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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

David Roth

Ja Morant reacts to a call during the Grizzlies first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 26, 2023.

Grizzlies Suspend Ja Morant After He Plays With A Handgun On Instagram Live Again

Elon Musk and his mom doing some uncanny shit in costume at Heidi Klum's Halloween party.

Capital

Burning Down The House

Albert Burneko

A glass of pink lemonade, outside with flowers in the background.

Chefector

Pink Lemonade For Everybody!

Patrick Redford

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 11: Devin Booker #1 stands with head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 11, 2023 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Suns Did It Again

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

Dan McQuade

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Sixers Had Another Nightmare Finish Against Boston

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States dribbles the ball during a game between Brazil and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

Soccer

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Lindsey Horan

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 11: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference semi-finals on May 11, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jayson Tatum Hit The Shots When It Mattered

Alex Pareene

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 02: People picket outside of FOX Studios on the first day of the Hollywood writers strike on May 2, 2023 in Los Angeles. Scripted TV series, late-night talk shows, film and streaming productions are being interrupted by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. In 2007 and 2008, a WGA strike shut down Hollywood productions for 100 days, costing the local economy between $2 billion and $3 billion.

The Machines

The Computers Are Coming For The Wrong Jobs

Tom Ley

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 09: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks for a call while being guarded by Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter during Game Five of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena on May 09, 2023 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.

Defector Up All Night

Can You Guess The Lone MVP Voter Who Left Nikola Jokic Off His Ballot?

Dave McKenna

The guitar as it appeared on Craigslist and the guitar as it's being repaired, split screen

Elder Wisdom

Happiness Is Fixing A Guitar

Giri Nathan

The Bucks’ Playoff Defeat Has Caused Giannis To Massively Think

COMMERCE CITY, CO - MARCH 3 : Max Alves of Colorado Rapids poses for a portrait at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on Thursday, March 3, 2022.(Photo by Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

MLS Proves Itself As World-Class League With Match-Fixing Scandal

A Mariachi Band performs on Cinco De Mayo as writers on strike march with signs on the picket line on day four of the strike by the Writers Guild of America in front of Netflix in Hollywood, California.

Podcasts

A Symphony Of Solidarity Honks, With Adam Conover

Quentin Grimes steals the ball from Jimmy Butler

Quentin Grimes Ignored The Pain And Stole The Ball

Lauren Theisen

The Little Oilers Finally Stepped Up

Ray Ratto

Jets fan holding up a "Thank you schedule makers" sign at a game

The NFL Schedule Release Is A Beast That Won’t Stop Growing

Thurston Howell III / Clayton Thorson split image

This Mike Florio Paragraph Has Been Bouncing Around My Brain For 4 Years Now

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

guy with heartburn at night (Photo by Tom Kelley/Getty Images)

I Am Now “Is This A Heart Attack?” Years Old

Sam Bennett and Jake McCabe hit each other

The Leafs Return Home With Bruises, Nerves, And A Win

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 10: LeBron James #6 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors on May 10, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

Lakers-Warriors Is A Series Searching For A Story

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A model of a brown grain weevil resting on a grain.

Creaturefector

Going Against The Grain Weevils

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

What’s A Guy Gotta Do To Make A Friend Around Here?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Oh No, Shaquille O’Neal Is Still Evading The FTX Lawsuit!

Old timey photo of golfers with 'How Golf Can Save Your Life' book cover in the bottom left corner

Interviews

“I’m Usually Thinking About Other Shit”: Drew Millard On The Healing Power Of Golf

Philipp Grubauer looks on after giving up a goal