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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

shiny gold statue of turmp against a blue sky

Politics

Pastor Clarifies That Giant, Shiny Trump Statue Worshippers Love Is NOT An Idol

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

Owen Lewis

Boxing

Fabio Wardley Was Too Brave For His Own Good

David Roth

A photo of a bunch of old-timey green barstools with the cover of the NYRB Classics edition of Robert Coover's Universal Baseball Association in the middle and the Defector Reads A Book logo at left.

Defector Reads A Book

You Are Hereby Invited To Join The Universal Baseball Association

Maitreyi Anantharaman

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots over Alanna Smith #8 of the Dallas Wings

WNBA

Role Players, Ring Chasers, And A Shadow GM: Your Guide To The 2026 WNBA Season

Patrick Redford

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 07: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Detroit Pistons in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

James Harden Is Powering Down

Luis Paez-Pumar

Federico Valverde #8 and Aurelien Tchouameni #14 of Real Madrid C.F. react following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid CF at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Soccer

The ONLY Thing More BROKEN Than Real Madrid’s TEAM SPIRIT Is News Aggregators’ CAPS LOCK BUTTON

Nina Mandell

Footwork on the AAI vault during a gymnastics competition. In the corner is the cover image for the book "A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line"

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

How One Ohio High School Built An Unlikely Gymnastics Dynasty

Tom Ley

Gianni Infantino: We’re Just Here To Extract Wealth From You American Hogs

Jake Romm is a New York City-based writer and the Associate Editor of Protean Magazine.

Jake Romm

Arts And Culture

Franco Berardi’s ‘Thinking Gaza’ Fails To Think

Gritty the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers skates onto the ice prior to an NHL game against the Dallas Stars at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Podcasts

Gritty Is Beside Himself, With Lauren Theisen

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 26: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on prior to Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 26, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Dylan Harper Is Ready For The Moment

World Cup Tallies Another Human Rights Abuse

Israel Daramola

Listening Habits

What Makes A Great American Songwriter?

anne hathaway and meryl streep wear sunglasses in the Devil Wears Prada 2

Even In The Movies, Journalism Is Fucked

Report: Mike Vrabel And Dianna Russini Went Boat Mode

Ray Ratto

Daulton Varsho #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays collides into Victor Caratini #37 of the Minnesota Twins at home plate during the second inning at Target Field on May 1, 2026.

The American League Is Putting The Mid In Middling

Billy Haisley

A little boy, wearing a diaper and a top hat, poses in front of a New Year's calendar at a hospital in New York City, United States, on December 22, 1949.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Manage My Newborn’s Life If Planning Things Stresses Me Out?

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England.

Arsenal Can Almost Taste The Glory

We Can’t Grow The Game Like This, With Danny Of Who’s Next

Kathryn Xu

Jose Altuve takes a swing at a pitch over two feet off the plate.

José Altuve Takes Mighty Rip At Pitch That Would Have Knocked A Lefty Batter’s Shoes Off

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

Professional football wide receiver Stefon Diggs walks out of Dedham District Court on May 4, 2026, following the first day of his assault trial. Diggs has pleaded not guilty to charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery. Diggs wore a suite and tie. Around him stood several news reporters.

Stefon Diggs Found Not Guilty Of Attacking Private Chef

US President Donald Trump speaks with US golfer Bryson DeChambeau and South African retired golfer Gary Player

Golf

It’s A Strange Time To Be A LIV Golf Fella

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche smiles during warmups ahead of Round Two Game Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild.

The Colorado Avalanche Don’t Need Luck

Amy McCarthy

Food

Lesbians And Legalized Gambling Are Vying To Save The American Sports Bar

Barry Petchesky

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - MAY 05: Detailed view of the draft board is shown following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at the NHL Network Studio on May 5, 2026 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)