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Defector

David Roth

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets attempts to force out Zach McKinstry #39 of the Detroit Tigers after a fielding error during the sixth inning at Citi Field on May 13, 2026.

Mark Vientos Just Kind Of Falling Down Tells The Story Of The Mets’ Season

A photo of a bunch of old-timey green barstools with the cover of the NYRB Classics edition of Robert Coover's Universal Baseball Association in the middle and the Defector Reads A Book logo at left.

Defector Reads A Book

You Are Hereby Invited To Join The Universal Baseball Association

Gritty the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers skates onto the ice prior to an NHL game against the Dallas Stars at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Podcasts

Gritty Is Beside Himself, With Lauren Theisen

Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts into third base during the eighth inning of the MLB Mexico City Series game between San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú on April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

It’s Ildemaro Vargas Time In Major League Baseball

Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway (L) watches New York Knicks' center Charles Oakley (C) and Miami Heat center PJ Brown (R) go for a rebound in second period action of their game 12 April at the Miami Arena.

Getting Kicked In The Back By P.J. Brown

Jon Rahm of Legion XIII celebrates with the trophy after winning the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 19, 2026 in Mexico City.

Golf

Saudi Arabia Decides LIV Golf Is Ready To Be Supported By Its Passionate Fan Base, Unbeatable Product

Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers prepares to take the snap of the ball at the line of scrimmage during the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Making Noises At Jim Nantz, With Aaron Schatz

Sid Rosenberg on the set of "Gravesend" filming by Michael's on April 25, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York.

Media Meltdowns

Jarringly Red New York Radio Yutz Continues His Anti-Mets Tantrum In Yankees President’s Suite

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets reacts after flying out against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citi Field on April 12, 2026 in New York City.

A New Space In Which To Be Stupid, With Michael Schur

WABC radio host Sid Rosenberg speaks during a protest against a tent shelter for migrants at Floyd Bennett Field in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on August 22, 2023. They're rallying against immigrants being housed there so everyone in the picture looks like someone who'd do that.

New York Radio Yutz Has Had It With Mr. Met’s Antisemitism

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC.

A Feast Of Sludge, With Ed Zitron

of the Los Angeles Angels catches a fly ball hit by Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of the baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 4, 2026.

Jo Adell Stole Three Homers And A Win From The Mariners

Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after a play during the first half of a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four game against the Arizona Wildcats on April 4, 2026.

College Basketball

Michigan Is Nasty

Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of a NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game on April 3, 2026.

South Carolina Upset Connecticut, But Not As Much As Dawn Staley Upset Geno Auriemma

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman women's basketball team in the gymnasium of Ladies Hall (now Chadbourne Hall), Madison, Wisconsin, 1900.

Please, Mr. Pibb Is My Father, With Emma Baccellieri

Alan Ritchson attends the "War Machine" Australian Premiere at HOYTS Melbourne Central in Ferburary of 2026.

Life's Rich Pageant

Suburban Homeowner Starts, Loses Fight With Enormous Jack Reacher Star Alan Ritchson

Oscar Cluff #45 of the Purdue Boilermakers looks for a shot against Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game on March 15, 2026.

Let’s Get Upset, With Ken Pomeroy

Arizona Wildcats players pour confetti on the head coach Tommy Lloyd after winning the Big 12 Tournament championship game between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats on March 14, 2026.

There Is No Resting State Of March Madness

A kebab is prepared in the Elbis-Döner restaurant at Berliner Straße 2 in Wilmersdorf. It looks good as hell.

Kebab Juice On The Windowpane, With Rohan Nadkarni

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives ahead a meeting with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano at the State Department in Washington, DC on December 15, 2025.

Politics

Report: President Donald Trump Is Giving “All The Boys” Dress Shoes That Don’t Fit Right

Justin Agu #13 of the Louisville Cardinals catches the ball against the Toledo Rockets during the first half of the 2025 Bush's Boca Raton Bowl of Beans at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on December 23, 2025.

Imagining The End Of College Sports, With Spencer Hall

Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert of Team Canada compete during Men's Round Robin between Team Canada and Team Great Britain on day eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on February 17, 2026.

Across The Hog Line, With John Cullen

A Pomeranian is groomed backstage during the Group Judging (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding) at 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2025.

Choosing Your Pomeranian, With Kathryn Xu

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 08: K Jason Myers (5) of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to the start of the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots Super Bowl LX game on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)