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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur looks on in-front of a flare after Bournemouth score their third goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 15, 2023 in London, England.

Soccer

Does Anyone Want To Finish Fourth In The Premier League?

Lauren Theisen

Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid have a discussion

Nobody Screws Themselves Faster Than The Oilers

Barry Petchesky

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) takes a high stick from Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) during Game 1 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 17, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

How Do You Beat The Bruins?

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


Chris Thompson

A protester explodes a bag of orange powder atop a billiard table.

Life's Rich Pageant

Terrible Scenes At The Crucible As Snooker Championship Match Abandoned Due To Rude Powdering

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


Dan McQuade

A bunch of shirtless Red Sox fans in the stands at Fenway Park, with one Angels fan (not shirtless) texting in the middle of it all

Red Sox Fans Are In A Patriots’ Daze

Albert Burneko

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Ansu Fati react to a missed scoring opportunity against Getafe CF

La Liga

Barcelona’s Doing Its Damnedest To Make Winning Boring

Paul Reed #44 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The photo has been edited to blow up all the faces in the crowd going wild at Bball Paul's rebound and layup.

Bball Paul Is Balling

Patrick Redford

DENVER, CO - APRIL 16: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets smiles during Round One Game One of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 16, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jamal Murray’s Back!

Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils and Jakub Zboril #67 of the Boston Bruins fight

NHL Playoff Series, Ranked By Comedic Potential

Shaq hams it up for photographers at a Formula 1 event.

Mission Accomplished: Shaquille O’Neal Finally Served With Class-Action Lawsuit Documents

Tom Ley

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 16: Russell Westbrook #0 of the LA Clippers blocks the shot by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns, winning Round One Game One of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2023 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 2023 NBAE

Russell Westbrook Is Always Himself

David Roth

The United States Supreme Court building seen from a distance, through a window, from inside a darkened room.

Politics

The Art Of American Conservatism

Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during Round 1 Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 16, 2023 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James Got Some Help From His Secondary Buddies

Samer Kalaf

Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a homer in Sunday's minor league baseball game

Triple-A Pitchers Must Be Thrilled That Fernando Tatis Jr. Is Leaving

The rapper E-40 yells at arena security personnel before being escorted from courtside seating during Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings

E-40 Says Kings Security Wrongfully Ejected Him From Game 1

De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings lights the beam after defeating the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at the Golden 1 Center on April 15, 2023 in Sacramento, California. 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 Loren Elliott/Getty Images)

Sacramento Worships Beneath The First Playoff Beam

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Jalen Brunson’s Departure Might Haunt The Mavs For A While

Old-timey black-and-white basketball photo

A Timely Preview Of The 2023 NBA Playoffs, Almost Certainly Including All Of The Participants

A Surreal, Chum-Choked Plunge Through Ja Morant’s Countersuit Against A Teen Boy

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 4: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 4, 2023 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 2023 NBAE

When Domantas Sabonis Leads The Kings Into The Playoffs, I Hope Dale Brown Is Watching

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 13: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks acknowledges fans after his final game as a Blackhawk at United Center, against the Philadelphia Flyers, on April 13, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jonathan Toews’s Silence Wasn’t Always A Virtue

Rockies Mascot Avoids Clean Double Leg Takedown, Assailant Avoids Capture [UPDATE: Captured]

Harry Maguire of Manchester United reacts after scoring an own goal to make it 2-2 during the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg match between Manchester United and Sevilla FC at Old Trafford on April 13, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Manchester United Scores Four Goals, Draws 2-2

Fernando Tatis Jr. rounds the bases for the Padres, during spring training.

El Niño Is Approaching

A photo with added illustration of Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, with his tongue sticking waaaaay out to the side. As in, it almost reaches his jacket collar.