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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

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

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Diana Moskovitz

A screenshot of gymnastics coach Al Fong from his YouTube podcast It shows Fong sitting at a desk, with a laptop screen nearby and a water bottle. He is talking into a microphone.

Al Fong

Gymnastics

Gymnastics Coach Al Fong Suspended Five Years For Physical And Emotional Misconduct

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Israel Daramola

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Arts And Culture

The 2025 Hate List

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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.

GERMANY-ECONOMY-CHRISTMAS

Funbag

Advertisers Mustn’t Besmirch The Sacred Seasonal Shopping Demon

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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.

Golden State Warriors vs Orlando Magic

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating In The Meltdown Space

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Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: How To Shop For A Couch

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Defector Staff

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

Thomas Edison with the First Film Projector

Year In Review

The Best Things We Saw In 2025

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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.

NFL: DEC 07 Steelers at Ravens

DK Metcalf Suspended Two Games For Punching A Really Annoying Guy

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

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Kelsey McKinney

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Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘Merv’

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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)

Orlando Magic v Detroit Pistons

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)

NFL: DEC 21 Chiefs at Titans

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.

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Boxing

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

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Giri Nathan

SHAMSv2

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

Missouri v Arkansas

College Football

UNC Plans To Employ Two Formerly Great Coaches

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Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

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Chris Thompson

Bari Weiss

Journalismism

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

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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

Sephora Cardiff Opening

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 22: Spinning Tops

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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)

Vegas Golden Knights v Edmonton Oilers

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.

National League Championship Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Milwaukee Brewers – Game One

Our Favorite Sports Moments Of 2025

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Rachelle Hampton

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

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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.

Houston Rockets v Denver Nuggets

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.

Green Bay Packers v Chicago Bears – NFL 2025

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)

Boston Celtics v Milwaukee Bucks

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

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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.

St. Louis Cardinals v New York Mets

They’re Outta Here

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.

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Owen Lewis

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

Tyrese Haliburton street clothes

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 v Anthony Joshua – Weigh In

Jake Paul Takes On His Realest Opponent Yet

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Media Meltdowns

Tim, You Were Still On The Air, You Dummy

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