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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

Albert Burneko

Luis Paez-Pumar

Patrick Redford

Ray Ratto

Tom Ley

UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1900: Dance Lessons for the Palace Club Basketball Team.

For Literally The First Time Ever, A “Preview” Of The NBA Playoffs

Animals

A Huge Frickin’ Swarm Of Honeybees Came To My House!

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, mid-pitch, against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

Wow! Blue Jays–Astros No-Hitter!

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a timeout as officials attempt to fix the shot clock during the second half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Hey, Does Anybody Know If The Warriors-Lakers Game Is Over Yet?

Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid CF at Estadio El Sadar on March 16, 2024 in Pamplona, Spain.

Soccer

Get A Load Of This Outrageous Vinícius Jr. Goal

Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) collects pollen from a flowering goldenrod plant in Markham, Ontario, Canada, on September 03, 2023.

Damn Us Both To Hell, The Carpenter Bees Are Back

G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller speaking at a conference with one of those microphones you wear on your ear.

Capital

Jim Spanfeller Is A Third-Rate Parasite

David Roth

Sen. Kyrtsen Sinema (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference after the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act at the Capitol Building on November 29, 2022.

Politics

Point/Counterpoint: Senator Kyrsten Sinema Retires

(Original Caption) New York, NY: Converging arrows show the spot where a prodigious home run blasted by Mickey Mantle landed, during the first game of the Yanks-Senators twin-bill at Yankee Stadium on May 30. The towering shot, traveling 370 feet, struck the facade of the right field roof, just a few feet from going out of the stadium. No one has ever hit a fair ball out of this ball park. Mantle's monumental clout, which hit the stands 118 feet above the ground, came with two men on base and sparked the Yanks to a 4-3 win over Washington.

A Scholarly Discourse On Which Types Of Dingers Are Best

NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Robert Lewandowski (2nd L) of FC Barcelona, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Napoli and FC Barcelona at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, on February 21, 2024.

More Like Barcelimbo

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris, France.

Maybe Kylian Mbappé Really Is Leaving This Time?

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 17: Wide receiver Carlos Carson #88 of the Kansas City Chiefs can't make the reception while covered by cornerback Dwight Hicks #22 of the San Francisco 49ers during a game at Candlestick Park on November 17, 1985 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 31-3.

Defector Up All Night

Let’s Party In The Super Bowl Weekend Open Thread

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JANUARY 17: Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at LaBelle Winery on January 17, 2024 in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. DeSantis, who finished second behind frontrunner, former U.S. President Donald Trump in this week's Iowa caucuses, is campaigning in New Hampshire ahead of that state's primary on January 23 before moving on to South Carolina on Friday. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Nation Rejects Sweaty Pig

The Machines

Finally, A Grocery Cart That Can Save Me From The Horror Of An Ad-Free Moment Of Existence

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high fives teammates during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 7, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

Here Are Some Photos Of Victor Wembanyama Being Impossible

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1921: Conrad Veidt as "Cesare" in the film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". Photograph. 1921

Arts And Culture

This Is A Damn Conrad Veidt Appreciation Blog

Men playing ice hockey on the frozen Medley Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxfordshire, c1860-c1922. Artist: Henry Taunt

Dashing Through The Snow, In A Weekend Open Thread

GRUENHEIDE, GERMANY - MARCH 22: Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the official opening of the new Tesla electric car manufacturing plant on March 22, 2022 near Gruenheide, Germany. The new plant, officially called the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, is producing the Model Y as well as electric car batteries. (Photo by Christian Marquardt - Pool/Getty Images)

You’re Supposed To Be Glad Your Tesla Is A Brittle Heap Of Junk

1855: The Football Squad of Addiscombe Military College. (Photo by Aaron Penley/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Have Yourself A Merry Weekend Open Thread

FC Barcelona manager Xavi gesticulates during the UEFA Champions League match against Royal Antwerp.

Barcelona Loses Match, Wins UCL Group, Possibly Dooms Xavi

In the background, Fulham keeper Bernd Leno dives toward a shot by Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool, out of focus in the foreground.

English Premier League

Liverpool Beats Fulham Via Half A Mile Of Sick Goals

Elon Musk wearing a black leather jacket with a shearling collar to a stage interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, lol.

Looking Good, Elon! Feeling Good, Trashcan Man!

A goofy-looking robot bartender on a cruise ship, with a rack of various liquors behind it.

Here’s $75, Give Me One Frosty Tesla Cyberbeer Please GZZT MZZZZT ZZZZZTT ERROR ERROR FATAL ERROR

Life Lessons

Life Comes At You Fast

Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag, looking lonely and miserable on the sideline while his team blows a lead to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.