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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

Barry Petchesky

Illustration of the giant impact hypothesis, with the hypothetical planet Theia colliding with Earth 4.5 billion years ago, created on July 19, 2015. This impact is suggested to be the source of material that created the Moon. (Illustration by Tobias Roetsch/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Science

Curious Earth Lumps Might Be Leftovers From Another Planet It Ate

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

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Sphere displays the In Season Tournament visuals on its exterior, the largest LED screen on Earth, during the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Podcasts

The NBA In-Season Tourney Is A Recipe For Blindness, With Ray Ratto

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Charles P. Pierce is a writer at Esquire and the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.
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Charles P. Pierce

College Basketball

The Life Of That Unhappy Bobby Knight Is Brought To An End

OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 14: Michael Andlauer new owner of the Ottawa Senators salutes the crowd as he walks out to give a face-off prior to a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Canadian Tire Centre on October 14, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

It’s Really Been A Week For The Senators

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Texas Rangers celebrate on the field after winning the World Series.

The Rangers Are The Big-Spending Heroes Of The 2023 Season

Justin Ellis

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets stands under the Jumbotron, which says "Howl-o-meter" during a stop in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 1, 2023 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nikola Jokic’s Shoddy Work Ethic And Horse-Gazing Tendencies Have Clearly Cost Him A Shot At Greatness

Kelsey McKinney

A perfectly made pithivier, from Paul Hollywood.

Chefector

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Rises Beautifully For Pastry Week

Giri Nathan

Kevin Durant is swarmed by the Spurs defense

The Spurs Stole A Win From Kevin Durant

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

Dan McQuade

David Roth

Split image. Roth stands outside the Stroud Mall holding a CD he purchased. Dan stands inside the Stroud Mall in front of the "Pennsylvania Skill" machine parlor.

Arts And Culture

Dan And Dave Explore Another Mall

A Rod reacts in semi-horror as a Cookie Monster drone flies toward him

This Is So Stupid

Former MLB Players Impressed By Stuffed Cookie Monster Taped To A Drone: “Amazing Technology”

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

The Bachelorette Ultimatum

Ray Ratto

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 01: Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis (L) of the Las Vegas Raiders talks with head coach Josh McDaniels on the Raiders' sideline before the team's game against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Same As It Ever Was In Raiderland

Lauren Theisen

Ryne Nelson Was An Excellent Janitor

Dennis Young is the news editor at Front Office Sports.

Dennis Young

A white man in running gear clutching his right quad while laying on the sidewalk.

Negative Splits

‘Limits’ Is Funnier Than Any Movie About Running Has A Right To Be

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Josh Jung #6 of the Texas Rangers slides into home plate to score a run on a wild pitch in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Four of the World Series at Chase Field on October 31, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

We Were Spared A Double Bullpen Game But Little Else

Tom Ley

Someone who might be Connor Stalions on the CMU sideline.

Stalions Resurfaces

Israel Daramola

Head coach Dabo Swinney of Clemson Tigers takes the field during pregame against Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Clemson, South Carolina.

College Football

Dabo Swinney Engages In Heated Theological Debate With Sports Radio Caller

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 28: Alek Thomas #5, Corbin Carroll #7 and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after the Diamondbacks defeated the Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the 2023 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Saturday, October 28, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Funbag

Now That I Think About It, The Unwritten Rules Of Baseball Are Actually Cool

Dave McKenna

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1966: First Baseman Frank Howard #9 of the Washington Senators bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1966 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Howard played for the Senators from 1965-71. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Frank Howard

Frank Howard Was The Only Senator Who Mattered

Luis Paez-Pumar

A general view of the performance as Saudi Arabia is displayed on the LED Screen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Soccer

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 World Cup

Samer Kalaf

The Namedropping podcast logo, a coffee cup with a scratched-out name

Named By The Stars, With Naveen Farrani

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers encourages the crowd to get loud against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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.

Sixers Shake Up NBA By Reacquiring Robert Covington

Jon Gray #22 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game One of the World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

Longtime Haters Of The Colorado Rockies Are Real Quiet Right Now

Albert Burneko

James Harden, in a dayglo green hoodie, watches a game from the bench.

James Harden Traded To Los Angeles Clippers After All

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 30: Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) skates with the puck on a break away during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks on October 30, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)