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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

Israel Daramola

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

David Roth

Lauren Theisen

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Faces Its Fears With ‘Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)’

Reliever Jeff Brigham leaves the mound after hitting two straight batters to plate the winning run in a Mets loss against the Phillies.

Good Teams Make Their Players Better

Moms For Liberty activists rally against COVID mask mandates in Viera, Fl. in June of 2023.

Politics

The Country’s Most Unpleasant Moms Will Not Be Cowed By People Pointing Out The Big Hitler Quote On Their Newsletter

Mr. Met striking a benignly unsettling Mr. Met-style pose on the field during a Mets game.

Podcasts

The Minimum Amount Of Podcast Allowed By Law

Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras makes a pouty face after being retired in a game against the San Francisco Giants.

The Cardinals Are Not The Cardinals

Bob Huggins on the sideline during West Virginia's NCAA Tournament game against Maryland in March of 2023.

College Basketball

It’s A Wrap On Bob Huggins

A bathroom at Mar-a-Lago positively jammed with boxes full of junk.

Ambitions As A Writer And Bathroom Chandeliers, With Israel Daramola And Dave McKenna

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) questions Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray about conspiracy theories related to the January 6, 2020 attack on the U.S. Capitol during a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Clay Higgins Is The Norm

Donald Trump hooting at supporters outside Mar-A-Lago in Florida in April of 2023.

So It’s A Crime Now To Have Boxes Full Of Cool Folders With Various Words Printed On Them?

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman at a press conference during the LIV event in Adelaide, Australia, in April of 2023.

The Money Will Not Shut Up, With Ray Ratto

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 25: Noah Syndergaard #43 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 25, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Twilight Of The Thunder God

Gabe Vincent, Bam Adebayo, and Caleb Martin stand together as the team is introduced before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Eat Culture, With Rohan Nadkarni

Duke wing player Brian Davis seen on the team's bench in 1991.

In Praise Of Brian Davis’s Very Possibly Fake $7 Billion Bid For The Washington Commanders

Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics holds the ball while Jimmy Butler makes a Jimmy Butler Face in an Eastern Conference Finals game..

Sacred Oafs, Holy Madmen, Culture Wars, Things Of That Nature

Mayor Eric Adams during a ceremony as Composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is given the key to the city.

To Restore Public Trust, New York Mayor Eric Adams Must Do A Kickflip

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


Dan McQuade

Split image: Dan McQuade (left) wearing an American Dream EST. 2019 hoodie standing next to a cardboard cutout of Shrek at the DreamWorks Water Park inside a mall. David Roth (right) pointing up at the "WINNERS CIRCLE" entrance at the old Meadowlands Arena.

Life's Rich Pageant

Dan And Dave Explore The American Dream (Mall)

Dispatches From The Gulf Of Pain, With David Grann

Luis Perez of the Arlington Renegades celebrates winning the 2023 XFL Championship on May 13, 2023.

Over And Under In The XFL Championship

Ja Morant reacts to a call during the Grizzlies first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 26, 2023.

Grizzlies Suspend Ja Morant After He Plays With A Handgun On Instagram Live Again

Elon Musk and his mom doing some uncanny shit in costume at Heidi Klum's Halloween party.

Capital

Burning Down The House

A Mariachi Band performs on Cinco De Mayo as writers on strike march with signs on the picket line on day four of the strike by the Writers Guild of America in front of Netflix in Hollywood, California.

A Symphony Of Solidarity Honks, With Adam Conover

Vincent Mason aka P.A. Pasemaster Mase aka Maseo aka Plug Three, David Jude Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove aka Dave aka Plug Two and Kevin Mercer aka Posdnuos aka Mercenary aka Plug Wonder Why aka Plug One of the hip hop trio De La Soul pose for a portrait in 1990.

‘De La Soul Is Dead’ Made Us Nostalgic For Skits And Samples

Malik Monk prepares to push the button that illuminates the beam after Sacramento's win against Golden State in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

The Beam Shines For All, With Patrick Redford

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud during his session at the NFL Combine in March of 2023.

Positively Covered In Belichick Dander, With Rivers McCown

Former President Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene during the 3rd round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in July of 2022.