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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

David Roth

Yankees manager Aaron Boone argues with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after being ejected in the first inning of his team's game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 22, 2024 in New York City.

Aaron Boone Gets Ejected For Whatever Some Fan Yelled At Hunter Wendelstedt

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on April 9, 2024. I put the little Distraction logo at upper right so it looks like he's glowering at it.

Podcasts

We’re All Lifelong Nuggets Fans Here, With Patrick Redford

New York City Mayor Eric Adams smiles and gives a thumbs-up at an MTA event in January of 2023.

Capital

Does It Matter That AI Doesn’t Work?

Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers pitches in a game against the Yankees in May of 2010. The facial hair is outrageous.

Make Gambling Embarrassing Again, With Justin Halpern

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco strikes a prayerful gesture after getting the last out of his no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

The More Random The Pitcher, The Better The No-Hitter

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in an uncharacteristically undistinguished and unflattering way against the San Francisco Giants. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Subtraction By Subtraction, With Ray Ratto

Austin Powers's XK8 Union Jack Jaguar convertible at the New York premiere of "Austin Powers in Goldmember" with The Distraction logo at upper right.

Junior Year Abroad: The Return

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 16: Actor Paul Rudd speaks about his latest movie "Ant Man" at the Apple Store Soho on July 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic)

Funbag

Who’s On The List Of Universally Liked People?

N'Faly Dante of the Oregon Ducks celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats at Matthew Knight Arena on January 14, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon.

In Search Of The Vibes Team, With Ken Pomeroy

Vice co-founders and executives Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi looking kind of wet at the 20th Webby Awards in 2016.

The Coffee Machine That Explained Vice Media

Art, Commerce, And Frankly Irresponsible Apple Consumption, With Kathryn Xu

o-founder of Subway, Fred DeLuca poses for a portrait in February 1991 in Toronto Canada.

Truth In Sandwich Advertising, With Rohan Nadkarni

Albert Burneko

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

Israel Daramola

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

Lauren Theisen

Radiohead performing onstage in support of their 2007 album "In Rainbows," with the Defector Music Club logo right in the middle.

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Reviews The People’s Radiohead Album

A guest wears new Apple Vision Pro outside Bora Aksu during London Fashion Week February 2024 on February 16, 2024 in London, England.

The Future Doesn’t Work, With Ed Zitron

A man skiing fresh powder in Alta, Utah. You might assume from context that the man skiing is Drew Magary, but it is not.

A Bloody Footprint By The Toilet

Chris "Mad Dog" Russo looking smug or sleepy, depending on your perspective, on radio row in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl.

Looter Capitalism, Loser Capitalists, And Mad Dog Russo Mindset

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Kelsey McKinney

Barry Petchesky

Whale stranded at Winterton, 1857. 'This fine specimen of the whale tribe was driven ashore at Winterton by the gales which visited the coast of Norfolk...When the whale found himself upon land he roared loudly, and he struggled most lustily to regain the deep...The colour of the outer coat is dark brown on the back, vanishing off towards the body of a bluish grey. The body is white; also about two feet of the nose and baleen is white; the rest of the outer part is black. We understand that the skin, head, and tail were removed from the carcase for exhibition. The whale is stated to weigh about 25 tons'. From &quot;Illustrated London News&quot;, 1857.

Defector Reads A Book

From Hell’s Heart We Blog At Thee: Let’s Chat About ‘Moby-Dick’

Handsome-ass Justin Hartley at the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

It’s Tracker

Travis Kelce faces the media during Super Bowl Media Days in the lead up to Super Bowl LVIII. It's pretty dramatically lit for something happening at a Westin in Henderson, Nevada.

Big Ideas And Big Novelty Slot Machines At The Super Bowl, With Matthew Coller

Kathryn Xu

Metlife Stadium across the Hackensack River in Secaucus, New Jersey, on June 15, 2023. Activist Bill Sheehan has turned mountains to clean up the river, polluted by industry, ten kilometers (6.2 miles) from Manhattan, even if much remains to be done. "It didn't take me long to realize that the river needed a full-time advocate," he says of the hemmed in by an ultra-dense urban grid. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Soccer

Let Us Discuss What The World Cup Final Means For “New York New Jersey”

Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

Lessons Of Collapse And The Christian Version Of Limp Bizkit, With Jason Kirk

Boeing CEO David Calhoun speaks during a joint press event with United Airlines at the Boeing manufacturing facility in North Charleston, on December 13, 2022.

How Will The Golden Age Of “Making It Worse” End?

October 16, 1972 Sports Illustrated cover and signed limited edition Wilt Chamberlain sports porcelain figurine on display during the press preview at Sotheby's Auction House on August 01, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Radicalized, Sleepy, And Sick Of Brock Purdy

Tom Ley

Justin Ellis

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A bad guy reacts to having a grill thrown through his windshield by Jack Reacher