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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

Kelsey McKinney

Arts And Culture

My Year In November 18ths

Lauren Theisen

Daniil Tarasov #40 of the Florida Panthers reacts after giving up a goal to Berkly Catton #27 (not pictured) of the Seattle Kraken

It’s The NHL Playoff Preview … NOT!

Tom Ley

A side by side photo of Jorginho and Chappell Roan

Life's Rich Pageant

Chappell Roan And Jorginho Are No Longer Beefing

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Carolyn Swords Sees The WNBA Becoming The League She Hoped For

Albert Burneko

Politics

President, Extremely Normal Brain-Wise: Pope Weak On Crime, Also I’m Dr. Jesus Christ

Giri Nathan

Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and finalist Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the trophy ceremony of the Men's Final on day 8 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2026, an ATP Masters 1000 at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 12, 2026 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France near Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Tennis

Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz Swap Places On The Mountaintop

Luis Paez-Pumar

Marc Guehi of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on April 12, 2026 in London, England.

Soccer

It’s Clear To Me Now That Manchester City Must Topple Arsenal

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Doc Rivers Ends Bucks Tenure That Was A Huge Waste Of Everyone’s Time

Kathryn Xu

A racegoer holds an umbrella which is inside out on Grand National Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree Racecourse.

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Damp And Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Patrick Redford

Winner Team Visma - Lease a Bike's Belgian rider Wout van Aert celebrates on the podium of the 123rd edition of the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic cycling race, 258.3 km between Compiègne and Roubaix, at the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, northern France, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Cycling

Wout van Aert Forever

Ray Ratto

Julian Reese of the Washington Wizards and Lachlan Olbrich #47 of the Chicago Bulls fight for the ball during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2026 in Washington, DC.

And Now It Is Time To Forget The NBA’s Regular Season

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after her routine on the balance beam against the Utah Utes at UCLA Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, on March 14, 2026.

Crosswords

The Crossword, April 13: Call ‘Em Like I See ‘Em

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

In an aerial view, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (R) are shown in Exposition Park on March 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Olympics

One Angeleno’s Journey Through Olympics Ticket Madness

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to making the winning putt, on the 18th green, during the final round of Masters Tournament

Golf

Rory McIlroy Held On Just Long Enough

Dave McKenna

Food

In Praise Of Cafe du Monde And Tourist Trap Eateries Everywhere

Brandy Jensen

‘Last One Laughing UK’ Is Absurdly Funny

New UFC Ad Rebuilds The White House

David Roth

WABC radio host Sid Rosenberg speaks during a protest against a tent shelter for migrants at Floyd Bennett Field in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on August 22, 2023. They're rallying against immigrants being housed there so everyone in the picture looks like someone who'd do that.

Media Meltdowns

New York Radio Yutz Has Had It With Mr. Met’s Antisemitism

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé watches the Kings play the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Center on November 13, 2024 in Sacramento, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

NBA Investigates Kings For Tanking, Determines That They’re Just Ass

Annie Geng

‘The Drama’ Has More Going For It Than A Provocative Twist

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Tyson Etienne #10 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jalen Slawson #18 of the Indiana Pacers battle for possession during the second half at Barclays Center on April 09, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images)

Do You Know These Men?

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

Life Lessons

The College Trip

Barry Petchesky

Science

It’s Time For The Scariest Part Of Artemis

General view inside of the Levi's Stadium on June 3, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

Poor Suckers Who Ponied Up For Expensive World Cup Tickets Boned By FIFA

In a black-and-white old photo from an exhibition in Paris in 1960, a robotic typist sits at a desk in front of a typewriter, with two women looking on.