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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

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


Chris Thompson

Victor Wembanyama answers for his overeager security guard.

Please Do Not Hit Britney Spears For Touching The Shoulder Of Victor Wembanyama

Tom Ley

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Moda Center on April 09, 2023 in Portland, Oregon

Defector Up All Night

Be Glad You Aren’t Damian Lillard’s Agent

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


Sabrina Imbler

Present-day katydids of the genus Arethaea, pictured here, have the same internal structures as those seen in the fossil.

Creaturefector

They Found An Old Bug Ball

David Roth

A photo of people watching fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan.

Podcasts

Perspiring Freely, To Honor America

Patrick Redford

CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE, FRANCE - JULY 06: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - White Best Young Rider Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the stage six of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 144.9km stage from Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque 1355m / #UCIWT / on July 06, 2023 in Cauterets-Cambasque, France. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Cycling

Tadej Pogacar Strikes Back

Samer Kalaf

A screenshot of Gizmodo Bot's author page, with one bad Star Wars blog

Journalismism

G/O Media’s Bot-Written Blogs May Be Unreadable, But At Least They’re Incorrect

<p>Lucas Hubbard is a North Carolina-based writer whose work has appeared in Microfiction Monday Magazine, INDY Week, Paste, and other outlets.</p>


Lucas Hubbard

A card with a bunch of love items about Rafael Nadal. There's one of him picking his wedge, one of him screaming after a point and him, in a heart, smiling. Also there are drawings of tennis balls and tennis rackets.

Tennis

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Nadal

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (L) celebrates with Vietnam's captain Huynh Nhu (R) after a goal during the women's football match between Vietnam and Philippines at RSN Stadium during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Phnom Penh on May 9, 2023. (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN / AFP) (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Soccer

Vietnam’s World Cup Debut Could Be Short And Sweet

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States warms up

The USWNT Is Under Pressure, And That’s Bad News For The Rest Of The World

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Season 2 Of ‘The Bear’ Is About Rooting For Your Guys

Ronald Acuña Jr. Is A Baseball God

Ray Ratto

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Umpire Quinn Wolcott #81 hands the bat of Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds back to him as manager David Bell #25 looks on in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 05, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Elly De La Cruz Is The Guy

BORA - hansgrohe's Australian rider Jai Hindley celebrates on the podium after winning the 5th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 163 km between Pau and Laruns, in the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France, on July 5, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Jai Hindley Rips Open The Tour de France

Lauren Theisen

Broadway showgirls (from left) Geraldine Shay, Pat Gale, Bonnie Blair, Genne Courtney and Toni Tucci eat spaghetti with their arms held behind their backs, as part of some sort of competition. 1948.

Chefector

Which Food Would Win You An Eating Contest?

David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, attends the Los Angeles premiere of Warner Bros. "The Flash" at Ovation Hollywood on June 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.

Media Meltdowns

GQ Rolled Over And Showed Its Belly To David Zaslav

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers watches from the bench during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Moda Center on March 24, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Damian Lillard May Have Hit The Eject Button Too Late

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


Dan McQuade

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 04: Manager David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs argues with home plate umpire Erich Baccus #12 after a call in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David Ross Was Very Calmly Mad As Heck

SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Signe Bruun of Denmark (C) celebrating her goal with her teammates during the international Women's friendly match between Switzerland and Denmark at Wefox Arena on November 11, 2022 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Denmark’s Ready To Make Their Return To The World Cup Count

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels walks to the dugout after being replaced during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 04, 2023 in San Diego, California.

It’s Been A Very Bad Few Days For The Angels

Billy Haisley

Haiti celebrate qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after their victory in the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Chile and Haiti at North Harbour Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Haiti’s The Underdog With The Biggest Dog

Soraya Roberts

Crowds are seen in front of the stage as Lost Frequencies gives a DJ Performance concert on the second day of the Champions Festival, which is being prepared for the UEFA Champions League final to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 9, 2023.

I Just Want To Go To A Concert

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Lucy Bronze of England pointing during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium MK on July 01, 2023 in Milton Keynes, England.

England’s Last Step Will Be The Hardest

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Funbag

For Independence Day, An EXPLOSIVE Question About Doors

GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL - APRIL 7: Yui Hasegawa of Japan Women, Fatima Pinto of Portugal Women during the International Friendly Women match between Portugal Women v Japan Women at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques on April 7, 2023 in Guimaraes Portugal