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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

D.C.: Meet Defector At The Ballpark

Vintage Baseball Stadium Postcard

Defector at the Ballpark

headshot

Barry Petchesky

A small group of demonstrators protests outside the entrance of Dodger Stadium on the night of the team's June 19 game.

US-POLITICS-IMMIGRATION-BASEBALL-DODGERS

Policing

The Dodgers Can’t Sit This Moment Out

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE17: Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers lifts the cup in the locker room during their team celebration after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Six

The Panthers Grind All Before Them To Dust

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Anton Lundell #15 of the Florida Panthers shoots on Calvin Pickard #30 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Four

Calvin Pickard Saved The Day

Pope Leo XIV (C) reacts wearing a Chicago White Sox baseball team cap as he meets newly wedded couples during the weekly general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on June 11, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-AUDIENCE

Life's Rich Pageant

Chicago Man Wears White Sox Cap To Work

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: Jonah Gadjovich #12 of the Florida Panthers tangles with Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Three

The Panthers Are Having A Laugh

EDMONTON, AB - JUNE 06: Edmonton Oilers Center Connor McDavid (97) races towards the puck in the third period in game two of Stanley Cup Final Edmonton Oilers game versus the Florida Panthers on June 06, 2025 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: JUN 06 Stanley Cup Final Panthers at Oilers

We Don’t Speak Connor McDavid

, TX - MAY 29: Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer takes questions from the media after game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on May 29, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 29 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Western Conference Final Oilers at Stars

Pete DeBoer Just Loves Making Conference Finals And Getting Fired

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 04: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 during overtime in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game One

These Oilers Can Take A Punch

headshot1

Patrick Redford

image

Kathryn Xu

A baseball game being projected onto the side of a French bulldog.

This Is So Stupid

Let’s Figure Out What Dodgers Game They Watched On The Bulldog

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 18: of the Florida Panthers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 18, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 6-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Florida Panthers v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Seven

Something’s Over In Toronto

TORONTO, ON- MAY 14 - Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs center David Kampf (64) battle in the snow in first period action as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 14, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs oplay the  Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs

Toronto Once Again Wins The Stanley Cup Of Angst

DALLAS, TX - MAY 13: Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) scores a goal for a hat trick during game 4 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets on May 13, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 13 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Jets at Stars

Mikael Granlund Takes Jets Downapeg

DALLAS, TX - MAY 11: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) tries to block a shot during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets on May 11, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 11 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Jets at Stars

Rulebook Aficionados: Let’s Ride

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 08: &lt;&gt; of Game Two of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 8, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Vegas Golden Knights – Game Two

It Only Takes A Second

WINNIPEG, CANADA - MAY 7: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammates at the bench in Game One of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on May 7, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

On His Third Team Of The Season, Mikko Rantanen Is Second To None

TORONTO, ON - MAY 5 - Referee Chris Rooney (5) blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) lays on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 5, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs

It Wouldn’t Be A Panthers Postseason Without A Cheap Shot By Sam Bennett

UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 30: Saturn, by Jamie Cooper. This image showing Saturn with six of it's moons was taken on 26th January 2006 at 22:11 hrs UT using a webcam attached to a 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. The moons are from left to right: Titan, Mimas,Tethys, Rhea, Enceladus and Dione. (Photo by Jamie Cooper/SSPL/Getty Images)

Saturn, by Jamie Cooper.

Why Is This So Good?

I Implore You To Look At Saturn Through A Telescope

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 29: John Tavares #91, Max Domi #11 and Scott Laughton #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warm-up before Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at the Scotiabank Arena on April 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ottawa Senators v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Five

Do Not Say The Leafs Could Blow This Series. Don’t Even Think It!

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 27: Corey Perry #90 and Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate an overtime goal by Leon Draisaitl #29 to win the game against the Los Angeles Kings during Game Four of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 27, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Kings v Edmonton Oilers – Game Four

The Kings Are Wearing Out

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 24: Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates scoring a goal during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild on April 24th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: APR 24 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†First Round Golden Knights at Wild

Vegas Can’t Answer The Call Of The Wild

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores a goal against Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in the second period during Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez /NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings – Game One

The Oilers Are Getting Carved Up Like A Moist And Tender Turkey

Los Angeles, CA - April 21:Kings Warren Foegele, #37, jumps out of the way of a shot by Kings Phillip Danault, #24, to score past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in the final seconds of the third period in Game 1 of the first-round series at Cypto.com Arena on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Kings beat Oilers 6-5 in game one of first round of NHL Playoffs

It Rocks When A Hockey Game Is Funny

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 10: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the third quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on April 10, 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 Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons

The Knicks Gave The Pistons A Lesson In Playoff Entropy

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 19: Winnipeg Jets players celebrate on the ice following a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game One of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on April 19, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)

St. Louis Blues v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

That’s About As Hot As It Gets In Winnipeg

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15:-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets surrounded by teammates after an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center on April 15, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Luke Schmidt/NHLI via Getty Images)

Anaheim Ducks v Minnesota Wild

One Last Nice Moment For Marc-Andre Fleury, Who Deserves Them All