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Defector

Michael is a writer who has worked with The Atlantic, The New Yorker, WIRED, Vox, The New York Times, and other publications. His first book, The Other Olympians, which uncovers the stories of several European athletes who transitioned gender in the 1930s, is now available for purchase.

Michael Waters

TOLEDO, OH - JULY 01: Columbus Clippers player's ball caps are seen on the dugout bench during a regular season game between the Columbus Clippers and the Toledo Mud Hens on July 1, 2019 at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.

Capital

The Columbus Clippers Made Public Sports Ownership Work. Can Anyone Else?

Dave McKenna

Quarterback Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans celebrates USC Trojans defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 38-27 during a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

College Football

Before He Was At USC, Caleb Williams Was A Can’t-Miss Kid

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Let’s Take Stock Of The Horrors Of The Brick For Vic Campaign

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Drew Brees Struck By Idiotic Marketing Ploy, Not Lightning

David Roth

Christian Pulisic of the US Men's National Team prepares to take a corner kick in the team's win against Iran in the 2022 World Cup.

Podcasts

The Absolute State Of The Nation, With Tom Ley

Patrick Redford

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 30: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton #22 look on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on November 30, 2022 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Devin Booker And The Suns Are Going Turbo Mode

Giri Nathan

Zion Williamson dunks as an entire Toronto Raptors squad looks on.

Zion After Raptors: Burp

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

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos confers with teammates on the sideline during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Jamboroo

Russell Wilson Has Nowhere To Hide Now

Laura Wagner

Belgium's assistant coach Thierry Henry consoles Belgium's Romelu Lukaku.

Soccer

No One Is Sadder Than Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku

Christian Pulisic’s Goal Not As Ballsy As It First Appeared

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Basketball court. TV screenshot. One team (Portland State) is up 38-0 on Portland Bible College. It's center court, a Bible player bringing it up the court.

College Basketball

Portland Bible’s Loss Was By The Book

Samer Kalaf

Saudi coaches Herve Renard and Mohammed Ameen give a motivational halftime speech during the team's game against Argentina.

Yelling In Arabic Has Its Merits

Luis Paez-Pumar

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

Barry Petchesky

Science

Artemis Is Our Ticket Out Of Here

Hugh Freeze runs off the field, accompanied by Mississippi State Troopers, after a home win against Georgia Southern in 2016.

Hugh Freeze Never Really Left

Little kids play basketball at The Palestra. Light brown court, red baseline. Purple and white teams, white team kid shooting against a purple team kid, it's a layup

Little Kid Basketball Is The Best Halftime Show

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jacy Sheldon (4) looks on during a women's college basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Boston College Eagles on November 13, 2022, at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Ohio State Is As Good As It Is Annoying

Life's Rich Pageant

Who Could Have Possibly Predicted The Bull Testicle Guy Was Juicing?

Poland Advances To Knockout Stage By Playing Jabroni Soccer

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Clonal raider ants sipping ant milk from pupae.

Creaturefector

Ants Of All Ages Enjoy Ant Milk

Lauren Theisen

The Arizona Coyotes celebrate after a win

Arizona Has A Chance To Reject The Coyotes Once And For All

A dejected Joachim Andersen of Denmark at full time after being knocked out the FIFA World Cup in the group stages during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Australia and Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar

Denmark Was Something Rotten

Ray Ratto

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings reaches for a puck that goes into the goal during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Crypto.com Arena on November 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)

Seventeen Damn Goals!

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 29: Sergino Dest of USA controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Internationals

Why Not U.S.?

Billy Haisley

USA's forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team's first goal past Iran's goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 29, 2022.

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