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Defector

Giri Nathan

An illustration of a tennis player holding a skull-shaped ball

Tennis

Has The Tennis Ball Gotten Worse?

LiAngelo Ball #18 of the Charlotte Hornets stands on the court in the fourth quarter during a preseason game at Spectrum Center on October 05, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Middle Ball Brother Finds Basketball-Free Success

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Rachelle Hampton

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’

Year In Review

Presenting The 2024 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates the win on the logo after the quarterfinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2024 in New York City. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 108-100 to advance to the semifinal round. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Trae Young Goes For Cheap Heat In The Knicks’ House

Food

I Loved How Much Ugly Baby Hated Me

Lauren Theisen

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Talks TV On The Radio On The Internet

Moritz Wagner #21 of the Orlando Magic reacts in the first half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Kia Center on November 27, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.

It’s Moe Wagner, Not Mo Wagner

Tari Eason and Amen Thompson defend a shot in a Rockets game against the Clippers.

Hell Is Being Defended By Tari Eason And Amen Thompson

Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards reacts against the Chicago Bulls during the second half in the Emirates NBA Cup at Capital One Arena on November 26, 2024 in Washington, DC.

The Washington Wizards Won Nothing In November

Iga Swiatek of Poland in action against Varvara Gracheva of France in the second round on Day 4 of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 14, 2024 in Mason, Ohio

Iga Swiatek Suspended After Testing Positive For Banned Substance

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on November 23, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

How Can He Slap?

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 17: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves interacts with Rudy Gobert #27 in the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on November 17, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 120-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Rudy Gobert Found A New Guy To Annoy

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after the men's singles final match at the French Open.

Rafael Nadal Found Process In Pain

Baylor's VJ Edgecombe dunks over Gonzaga's Joe Few

College Basketball

Mark Few Sends His Son To Slaughter

Kelsey McKinney

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Women's world chess champion, Vera Menchik (1916 - 1944, left) and Sonia Graf (1908 - 1965) competing in the British Chess Federation Major Open in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK, 11th July 1935. Menchik finished the tournament in third place with Graf in seventh. (Photo by Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Sit Down Across The Board With Sally Rooney’s ‘Intermezzo’

A statue of Dwyane Wade outside the Miami Heat's arena

That Isn’t Dwyane Wade, Sir

Albert Burneko

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Luis Paez-Pumar

Ray Ratto

Tom Ley

A circa-1900 black-and-white photo of basketball players receiving dance lessons from a lady in a flapper hat and dress.

A Preview Of The 2024-25 NBA Season, Accurately Enumerating Everything That Will Happen In It

Courtney Williams #10 and Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx celebrate their victory against the Connecticut Sun

WNBA

Courtney Williams Helps The Lynx Slide Their Way Into The Finals

Frances Tiafoe yells "Fuck you" at the umpire after a loss.

Frances Tiafoe Provides Postmatch Feedback To Umpire: “Fuck You”

Shams Charania speaks with Mike Miller (L) and Donnie McGrath during the Paolo Banchero All Star Weekend kickoff party

Journalismism

Shams Charania’s Syntactical Talents Are Headed Toward A Bristol-Based Location

The Noble Muscadine Can Replace Your Gummy Fix

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns a shot in the Men's singles final match against Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day 10 of the China Open

Carlos Alcaraz Is Most Dangerous When He’s Cornered

Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks celebrates scoring against the Toronto Raptors during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2023 in New York City. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Julius Randle’s Knicks Tenure Was Exhilarating And Infuriating

Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx looks to shoot against Sophie Cunningham #9 of the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter in Game Two