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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

Lauren Theisen

Arts And Culture

Helen Frankenthaler Is A Reason To Go To Rochester

Ray Ratto

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers fights with Shayne Gostisbehere #4 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 20, 2025.

For The Panthers And Thunder, The Worse The Better

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


Chris Thompson

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes It Feel Bad

David Roth

Juan Soto of the New York Mets blows a bubble in the dugout during the game against the New York Mets during their game at Yankee Stadium on May 17, 2025.

Juan Soto’s Mets Era Is Off To A Slow, Silly Start

<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

Slayer, Tom Araya, Clash of the Titans, Genk, Belgium, 22nd September 1990.

Are We Human, Or Are We Slayer?

Albert Burneko

Humanoid robot practices typing at the Data Collection Center of AgiBot on March 20, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

The Machines

Chicago Sun-Times And Philadelphia Inquirer Publish Huge Summer Insert Of Pure, Uncut Chatbot Slop [UPDATE]

Amos Barshad

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 20, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain.

Soccer

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s Lovably Embattled Idealist, Stands On The Brink Of Redemption

Patrick Redford

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on January 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 102-97. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

Two Of Basketball’s Brightest Young Stars Will Compete For More Than A Trip To The Finals

Former Cincinnati Reds manager and player Pete Rose is seen before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on July 21, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Funbag

Put Pete Rose In The Hall Of Fame So That I Can Forget About Him

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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

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman is seen on the field before a match between Bay FC and Angel City FC in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, May 17, 2025.

NWSL

Jessica Berman Makes Her Priorities Clear

<p>Emily Bice is a Brooklyn-based writer. Her work centers on explorations of how we navigate love and life in the 21st century. These investigations have taken her to a fishmonger, inspired meditations on dating, and even led to rollerblading a marathon. You can find more on her Substack, <a href="https://129waysto.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://129waysto.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728739707762000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1SlDWyDATtJJ90_yxFN0B1">129 Ways to Get a Life</a>.</p>


Emily Bice

a woman bowls into a time travel-like vortex

Life Lessons

Ten Frames Of Time Travel

Baltimore Orioles bench watches play against the Washington Nationals

The Orioles Are Nowhere

Luis Paez-Pumar

Pedro Rodriguez of SS Lazio celebrates a first goal during the Serie match between Inter and Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

The Stage Is Set For A Wild Serie A Finale

Copies of Hillary Clinton's book "What Happened" sit on a shelf

A Short Farewell To The NHL’s Second-Round Losers

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo with his trophy alongside his team following victory against Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Men's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2025 at Foro Italico on May 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy.

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Keeps Smiling At Jannik Sinner’s Expense

Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 18: of the Florida Panthers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 18, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 6-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Something’s Over In Toronto

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes seen in action during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 19: Squared Away

TORONTO, ON - May 18: The Toronto Maple Leafs skate off the ice after game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 18, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Seven Is The Leafs’ Unlucky Number

Tom Ley

Jalen Williams (8) of the Oklahoma City Thunder guards Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

The Thunder Tried Really Hard


<p>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</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A photo of two cats, Chuck and Purrle. Chuck is a brown and golden striped tabby, toward the back, while Purrle is a black cat toward the front. They are sitting next to each other on a bed.

Animals

Meet Chuck And Purrle, The Newest Members Of The Defector Pet Family

Dave McKenna

Kilkenny players return to the changing room before the Leinster Senior Camogie final match between Wexford and Kilkenny at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. The women had to return to the locker room because they wore shorts. There are no action pictures from this game at the request of the players.

Hurling

Ireland To Consider Ending Sexist Dress Code For One Of Its Most Popular Sports

Actor Timothee Chalamet and director Spike Lee celebrate after the New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.

Timothée Chalamet Is In His Sports Bro Era

Jockey Umberto Rispoli crosses the finish line on Journalism #2 to ahead of jockey Luis Saez and Gosger #9 win the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 17, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Horse Racing

Journalism Finally Meets Its Deadline, Wins The Preakness

Samer Kalaf

Bill Belichick grimaces during a Good Morning America interview

Media Meltdowns

Bill Belichick Gives Proof Of Life, Stops By Another Morning Show

Anthony Santander of the Toronto Blue Jays rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels.