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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

Giri Nathan

Pat McAfee conducts an interview with Adam Silver

Media Meltdowns

Adam Silver Can’t Resist Praising Henry Kissinger On ‘The Pat McAfee Show’

Patrick Redford

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 04: &lt;&gt;during the NBA In-Season Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 04, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Minor Stakes Of The NBA In-Season Tournament Have Led To Good, Silly Fun

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks smiles before the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 2, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Things We Actually Like

This Cheesy Mitchell Robinson Blog Is For My Mom

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

Dog Day Afternoon At The Salon

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

at the Extinction: Not the End of the World exhibition at The Natural History Museum on February 5, 2013 in London, England. More than 99 percent of species that once roamed the planet are now extinct. Organisers of the exhibition hope to show that a diverse range of plants and animals survived. 80 Museum specimens are on display from February 8-8, September 2013.

Science

What Kind Of Future Does De-Extinction Promise?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Never Say Aloud The Name Of Shohei Ohtani Or Surely You Will Perish!

Kelsey McKinney

Nine perfect slices of lardy cake, from the show.

Chefector

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Soars To Victory In A Triumphant Finale

Barry Petchesky

PROVIDENCE, RI - JANUARY 03: Referee Jeffrey Anderson calls a blocking foul during a college basketball game between Marquette Golden Eagles and Providence Friars on January 3, 2018, at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI. Marquette won in overtime 95-90 . (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Underexplained Lists

Referee And Umpire Signals It’s Fun To Do From Your Couch, Ranked

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

Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns in the second half during the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals at Crypto.com Arena on December 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

In-Season Tournament Gets Everyone’s Attention With A Glaring Officiating Fuck-Up

Lauren Theisen

Despite All Their Tage, Sabres Still Cannot Turn A New Page

Funbag

Hoodie Addiction Is Real And Also Not My Fault

Billy Haisley

Luca Koleosho #30 of Burnley F.C. is celebrating his goal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Sheffield United at Turf Moor in Burnley, on December 2, 2023.

Soccer

Burnley Endured Hell For One Night In Heaven

Ray Ratto

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels in the dugout while playing the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 17, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

How Mad Would You Be If Shohei Ohtani Re-Signed In Anaheim?

Israel Daramola

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 04: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is helped up by head coach Doug Pederson after being injured against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium on December 04, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

That Was A Painfully Jaguarian Drive

Connor Ingram celebrates a victory with his D-Man Matt Dumba

The Coyotes Are Better Than All The Stanley Cup Champs, In A Manner Of Speaking

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) and New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh talk prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals on September 25, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Zach Wilson May Or May Not Be Willing To Start If The Jets Ask Him, Which They May Or May Not Do

Kathryn Xu

General manager Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners looks on prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

The Mariners Are Making Mariners Moves Again

Maitreyi Anantharaman

AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 03: Texas Longhorns guard Shaylee Gonzalez (2) drives past UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) during game featuring the Connecticut Huskies and Texas Longhorns on December 3, 2023, at the Moody Center in Austin, TX.

College Basketball

UConn’s Curse Is Never-Ending

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 4: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates during the game against the Boston Celtics during the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament on December 4, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Pacers Are Back, Or At Least Getting There

Damnit Packers, Be Bad For A Few Years

A camera with the college football playoff logo on it

College Football

The College Football Playoff Was Always Just A TV Show

Luis Paez-Pumar

Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring a late equalising goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on December 3, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Tottenham Loves To Ruin Manchester City’s Day

First customers shopping after the opening of the Forever 21 shop in Poland.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 4: Any Grid On Sunday

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 02: SEC Comissioner Greg Sankey looks on before the college football SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on December 2, 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Florida State Never Had A Chance

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers exchanges words with Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Dom DiSandro at Lincoln Financial Field on December 03, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers and Dom DiSandro of the Eagles were disqualified after the altercation. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)