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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

The Great Outdoors

Garden Check!

Xavi Hernandez, head coach of FC Barcelona follows the match during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano on May 19, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

Xavi, Who Quit And Then Un-Quit And Then Was Maybe Gonna Get Fired, Is Now Fired

Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 2 Game 7 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 19, 2024.

The Pacers Simply Ran Away

P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs.

Thunder–Mavericks Deserved A Better Ending

"Motoman" robots from Japan's largest industrial robot maker Yasukawa Electric, beats a drum during a demonstration at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, 29 November 2007.

The Machines

If Kevin Roose Was ChatGPT With A Spray-On Beard, Could Anyone Tell?

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers three point basket during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2024.

One Unsustainable Trick To Beating The Boston Celtics

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle argues a call with referee Josh Tiven #58 during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs on May 08, 2024 in New York City.

Rick Carlisle Doesn’t Believe This Shit

Xavi Hernandez, Head Coach of FC Barcelona reacts prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Xavi Isn’t Leaving Barcelona After All

Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns goes up amid a forest of Minnesota Timberwolves arms in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs.

The Timberwolves Are So Big And Strong

Deuce McBride of the New York Knicks rises up to shoot over Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers.

New York’s Second Unit Chased The 76ers Into The Pain Cave

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.

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

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.