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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

Justin Jefferson wearing sunglasses and looking up and to the left, smiling widely. He's not in uniform. I put the little Defector logo up there so it looks like he's smiling at it.

Podcasts

Jerry Jones Promises He’ll Be Normal, With Kalyn Kahler

A grimacing Terence Stamp, with some blood splashed across his face, in Stephen Soderbergh's 1999 film "The Limey"

Arts And Culture

Seek And Destroy

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates a point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 08, 2025 in Paris, France.

A Forehand That Sounds Like Construction Equipment, With Giri Nathan

David Brooks making a surprised face while being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on the OWN Netwrok.

Journalismism

David Brooks: Wearing A Mets Hat Might Just Save Our Democracy

Soda packaging are seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States on November 17, 2023.

A Very Fine Cheerwine, With Emma Baccellieri

A screengrab of Alan Dershowitz on his Dershow podcast's mailbag segment. He is literally saying the words "Jeffrey Epstein" at this moment.

Life's Rich Pageant

Are You Aware Of The Alan Dershowitz Martha’s Vineyard Pierogi Situation?

Isabelle Harrison and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty making some fantastic What Can You Do faces on the bench during a July 25 game against the Phoenix Mercury.

A Huge W, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ichiro Suzuki speaks during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown, New York.

Ichiro Saved One Last Surprise For Cooperstown

NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell discusses the state of the union and its direction for the upcoming year before the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Who Can You Trust? With Pablo Torre

Sitting in the dugout and watching the game, (L to R), are Tim Teufel, Howard Johnson, Bob Ojeda and Ron Darling, as they balance baseballs on their caps to try and change the Mets luck. The image is in black and white; and from 1986.

39 Years Ago, Four Mets Fought The Cops At A Houston Bar Named Cooter’s

Director Bill Paxton behind the set of the Lions Gate Films movie "Frailty", circa 2001. The Bills Week logo is on there.

Bills Week

In Bill Paxton’s ‘Frailty,’ Certainty Is The Scariest Thing There Is

of the Milwaukee Brewers slides into second base against the New York Mets on April 17, 2009.

Bill Hall Put It Together

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates jokes with Oneil Cruz #15 during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees in 2024.

The Hazards Of Bob Nutting Mindset, With Justin Halpern

Lauren Theisen

Dave McKenna

Singer and pianist Billy Joel rests on an airline flight between Austin and Dallas during a tour promoting his "57th Street" album. | Location: Above Texas, USA.

You Should Never Argue With A Crazy M-M-Music Club

A worker stocks food items at a Whole Foods Market grocery store in Manhattan on December 17, 2024.

Like A Bat In The Supermarket

Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate with the Larry O'Brien trophy after winning Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025.

The Agony Of Victory, With Ray Ratto

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addresses the media following a speech at an event for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on June 22, 2025 in New York City.

Politics

Andrew Cuomo Is A Future Of The Democratic Party

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2023 shows a closed store of Big Lots at King Square Center in Arvada, Northwest of Denver.

A Fine Balance Between Evil And Stupid, With Kelsey McKinney And Megan Greenwell

President Trump, sitting alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and First Lady Melania Trump, observe U.S. Army tanks traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue, during a celebration of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on Flag Day, June 14, 2025.

Against The Day

Patrick Redford

Kathryn Xu

Brandy Jensen

Cyclists in a race are in the background. There is a house or wall on the left side of the road. There is a man in front, looking at the peloton, squatting halfway with his arms spread just past his knees. Next to him in the center of the road is a bicycle laid across the ground.

Defector Reads A Book

Tim Krabbe’s ‘The Rider’ Won Us Over By Losing

Monorail: Origins, With Alan Siegel

Denzel Clarke of the Athletics makes an amazing catch and nearly vaults over the wall during the game between the Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday, June 9, 2025.

I Think This Is The Best Catch I’ve Ever Seen

A Toys R Us store that was shuttered in 2018 is seen on June 21, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. The company was bought and destroyed by private equity.

Interviews

Megan Greenwell On Living Under And Outside Of Private Equity, The Invasive Species Eating American Life

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Brendan Donovan (33) as seen during a Major League Baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals on May 18, 2025. Just a real Cardinals-looking guy.

A Residence At One Cardinal Way, With Will Leitch

Albert Burneko

Tom Ley

Luis Paez-Pumar

Ray Ratto

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.