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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

Tom Ley

College Basketball

Nate Oats Has To Be Trying To Be This Clueless

Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts as Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 21, 2023.

Soccer

Real Madrid Will Take What Is Given

Patrick Redford

LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 reacts to a play during the match between Boulogne-Levallois and JDA Dijon at Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan on February 10, 2023 in Levallois-Perret, France. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Where Should Victor Wembanyama End Up?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink (22) tries to block a shot during the women's college basketball game between the Stanford Cardinal and the USC Trojans on January 15, 2023 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Stanford Remains Very Tall And Very Good

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Spring Training Speech Turns Terry Francona Into Mr. Bean

Laura Wagner

Canada team group as the players wear purple t shirts with enough is enough written on them during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup match between Canada and Brazil at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee

U.S. Soccer Has Nothing To Say About Canadian Women’s Protest

Arbitration Is Broken Because Owners Broke It

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

Funbag

Online Is What You Make Of It

Albert Burneko

Lonzo Ball watches a Bulls game from courtside, in a hoodie and ball cap.

Chicago Bulls Organization Experiences Performance-Limiting Brain Condition While Participating In Lonzo Ball Injury Updates

The Search For The Real Jason Heyward Continues

Lauren Theisen

PSA: Points Lie

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

Dan McQuade

AL MUROOJ, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 31: Phil Mickelson of USA talks to the media during a practice round prior to the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on January 31, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia.

Golf

Phil Mickelson Has Sullied The Storied History Of HyFlyers GC

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A naked mole rat queen stands inside a transparent tunnel.

Creaturefector

Meet Pittsburgh’s Extraordinary Naked Mole-Rat Queens

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 19: Mallory Swanson #9 of the United States is marked by Fuka Nagano #8 and Risa Shimizu #2 of Japan during a game between Japan and USWNT at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The USWNT Is Still Coming Together Slowly

David Roth

Jacob deGrom at his introductory press conference after signing a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

The Jacob deGrom Experience Is A Worrying Thing

Announcements

How To Pitch Defector

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 19: Karl Malone looks on during the NBA All-Star Game as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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

Karl Malone Is Sick Of Being Asked About Impregnating A Child

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nick Sirianni: I Would Punt The Ball Back To Patrick Mahomes Again

Ray Ratto

20230215E0621DS - Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks to the media

The Owners Are Getting Ornery

Soraya Roberts

Arts And Culture

AI Art Only Looks Like Art If You Don’t Care

Israel Daramola

The NBA All-Star Game Was What It Always Is

Richard Belzer during 55th Annual Writers Guild of America East Awards - Arrivals at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Richard Belzer Was An Old Crank To The End

Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalen Hill (1) and Texas Longhorns forward Timmy Allen (0) fight for the ball

Death To The NCAA

Someone Please Save Big 12 Basketball!

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 18: Mac McClung #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk Contest as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mac McClung Was A Star All Along

Michael Bunting celebrates his second goal