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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

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Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on December 01, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers

Dillon Brooks Wants The Last Word

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Lauren Theisen

Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with Gabriel Landeskog

Vancouver Canucks v Colorado Avalanche

Who Can Stop The Avalanche?

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


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Chris Thompson

Chris Paul

The Clippers Checked Out Early From Chris Paul’s Retirement Tour

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


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Jae Towle Vieira

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Podcasts

The Petty Feuds Of A Dog In Therapy

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Israel Daramola

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Arts And Culture

Tim Robinson Understands What The Boys Are Going Through

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Barry Petchesky

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 26: An general view of the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena located in the Santa Giulia district on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. For the 2026 Olympic Games, a new multi-purpose arena will be inaugurated, where 16,000 people will be able to watch the best national teams and the great international stars of ice hockey and para ice hockey on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vincenzo Lombardo/Getty Images)

General Views of PalaItalia – Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena

Olympics

What’s Going On With The Olympic Hockey Arena?

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


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

a photo of the set of the broadway musical Chess, with a sign that says CHESS, and the chorus standing for bows in front of it

‘Chess: The Musical’ Is Somehow More Of A Musical About Chess Than You Can Imagine

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Giri Nathan

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Journalismism

Suns Reporter Describes Death Threats And Moving His Family Out Of Phoenix After Charlie Kirk Tweets

Ole Miss v Oklahoma

Death To The NCAA

The Lane Kiffin Saga Shows Why You Should Never Cry For Coaches

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Kathryn Xu

Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 02 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on November 30, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Isack Hadjar

Racing

Either Red Bull Has Finally Made A Good Second-Seat Choice, Or Poor Isack Hadjar Is Doomed

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Is It Even Possible To Cheat On ‘The Bachelor’?

<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>


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Drew Magary

A spectator attempts to complete a newspaper crossword during the Vitality County Championship match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan at College Ground on July 01, 2024 in Cheltenham, England.

Gloucestershire v Glamorgan  – Vitality County Championship

Funbag

Oh Shit, I’m A Crossword Dork Now

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Nice's fans cheer their team with smoke flares during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on November 21, 2025.

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Soccer

OGC Nice Fans Physically And Verbally Attacked Players After Loss

BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1984: Referee Earl Strom #12 looks on prior to the start of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics circa 1984 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Strom was an NBA referee for 29 years. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Earl Strom

Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics

The Ray Ratto Guide To Officiating

<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">, which you can read for free but support </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.</span></p>
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Marc Normandin

ob Nutting of the Pittsburgh Pirates talks with Adam Frazier #26 before the game against the New York Yankees during the home opener at PNC Park on April 4, 2025. He's got weird little sunglasses on. He looks like he's in a disguise somehow.

New York Yankees v Pittsburgh Pirates

Why MLB’s Cheapest Teams Are At Least Trying To Seem Like They’re Trying

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David Roth

A general view of the OU logo and signage for 50 Conference Championships, 7 National Championships, and 31 Bowl Championships on June 8, 2025, on the facade of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JUN 08 University of Oklahoma

Politics

The Conservative Grievance Business Is Always Hiring

Dave McKenna

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats is seen during the 2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days

College Football

Scandal-Plagued Michigan State Hires Scandal-Plagued Pat Fitzgerald

Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri interviewed after the Qatar Grand Prix.

Qatar Grand Prix 2025 – Lusail International Circuit

The Formula 1 Title Will Be Decided In The Final Race, Thanks To McLaren’s Buffoonery

James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after a no foul call during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

James Harden Clippers

The Clippers Are Circling The Toilet

<p>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>.</p>


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Hamilton Nolan

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Andrew Wingard #42 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates after a victory against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans – NFL 2025

Jaguars Junction: Week 13

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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Ronald Young Jr. Comes Clean

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


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Dan McQuade

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 30: Charlie Smyth #39 of the New Orleans Saints attempts an onside kick against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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Charlie Successfully Kicks Football

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chappell Roan attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.

The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” – Arrivals

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 1: I Gotta Feeling

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Ray Ratto

Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels reacts after a penalty against the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. He's yelling and throwing his ipad like a little kid.

Kiffin Florida v Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin And LSU Deserve Each Other

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