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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.

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Defector

Buy a Defector Gift Subscription, Get A (Different) Gift Subscription

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2025 gift subs

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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Dan McQuade

American football player Chuck Bednarik (#60) of the Philadelphia Eagles eyes his opponants as Charlie Conerly (#42), quarterback for the New York Giants prepares to take the ball during a game, late 1950s or early 1960s.

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Eagles Versus Giants And Other Football Concerns

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Lauren Theisen

a woman climbing a gigantic mountain of paperwork with an Id at the top

Name Change

Life Lessons

What’s In A Name? A Lot Of Paperwork, Actually

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Defector Staff

House Concert at the Mozart family in Vienna, 19th century. Found in the collection of the Russian State Library, Moscow. (

House Concert at the Mozart family in Vienna, 19th century. Artist: Anonymous

Year In Review

The Best Things We Heard In 2023

Tetsuya Naito flying in with a knee on Keiji Muto

Pro-Wrestling NOAH – KEIJI MUTO GRAND FINAL

Some Wrestling Matches I Liked In 2023

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

ESPN Announcers, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen report on Game Four of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on July 14, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

2021 NBA Playoffs – Phoenix Suns v Milwaukee Bucks

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 25: Road Wins (Themeless)

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Barry Petchesky

Candy cane x-ray

What Did We Get Stuck In Our Rectums Last Year?

The Best Things We Watched In 2023

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Albert Burneko

Men playing ice hockey on the frozen Medley Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxfordshire, c1860-c1922. Artist: Henry Taunt

Defector Up All Night

Dashing Through The Snow, In A Weekend Open Thread

Businessmen stop outside the Zenith store window on Fifth Avenue to catch up on the televised New York Mets vs. Phillies baseball game. New York won 3 - 2. | Location: Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, New York, New York, USA.

New York Businessmen Break for Baseball

Defector’s Favorite Sports Moments Of 2023

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Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces is introduced during the team's WNBA championship victory parade and rally at Toshiba Plaza on October 23, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the New York Liberty on October 18 in Game Four of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals to win the 2023 title. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Aces Victory Parade & Rally

Becky Hammon Releases Official Statement On The Matter Of Jalen Brunson Being Too Small

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Ray Ratto

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 17: A fan dressed as Santa Claus cheers during the second half between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Santa Claus

Chicago Bears v Cleveland Browns

The NFL Wants To Be The Reason For The Season

A photo outside Hometown Deli, Italian Speciaities, in 2021.

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Life's Rich Pageant

Man Admits Shocking Truth That Deli Worth $2B Was Part Of Fraud

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 21: Elvis Merzlikins #90 of the Columbus Blue Jackets fights Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals in a goal during overtime at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on December 21, 2023. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: DEC 21 Capitals at Blue Jackets

Tom Wilson Earned A Game-Winning Assist By Getting Punched

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Billy Haisley

Fans protesting the establishment of the breakaway European Super League demonstrate outside Stamford Bridge stadium, home of Chelsea Football Club, in London, United Kingdom on April 20, 2021. Chelsea is one of six English Premier League clubs to have signed up to the planned midweek competition, announced on Sunday night in defiance of condemnation from football authorities and political leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

European Super League protest in London

Soccer

The European Super League Is Undead

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

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Chris Thompson

Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan reacts while pitching during Game 8 of Pool B between Team Japan and Team Australia at Tokyo Dome on Sunday, March 12, 2023 in Bunkyo City, Japan.

The Dodgers Got Their Man, Again

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Utah Jazz dunks the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on December 21, 2023 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Utah Jazz v Detroit Pistons

The Pistons Might Never Win Again

Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates his second period goal against the Detroit Red Wings with teammates at the bench at the Canada Life Centre on December 20, 2023 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Detroit Red Wings v Winnipeg Jets

Gabe Vilardi Is Making Up For Lost Time In Winnipeg

GRUENHEIDE, GERMANY - MARCH 22: Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the official opening of the new Tesla electric car manufacturing plant on March 22, 2022 near Gruenheide, Germany. The new plant, officially called the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, is producing the Model Y as well as electric car batteries. (Photo by Christian Marquardt - Pool/Getty Images)

Tesla Officially Opens Gruenheide Gigafactory

Capital

You’re Supposed To Be Glad Your Tesla Is A Brittle Heap Of Junk

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 14: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on December 14, 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)

Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

All It Took For The Bulls To Get Good Was Zach LaVine’s Injury

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David Roth

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on in the first half at Lumen Field on December 18, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Philadelphia Eagles v Seattle Seahawks

Podcasts

Yelling At An Infant About Fake Punts, With Dan McQuade

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Giri Nathan

Zion Williamson stands still during a pause in the action

Minnesota Timberwolves v New Orleans Pelicans

Report: Zion Williamson’s Contract Is Not Guaranteed For The Last Three Years

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.

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Drew Magary

A mother marks her son's height on the door with a pencil, circa 1950. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Growing Boy

Jamboroo

When Your Kids Are Kids Again

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Tom Ley

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Wells Fargo Center on December 20, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Minnesota Timberwolves v Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid Will Drive You Nuts

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.

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Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

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We Must Do Something About The Dog Lobby

COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 08: MLS Commissioner Don Garber speaks during his state of the league address ahead of the 2023 MLS Cup at Lower.com Field on December 08, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

2023 MLS Cup – Commissioner Don Garber Press Conference

MLS Tries, Fails To Chart Bold New Frontier In Anti-Competitivity

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