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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

Luis Paez-Pumar

Cloud Strife in 'Final Fantasy VII Remake'

The Backlog

‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’ Tore Down The Past To Build A New Future

Tom Ley

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a three-point basket late during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 01, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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.

Jalen Brunson Got Away Clean

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Claire Sneed, a recently fired US Forest Service hydrologic technician

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired U.S. Forest Service Hydrologic Technician

David Roth

Owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

Podcasts

I’m Feeling Like Steve, With Patrick Redford

Barry Petchesky

UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 30: Saturn, by Jamie Cooper. This image showing Saturn with six of it's moons was taken on 26th January 2006 at 22:11 hrs UT using a webcam attached to a 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. The moons are from left to right: Titan, Mimas,Tethys, Rhea, Enceladus and Dione. (Photo by Jamie Cooper/SSPL/Getty Images)

Why Is This So Good?

I Implore You To Look At Saturn Through A Telescope

Lamine Yamal right winger of Barcelona and Spain celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

On A Spectacular Night, Lamine Yamal Shone Brightest

Samer Kalaf

Bill Belichick in a ragged sweatshirt on CBS Sunday Morning

College Football

Bill Belichick’s Shit Isn’t Flying Anymore

Kate Wagner

Capital

Mark Zuckerberg Still Can’t Buy Taste

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Big Lakers Ambitions Squished By, Of All People, Rudy Gobert

Ray Ratto

Journalism, who is a horse, is washed during the morning training for the 151th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 30, 2025.

Horse Racing

Are You Sure You Want To Bet On Journalism?

A fan sits alone in the purple row of seats that are exactly on mile above sea level during a game between the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 23, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Houston Astros 8-6.

Which Towering Dinger In Denver Is Jerry Dipoto Actually Talking About?

Kathryn Xu

José Azocar #28, Tyrone Taylor #15, and Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field.

It’s All Coming Up Mets

Patrick Redford

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets sits on the bench after notching his 40th point during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 131-115 win over the LA Clippers

Jamal Murray Was Arrogant And Generous Enough To Craft Another Classic

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

A Run-In With The Mysterious Steve

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 29: John Tavares #91, Max Domi #11 and Scott Laughton #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warm-up before Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at the Scotiabank Arena on April 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Do Not Say The Leafs Could Blow This Series. Don’t Even Think It!

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Bennedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers get into an altercation after Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 29, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.

Bucks Collapse Leads To Giannis Antetokounmpo Delivering Fatherhood Lessons To Tyrese Haliburton’s Dad

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-final First Leg football match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London, on April 29, 2025.

All PSG Needed Was A Half-Chance

A headshot of Madyson Miller, a fired NOAA program analyst, in a blue sweater and golden light

An Interview With A Fired NOAA Program Analyst

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. during the third day of the NFL Draft on April 29, 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, MO.

Funbag

It’s Time For Mel Kiper To Go

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

A photo of Florida Gators basketball coach Todd Golden speaking to reporters at a press conference during the Final Four. Golden is sitting at a table with a nameplate.

College Basketball

Florida Built A Black Box And Put The Todd Golden Case Inside It

Jack Hanson

Arts And Culture

The Perfect Fascist

Bradley Blalock of the Rockies tries to throw a baseball while sliding on his butt.

The Rockies Are Bad At Every Part Of Baseball

Buddy Hield #7 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

Buddy Hield To The Rescue

Soraya Roberts

Music

Tunde Adebimpe’s Solo Debut Channels The Gift Of The Mixtape

Griffin Canning of the New York Mets pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California.