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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.

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2025 gift subs

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Kelsey McKinney

Edited in Prisma app with Mononoke

Zillowing Out

A $700,000 Home We Can Spend The Rest Of Our Lives Updating

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Albert Burneko

Japanese players celebrate their Group E win over Spain

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Soccer

Japan Is The Best Kind Of World Cup Killer

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Luis Paez-Pumar

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022.

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Underexplained Lists

The 16 Teams Left In The World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

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Patrick Redford

AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 02: Players of Korea celebrate during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group H match between Korea Republic and Portugal at Education City Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)

Korea Republic v Portugal: Group H – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

South Korea’s Stunning World Cup Moment Is As Good As It Gets

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Giri Nathan

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Defector Reads A Book

Defector Reads A Book Has Made Its Winter Pick

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.

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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.

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College Football

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

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Chris Thompson

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

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Tom Ley

NFL: JAN 16 AFC Wild Card – Steelers at Chiefs

Media Meltdowns

Drew Brees Struck By Idiotic Marketing Ploy, Not Lightning

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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.

IR Iran v USA: Group B – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

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The Absolute State Of The Nation, With Tom Ley

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)

Chicago Bulls v Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker And The Suns Are Going Turbo Mode

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

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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.

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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)

Denver Broncos v Carolina Panthers

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Russell Wilson Has Nowhere To Hide Now

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Laura Wagner

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

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No One Is Sadder Than Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku

Iran v USA: Group B – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

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

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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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.

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College Basketball

Portland Bible’s Loss Was By The Book

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Samer Kalaf

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

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Yelling In Arabic Has Its Merits

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.

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Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

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Barry Petchesky

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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.

Georgia Southern v Mississippi

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

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Little Kid Basketball Is The Best Halftime Show

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

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.

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