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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

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

The 2025 Hate List

Albert Burneko

Pedestrians pose for pictures in front of a giant Santa Claus figure displayed in a shopping mall in Berlin, on December 24, 2024.

Funbag

Advertisers Mustn’t Besmirch The Sacred Seasonal Shopping Demon

Ray Ratto

Draymond Green (23) argues an out of bounds call with referee Marc Davis (8) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Orlando Magic on December 22, 2025.

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating In The Meltdown Space

Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: How To Shop For A Couch

Defector Staff

Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) experimenting with the first motion picture machine. B/W photo,1905.

Year In Review

The Best Things We Saw In 2025

Tom Ley

Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (4) walks off the field after the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.

DK Metcalf Suspended Two Games For Punching A Really Annoying Guy

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Kelsey McKinney

a hand holds a framed photo of Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, and a terrier mix played by Gus the Dog. Everyone is in christmas attire

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘Merv’

Patrick Redford

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Duren #0 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on November 28, 2025 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Project B For “Basketball”, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 21: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid rubs his head after a failed third down play during a game between the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs, December 21, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When The Window Closes, It Slams Shut

Dave McKenna

US boxer and influencer Jake Paul gets hit by British boxer Anthony Joshua (R) in a non-title heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on December 19, 2025.

Boxing

Jake Paul Getting All Fucked Up Is A Real Good News/Bad News Situation

Giri Nathan

Presenting The 2025 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

College Football

UNC Plans To Employ Two Formerly Great Coaches

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Journalismism

Bari Weiss Keeps CBS News Groveling At The Feet Of Donald Trump

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Athina Ioannidou and guest attend the Sephora Cardiff Opening on October 23, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 22: Spinning Tops

Barry Petchesky

EDMONTON, CANADA - DECEMBER 21: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers shields the puck from Jeremy Lauzon #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of the game at Rogers Place on December 21, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images)

Connor McDavid, Speed Demon

Fans cheer as Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Our Favorite Sports Moments Of 2025

Rachelle Hampton

A man is asleep on a couch in front of a television.

An Ode To Falling Asleep In Front Of A Basketball Game

Kevin Durant #7of the Houston Rockets exchanges words with Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on December 20, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

What Can A Man Say To A Man?

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears rolls out of the pocket during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Solider Field on December 20, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Caleb Williams Can Really Throw That Damn Football

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 11: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a timeout during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on December 11, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images)

Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Trapped By His Unwillingness To Be The Bad Guy

David Roth

Edwin Diaz reacts with Pete Alonso of the New York Mets during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on April 17, 2025. Alonso's kind of whapping Diaz on the butt with his glove.

They’re Outta Here

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers looks on in street clothes during player introductions before a game against the Detroit Pistons

Following The Damned Pacers Through The Pits Of Hell

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 18: Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua face off during their ceremonial weigh-in ahead their fight as part of Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua at The Fillmore Miami Beach on December 18, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)

Jake Paul Takes On His Realest Opponent Yet

close up of Gritty's face with his big eyeballs looking at you

Media Meltdowns

Tim, You Were Still On The Air, You Dummy

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 30: St. Louis Blues forward Milan Lucic (12) grabs a breath after a shift late in the game during a pre-season game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Dallas Stars on Tuesday September 30, 2025, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)