adults to participate in the annual tradition of rolling colored eggs down the White House lawn, a tradition started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878.

Trump Shows Kids Collectible Card With Photo Of Him Being Shot

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

‘Sinners’ Is A Worthy Blockbuster

Los Angeles, CA - April 21:Kings Warren Foegele, #37, jumps out of the way of a shot by Kings Phillip Danault, #24, to score past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in the final seconds of the third period in Game 1 of the first-round series at Cypto.com Arena on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

It Rocks When A Hockey Game Is Funny

Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers drives on Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Kawhi Leonard Is Just Living With It

Dave McKenna

Chris Óg Jones of Cork in action against Gavin White of Kerry during the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Cork and Kerry at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.

Gaelic Football

Kerry And Cork Redeemed A Dour Season Of Gaelic Football With One Great Game

John Cena (L) celebrates with rapper Travis Scott after defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.