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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

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

Dan McQuade

The sky with an angelic light behind it, the Wilson Evo NXT basketball sits in the middle

College Basketball

Everyone Has An Opinion On The NCAA Tournament’s Bright Orange Basketball

Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.

Jen Ramos Eisen

An image of the baseball field at Stockton Ballpark in Stockton, California. There's a baseball field, and rows of plastic chairs for fans to sit in.

Minor League Baseball’s New CBA Still Won’t Solve All Its Transportation Woes

Israel Daramola

The ‘Succession’ Misery Index: Something Everyone Knows, But Nobody Says

Albert Burneko

A close play on a steal attempt at second base, between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians.

This Is So Stupid

It’s Too Easy To Steal Bases!

Luis Paez-Pumar

Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) Aston Martin AMR23 Mercedes spins after a collision at the second restart during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on April 02, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

Racing

The Australian Grand Prix Was A Mess Of The FIA’s Creation

Tom Ley

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Jasmine Carson #2 of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts after a three-point basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

Jasmine Carson Lived A Shooter’s Dream

Wait, They Attach The Net How?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Louisiana State Tigers players celebrate their win over the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

LSU Is The New Kind Of Cinderella

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center on March 27, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Amanda Loman/Getty Images)

Dame Lillard, You Don’t Want To Be The Face Of This

Barry Petchesky

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 01: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game against the Anaheim Ducks and 50th goal of the season on April 1, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leon Draisaitl;Lukas Dostal;Jakob Silfverberg

I Need Someone To Talk Me Out Of Believing In The Oilers

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 01: Ryan McKenna #26 of the Baltimore Orioles drops what would have been the game ending out during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)

Well, That Has To Be The Most Painful Way To Lose A Baseball Game

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: (EDITORS NOTE: In this photo taken with a remote camera) Lamont Butler #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs shoots the ball to win the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at NRG Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Good Things Happen When A Coach Gets Out Of The Way

NCAA Division I Mascot Analysis - Four mascots listed Florida Atlantic: Owlsley Temple: Hooter Kennesaw State: Scrappy Rice: Sammy Also a milk carton with "WHERE IS HOOT?" and a picture of him on it and an OWLFECTOR logo with two little owls perching on it

Owl You Need To Know About Owl Mascots

Giri Nathan

Tennis

Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz Are Squaring Up Again

Samer Kalaf

Patrick Redford

Patrick Redford eats a chunk of onion on Defector's Twitch stream

Announcements

Patrick Ate The Onion

David Roth

New York Mayor Eric Adams throws out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in May of 2022.

Politics

Local Politicians Enthused By Return Of Base Ball

GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 27: Zia Cooke #1 and Brea Beal #12 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate in the closing minutes of their victory over the Maryland Terrapins during the Elite Eight round of the 2023 NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 27, 2023 in Greenville, South Carolina.

South Carolina’s “Freshies” Have One Last Job In Them

Los Angeles Angel Of Anaheim Does Amazing Baseball Thing, For Naught

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

John Angelos speaks to press during spring training.

Instead Of Showing Financials As Promised, Orioles CEO John Angelos Offers Three Minutes Of Deranged Horse Shit

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 30: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day at Fenway Park on March 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Adley Rutschman Has The Power

Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell shrugs after hitting a big shot in the Wildcats' Elite Eight game at Madison Square Garden.

Podcasts

Live From The Game Of Somebody’s Life, With Dan McQuade

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Washington Nationals walks back to the dug out during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Parks on September 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

It’s Opening Day For Haters, Too

Laura Wagner

Minor Leaguers And MLB Are On The Verge Of A Historic CBA

Defector Staff

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 28: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 5-0.

These Are Some Baseball Players We Like

Lauren Theisen

Matt Boldy smiles and hugs Filip Gustavsson