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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

Triptych of Tajama Abraham, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Yinka Dare while playing with George Washington Colonials. Abraham is grabbing a rebound, Mensah-Bonsu is celebrating, Dare is dunking.

Death To The NCAA

George Washington Settles On Revolutionaries For Nickname

Lauren Theisen

The Panthers celebrate while Jordan Staal looks on

We’ve Got A Category 5 Spendicane Incoming

Israel Daramola

Music

Tina Turner Did Nothing Nice And Easy

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Life's Rich Pageant

Mission Re-Accomplished: Shaq Served At Former FTX Arena

Luis Paez-Pumar

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal on Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena on May 24, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida.

I Am A Proud Florida Panthers Bandwagoner

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

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets takes his turn during a warm up drill with a medicine ball as teammate Zach Wilson #2 looks on during an offseason workout session at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on May 23, 2023 in Florham Park, New Jersey.

RodgersWatch: Aaron Rodgers Is Just A Kid In The Body Of An Old Quarterback With A Tweaked Calf

Barry Petchesky

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - MAY 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal on Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena on May 24, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

These Panthers Were A Long Time Coming

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a Greenland shark swims away from the camera

Creaturefector

This Barnacle Went Where No Other Barnacles Dared Go (Inside A Greenland Shark’s Cloaca)

Patrick Redford

Steph Curry carves a Bored Ape ice sculpture.

The NBA’s New Social Justice Champion Has A Few Demerits

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

Podcasts

We Are Surrounded By Mysteries In Our Own Backyards

David Roth

Mayor Eric Adams during a ceremony as Composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is given the key to the city.

Politics

To Restore Public Trust, New York Mayor Eric Adams Must Do A Kickflip

Yankee fans react SHOCKED to a squirrel on the outfield wall. Four guys, three really shocked the other kind of just looking at his phone.

Squirrel Terrifies Yankees Fans

Carolina Hurricanes mascot Stormy and Victor E. Green of the Dallas Stars

All Right, Which Of You Clowns Is Going To Make A Comeback?

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 23: in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 23, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Stars Are Burning Out

Ray Ratto

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 23: Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with Jonah Heim #28 after throwing a 6-1 complete game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Don’t Look Now But The Rangers Might Be Good

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball ahead of Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals at Kaseya Center on May 23, 2023 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Celtics Live To Disappoint Another Day

Giri Nathan

LeBron James talks to press after the Lakers' Western Conference Finals loss to the Nuggets

LeBron Compliments Nikola Jokic’s Big Basketball Brain And Contemplates Retirement

Laura Wagner

Hugo Gaston of France reacts during his match against Dane Sweeny of Australia during day 5 of the Danube Upper Austria Open 2023, part of the ATP Challenger Tour on May 11, 2023 in Mauthausen, Austria.

Tennis

Tennis Player Fined For Desperate Extra-Ball Shenanigans That Everyone Saw

SAN FERNANDO, PHILIPPINES - JUNE 18: Customers queue at a McDonald's restaurant during the launch of the BTS Meal on June 18, 2021 in San Fernando, Pampanga province, Philippines. Long queues formed in several McDonald's restaurants in the Philippines as fans of the K-pop group BTS flocked to order the newly launched and wildly popular BTS themed meals. The limited edition celebrity meal "BTS Meal", a collaboration between the fastfood giant and BTS, will be made available in 49 countries. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Funbag

What’s The Least Fulfilling Line To Stand In?

The Panthers Finally Have The Big-Game Bob They Paid For

Kelsey McKinney

Birdfector

This Is A Public Service Announcement For Every Bird

A member of the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence participates in a Pride event.

Dodgers Reverse Course, Apologize For Taking Marco Rubio Seriously

Nikola Jokic Is The Best And Everyone Will Just Have To Accept It

Moments after disaster, when Bettio crashes.

Cycling

The Giro d’Italia Has Turned Into A Hazardous Slog

Trevor Bauer pulls a face after giving up a first-inning dinger against a Japanese minor-leaguer.