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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates as he leaves the court after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 94-89 NBA Finals clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Nikola Jokic Just Wants To Go Home

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

(MANDATORY CREDIT Ebet Roberts/Getty Images) UNITED STATES - AUGUST 01: LOLAPOLOOZA Photo of Eddie VEDDER and PEARL JAM and Stone GOSSARD, L-R: Stone Gossard and Eddie Vedder performing live onstage (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Funbag

Who Is Our Least Intelligible Singer?

Giri Nathan

The Nuggets Couldn’t Have Done It Without Bruce Brown

Patrick Redford

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 12: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 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. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Jamal Murray Became A Champion And His Best Self All At Once

Lauren Theisen

Shohei Ohtani Might Lead These Angels To The Playoffs Yet

Ray Ratto

APR 28 1968; READY FOR ROCKET-TICKET CAMPAIGN; Jack Grunwald, right, will serve as general chairman of the Denver Rockets' season-ticket drive that will be launched with an organizational dinner meeting for 60 area businessmen Monday evening at the Denver Athletic Club. Grunwald headed last year's drive that set an ABA high of nearly 700 season tickets. Mapping plans are, from left. Rockets owner J. W. Ringsby, cochairmen Max Moore and Frank Byrne.; (Photo By The Denver Post via Getty Images)

It’s An Upset That The Nuggets Exist

Soraya Roberts

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Episode 302 of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Cr.

Arts And Culture

“You Knew It Was Something Really Nasty”: How The Art Department Brings ‘I Think You Should Leave’ To Life

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

The Heat’s Fire Turned Back To Embers

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Jonah Bride #26, Seth Brown #15, Jace Peterson #6, Esteury Ruiz #1 and Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after a 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 12, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Tonight’s A’s Game Will Be A Party Or A Wake

Tom Ley

DENVER, CO - JUNE 12: A overall view of the Denver Nuggets team during the post-game celebration during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 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

A Championship Deciphers The Past

Journalismism

The Athletic Decides Local News Doesn’t Pay

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 21: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the first half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

WNBA

Brittney Griner Is Back Where She Started

Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the French Open

Tennis

Iga Swiatek Finally Faced A Challenge At The French Open

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Gimlet Media co-founder Alex Blumberg speaks at the Ignition: Future of Media conference in New York City, in 2017.

Capital

Gimlet Media’s Story Was Always Going To End Like This

Riders shake their heads in confusion as they pass a car on the race course.

Cycling

Cycling Race Canceled After Riders Call Out Organizers For Letting Them Compete In Open Traffic

Derek Mead

Cyclists walk their bikes through a muddy portion of the 2023 Unbound gravel race

I Got My Ass Kicked By America’s Dirtiest Bike Race

Andrew McCutchen singles for his 2000th career hit

The Pirates Have Youth, Nostalgia, And The NL Central On Their Side

REGINA, SK - SEPTEMBER 16: An Edmonton Elks helmet on the bench before the game between the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on September 16, 2022 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Brent Just/Getty Images)

Someone’s Gotta Be The Worst Team In Edmonton

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Josh Taylor (L) and Teofimo Lopez (R) exchange punches during their WBO junior welterweight championship fight at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2023 in New York City.

The Fights

The Mysterious Minds Of Fighters

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 11: Miami Marlins third baseman Jean Segura (9) jumps in the air after hitting a home run in the ninth inning during a Major League Baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox on June 11, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Marlins Can Be A Bigger Fish In A Big Pond

Alex Pareene

Reddit logo is seen on an android mobile device with an ascent growth chart in the background.

The Last Page Of The Internet

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Phillies Are On The Frontier Of Pitch-Clock Weirdness

Greg Norman stands with Yasir Al-Rumayyan at a LIV Golf event.

Golf

The PGA Tour Couldn’t Beat ‘Em, But LIV Golf Won’t Join ‘Em

Albert Burneko

Some chicken and sausages cooking on a hot grill, with a Chefector illustration

Chefector

You Just Need A Thermometer

David Roth

Donald Trump hooting at supporters outside Mar-A-Lago in Florida in April of 2023.