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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Rachelle Hampton

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

David Roth

Firefighters wash up after fighting the O'Brien Creek fire. Lolo national Forest, Montana, August 21, 1940.

Defector Reads A Book

Racing With Mortality In Norman Maclean’s ‘Young Men And Fire’

Malcolm Gladwell and Carlos Watson speak onstage during OZY Fest 2018 at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 22, 2018 in New York City.

Podcasts

Feeling Like Ozymandias, With Susie Banikarim

Woody Johnson (center) and his sons attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Report: New York Jets Plagued By Woody Johnson’s Meddlesome Teen Sons

A small drone flies in front of the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building as the sun rises in New York City on August 11, 2023

Politics

It’s Time For A Little Recreational Mental Illness In New Jersey

A birthday cake is seen for Jess Park of England (not pictured) at St George's Park Futsal Arena on October 21, 2024 in Burton upon Trent, England. It's kind of a saddish cake sitting on what looks like a couch. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

One Hundred Distractions Deep, With Eric Silver

Lauren Theisen

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Talks TV On The Radio On The Internet

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees arrives to the stadium before the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Juan Soto Got Super-Duper-Mega Paid

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans adjusts his helmet in close-up before taking the field for Houston's game against Jacksonville on December 1, 2024.

That AFC South Feeling, With Rivers McCown

Former Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, his wife Mickie, and Actor Ken Jeong look on in the final seconds of the Terry's Chocolate Vegas Showdown college basketball game between Duke Blue Devils vs Kansas Jayhawks on November 26, 2024.

Staying Up Late And Being Stupid

ia Eagles carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, at SoFi Stadium on November 24, 2024.

Everything Is Working For Saquon Barkley

A traveler is reflected in a pane of glass with a paper snowman behind it during travel on Christmas Day at Frankfurt Airport.

Emergency Christmas Protocols And Underwater Hotels, With Sabrina Imbler

A giant screen above the ring shows US retired pro-boxer Mike Tyson sitting on the corner stool between rounds during the heavyweight boxing bout against Jake Paul on November 15, 2024.

The Fights

Tyson/Paul Was A Boxing Match That Felt Like Netflix

NBA and FanDuel online sports betting signage is displayed on the side of a building in Phoenix, Arizona.

Doing Cocaine In An MRI Machine, With Arif Hasan

Fans throw trash onto the field during the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas Longhorns on October 19, 2024, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

College Football

College Football Is In A Golden Age Of Throwing Garbage

A detractor of president-elect Donald Trump protests against his policies in New York City on November 9, 2024. Their sign says "we need all of us."

Beyond Belief

Members of the Auburn Tigers celebrate their 74-69 victory over the Houston Cougars on November 10.

College Basketball

Auburn Beat Each Other Up Before They Beat Houston

Closeup of painted Oakland Raiders fans in Black Hole during game vs New York Jets in Oakland in 2003. They've got like weird helmets and skull stuff going on.

A Taste Of That Football-Shaped Bread, With Ray Ratto

Kamala Harris smiling out at the crowd at her big rally in Washington, D.C. on October 29, 2024. There's a bunch of people cheering behind her and she's wearing a suit.

Watching The Game, With Denny Carter

Teammates celebrate with "Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21), left, after winning the World Series. Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees at Yankees Stadium in New York City Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

The Dodgers Did It The Weird Way


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Split photo. Dan stands in front of some giant pastel mural, wearing a Pizza Plus shirt and sweapants, holding up an old Captain Planet costume. Dave stands in front of a giant helmet that says SPORTS CITY. They're both in a mall.

Life's Rich Pageant

Dan And Dave Visit A Mall Over The Ocean

They’re Saying It

Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees grimaces/smirks after a strikeout in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the ALCS.

There’s No Rutgers Football In The Champagne Room

Dave McKenna

Luis Paez-Pumar

Defector Music Club Blows Up The Chicken Man

Pete Alonso flat on the ground with the brim of his helmet jammed into the earth after fouling a ball off his foot in Game Six of the NLCS in Los Angeles on October 20, 2024.

The Mets Ran Out Of Magic

Harrison Bader (left) and Jesse Winker (right) celebrate in the outfield at CitiField after the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. Bader is yelling; Winker, also yelling, kind of looks like a snake a little bit.