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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

Kelsey McKinney

image of the screen at the Wells Fargo center displaying the words WORSHIP, WISDOM, WORK, WEALTH

Capital

Saquon Barkley Lured Me To An Arena Where I Learned Passive Income Is Holy

<div>
<div>Katherine Churchill holds a Ph.D. in English literature. Her writing has appeared in <i>Time</i>, <i>Literary Hub, Electric Literature, Oxford American Magazine</i>, and elsewhere.</div>
</div>
<div></div>


Katherine Churchill

Arts And Culture

The Exclusive Men’s-Only Rare Books Club, And The Woman Who Has A Key

<p>Former Defector intern, now freelancer.</p>
<p>For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lucy Bloom

College Baseball

Can’t Sleep. Hopped Up On Bunts.

Patrick Redford

Norway's Magnus Carlsen (L) plays against India's Gukesh Dommaraju during the first game of Norway chess tournement in Finansparken in Stavanger on May 26, 2025. (Photo by Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT

Chess

Magnus Carlsen Melts Down, Pounds Table After Inexplicable Blunder

<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

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Nominees Adam R. Telle, to be assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Richard L. Anderson, to be assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and Dr. Matthew C. Napoli, to be deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration, testified.

Politics

Joni Ernst Is A Piece Of Shit

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


Chris Thompson

Jac Caglianone rounds the bases in spring training.

Red Alert! The Dinger-Starved Royals Have Promoted A Mighty Lad

Luis Paez-Pumar

Players of Seattle Sounders pose for a team photograph before the MLS match against Minnesota United on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Soccer

Seattle Sounders Players Protest For Fair Share Of Lucrative Club World Cup Bonuses

Lauren Theisen

Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty mascot, performs before the game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun

WNBA

The Liberty Are Godzilla And The WNBA Is A Bunch Of Tall Buildings

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Commentator and former NFL player Tom Brady (C) reacts on the field prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 2: Can You Dig It?

Tom Ley

George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, May 25, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Blue Jays Rally Undone By George Springer’s Little Hops

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


Sabrina Imbler

Mamta Patel Nagaraja, a fired NASA associate chief scientist for exploration and research, giving a keynote at the Department of Transportation for a White House event

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired NASA Associate Chief Scientist

Kathryn Xu

Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing drives the Red Bull RB21 Honda.

Racing

Max Verstappen Shatters The Illusion


<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

AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley competes in the girls high jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, California.

Youth Sports

Despite Online Outrage, The California State Track Meet Was Mostly Just A Track Meet

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers grabs the ball against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Pacers Were Just Too Much To Handle

Désiré Doué of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Paris Saint-Germain Left No Doubt

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans plays the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in the fourth quarter February 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Zion Williamson Accused Of Rape, Domestic Violence In Lawsuit

Tom Cruise arrives at the US Premiere of "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" at Lincoln Center Plaza in New York, New York on May 18, 2025.

If Tom Cruise REALLY Loved Movies, He Would Let Me Watch Him Die

Stefon Diggs handing a pink substance to some women on a boat

The Stefon Diggs Experience Reaches Its Inevitable Maritime Climax

David Roth

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti, at center in glasses and a vest, was in attendance for the retirement of Kendrick Williams during a college basketball game between Texas Longhorns and the TCU Horned Frogs on February 3, 2024.

What Is Sam Presti’s Name? The Answer(s) May Surprise You.

Albert Burneko

This Is So Stupid

Dave McKenna Insists They Have Ham Trucks In France

Ray Ratto

Miguel Andujar of the Athletics reacts at a called strike against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

The Athletics Have Hopped Back Into The Dumpster

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


Dan McQuade

Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis look on during the main event of Money in the Bank 2011.

Pro Wrestling

John Laurinaitis Says He Will Testify Against Vince McMahon

<p>The author can be reached at postpostdoc@protonmail.com.</p>


Post-Postdoc

The Machines

The AI Floodwaters Are Rising Fast

A logo for Ask the Book Doctor, with a woman with arm tattoos and a nose ring looking at a giant art book and flipping pages. It's a very 1980s clip art look

Got A Reading Problem? Ask The Book Doctor!

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a pass against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.