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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

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 16: Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

College Basketball

Bob Huggins, Live On The Radio And With All His Faculties, Uses Homophobic Slur

Maitreyi Anantharaman

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras (40) walks through the dugout to the on deck circle during a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers on April 29, 2023 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

The Cardinals Have A Problem And A Scapegoat

Albert Burneko

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 17: Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes moves through security while on her way to court on March 17, 2023 in San Jose, California. Holmes is appearing in court for a restitution hearing. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)

Media Meltdowns

Everyone Who Knows What Elizabeth Holmes Did Wrong, Step Forward (Not So Fast, The New York Times)

Giri Nathan

Aryna Sabalenka poses with the Madrid Open trophy.

Tennis

A Messy Madrid Open Launches A New Rivalry

Israel Daramola

The ‘Succession’ Misery Index: It’s All Just Money And Gossip

<p><a href="https://www.caseyjohnston.website/">Casey Johnston</a> is a writer who lives in Los Angeles.</p>


Casey Johnston

A screenshot of notifications from the author's FindMy app

Stories

Into Thin AirPods

Lauren Theisen

Connor Bedard Is Not A Cure

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes hugs LL Cool J on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

Racing

Miami Grand Prix Driver Intros As Narrated By LL Cool J, Ranked

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 7: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets slightly stares at Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia before would Ishbia theatrically fall back into his seat after Suns player Josh Okogie (2) flew into the stands during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Let’s All Agree That Nikola Jokic Shoving Mat Ishbia Was Good Fun

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


Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics in overtime of game four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 07, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

James Harden Knows


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

A photo of the now deceased last female Yangtze giant softshell turtle

Creaturefector

The Last Female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle Is Dead

Barry Petchesky

Horse Racing

That’s Too Many Dead Horses

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 05: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers falls to the court after colliding with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 05, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Celtics Own The Sixers

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 06: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck ahead of Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of Game Two of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 06, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Oilers’ Power Play Is Out For Blood

Kelsey McKinney

Zillowing Out

A $900,000 House Where We Can Become Narcissus

Patrick Redford

Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on April 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Mike Budenholzer Takes The Fall For The Bucks’ Playoff Flameout

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Noah Gittell is a Connecticut-based writer on film and baseball. His work can be found in <em>The New York Times</em>, The Ringer, <em>The Guardian</em>, <em>Washington City Paper</em>, and the <em>LA Review of Books</em>. His book on baseball cinema is due in 2024.</div>
</div>


Noah Gittell

George exults while wearing a Yankees cap after being hired as the assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees in an episode of "Seinfeld."

When ‘Seinfeld’ Abandoned The Mets For The Yankees

David Roth

Vincent Mason aka P.A. Pasemaster Mase aka Maseo aka Plug Three, David Jude Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove aka Dave aka Plug Two and Kevin Mercer aka Posdnuos aka Mercenary aka Plug Wonder Why aka Plug One of the hip hop trio De La Soul pose for a portrait in 1990.

Defector Music Club

‘De La Soul Is Dead’ Made Us Nostalgic For Skits And Samples

TORONTO, CANADA: Anthony Duclair #10 of the Florida Panthers battles against Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anthony Duclair; Mitchell Marner

The Panthers Don’t Give An Inch

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


Chris Thompson

It All Comes Down To Anthony Davis

Defector Up All Night

Hanser Alberto Demonstrates A Painful Way To Lose

Arts And Culture

Cam’ron And Mase Argue About Sports Now, And It’s Working

Malik Monk prepares to push the button that illuminates the beam after Sacramento's win against Golden State in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Podcasts

The Beam Shines For All, With Patrick Redford

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Writers Guild of America members walk the picket line on the first day of their strike in front of Amazon studios on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Reality TV Won’t Fix What’s Broken About Hollywood Economics

Samer Kalaf

An Alabama Crimson Tide hat rests in the dugout during a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers on May 12, 2018, at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.