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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.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the sports editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.

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Heather Wei-Xi Chen

Kristin Merrilees is a writer based in New York covering technology and the internet.

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Kristin Merrilees

A Timothee Chalamet lookalike in a Wonka costume showcases an empty briefcase

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Life's Rich Pageant

We Went To The Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest And Didn’t See Timothée Chalamet

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.

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Owen Lewis

circa 1955: Two elementary school students complete homework assignments together, the girl has a book, 'Living By God's Law,' next to her on the table.

Religious Ed

Announcements

The Defector Summer Interns Say Farewell

NANTERRE, FRANCE - JULY 31: Zhanle Pan of Team People's Republic of China celebrates after winning gold in a world record time in the Men's 100m Freestyle Final on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 31, 2024 in Nanterre, France.

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Olympics

I Am Aging Rapidly While Watching Pan Zhanle Swim

TEAHUPO'O, FRENCH POLYNESIA - JULY 28: A view of photographers on a media boat during round two of surfing on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 28, 2024 in Teahupo'o, French Polynesia.

Surfing – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 2

Shots

My Favorite Guys In Olympic Surfing Are The Photographers

PARIS, FRANCE July 29, 2024-USA's Jagger Eaton falls on his last attempt to win a gold medal of the Men's street skateboard competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France Monday. Eaton won the silver medal. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

2024 Paris Olympics, skateboarding

Explain To Me Your Music Choices, Now

A surfer in a blue wetsuit carries a light blue surfboard with him as he walks into the ocean. He is holding a Palestinian flag in his right hand and wearing a keffiyeh around his head.

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The Great Outdoors

Surfers Show Solidarity At A Paddle-Out For Palestine

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Arts And Culture

I Love This Painting That Looks Like Blood

bookstore window display for 'Fourth Wing'

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Wings Week

I Love Trashy Fantasy Books, But I Cannot Condone TikTok’s Obsession With ‘Fourth Wing’

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Lauren Theisen

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Screenshot (362)

The Not-So-Great Defector Make-Off Ascends The Challenge Of Winged Eyeliner

CHICAGO - MAY 27: of the Chicago Blackhawks of the Philadelphia Flyers during Stanley Cup media day at the United Center on May 27, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Stanley Cup Media Day

What’s The Use Of Insiders If They Only Scoop Press Releases?

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers smokes a cigar while wearing the NHL/WWE Stanley Cup Championship belt in the locker room after Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida.

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Seven

My Beloved American Girl Doll Will Not Stop Wearing His Big Belt

Citi Field scoreboard with NHL Trade Alert graphic on it

CitiFieldTradeAlert

The Mets’ Pride Night, As Witnessed By Someone Who Cared A Lot About The NHL Draft

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers team photo with the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

NHL: JUN 24 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Everyone Is Terrified That Fanatics Will Screw Up Hockey, Too

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JUNE 21: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers falls into goaltender falls into goaltender Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Game 7 Is For Haters, Too

Kenny Moll rips through an impromptu finish line to mark the end of his seventh marathon. Michael-Luca is running to his right, with a crowd of runners behind them. There are trees in the background, and the area is both shaded and sunny.

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If You Run Seven Marathons In Seven Days In Central Park, Does It Make A Difference?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 27: Ty Dellandrea #10 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by Max Domi #18 after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dallas Stars v Vegas Golden Knights – Game Five

My Child Has Been Taken By The Sharks

Elon Musk, with blue bar stating "Your likes are private. Only you can see them." over his eyes

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The Machines

Please Let Me See Your Twitter Likes

NHL team officials watch prospects take part in testing during the NHL Combine at HarborCenter on June 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York.

2017 NHL Combine

Asking NHL Prospects These Questions Will Fix Your Franchise

A photo of the west side of the South Lawn in front of Columbia University's Butler Library at the Morningside campus. This picture, taken right before sunset, depicts an encampment set up by protestors on a lawn with turf and a big event tent. Students are scattered throughout, and there are multiple banners and signs depicting pro-Palestine statements.

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Politics

Why Did I Sleep On The Turf?

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on after a fight against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 20, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's kind of holding hands with the ref that's carting him away

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Two

Matthew Tkachuk Is My Beloved American Girl Doll

Jake Oettinger during pregame introductions

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars game one of the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stars Crashed Down To Earth

MOVIE GAG: CHILD ACTOR BOBBY 'WHEEZER' HUTCHINS OF THE OUR GANG TROUPE HITTING A MAN OVER THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER.UNDATED PHOTOGRAPH, CIRCA 1920s.