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Defector

Patrick Redford

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 3: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder is interviewed after the game against the Utah Jazz during the 2023 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 3, 2023 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chet Holmgren Has Been A Joy In An Otherwise Disappointing Summer League

Boxing up the bottles beer at Anchor Steam Beer Brewery, March 28, 1978

Capital

Anchor Brewing Was San Francisco

LEIGH, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Stina Blackstenius of Sweden celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal which was later disallowed by VAR for an offside during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final match between Sweden and Belgium at Leigh Sports Village on July 22, 2022 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

Soccer

This Could Finally Be Sweden’s Year

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 23: Marta Cox and Wendy Natis of Panama celebrate with team member Raiza Gutierrez during the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Paraguay and Panama at Waikato Stadium on February 23, 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Panama Has Done Its Job Simply By Making The World Cup

Movistar Team's US rider Matteo Jorgenson cycles in the ascent of the Puy de Dome in the final kilometers of the 9th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182,5 km between Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat and Puy de Dome, in the Massif Central volcanic mountains in central France, on July 9, 2023. (Photo by Vincent Kalut / POOL / AFP) (Photo by VINCENT KALUT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Cycling

The Pain Is The Point

CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE, FRANCE - JULY 06: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - White Best Young Rider Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the stage six of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 144.9km stage from Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque 1355m / #UCIWT / on July 06, 2023 in Cauterets-Cambasque, France. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Tadej Pogacar Strikes Back

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (L) celebrates with Vietnam's captain Huynh Nhu (R) after a goal during the women's football match between Vietnam and Philippines at RSN Stadium during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Phnom Penh on May 9, 2023. (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN / AFP) (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Vietnam’s World Cup Debut Could Be Short And Sweet

BORA - hansgrohe's Australian rider Jai Hindley celebrates on the podium after winning the 5th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 163 km between Pau and Laruns, in the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France, on July 5, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Jai Hindley Rips Open The Tour de France

David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, attends the Los Angeles premiere of Warner Bros. "The Flash" at Ovation Hollywood on June 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.

Media Meltdowns

GQ Rolled Over And Showed Its Belly To David Zaslav

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia leads their side out prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Zambia Is Here For A Good Time, And Maybe Even A Long Time

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 31: Raquel Rodríguez #11 of Costa Rica celebrates her goal against Haiti during the second half during a Group A - 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying at BBVA Stadium on January 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Can Costa Rica Sneak Up On The World Again?

French Christophe Laporte of Jumbo-Visma, Belgian Wout Van Aert of Jumbo-Visma, Danish Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma, Belgian Tiesj Benoot of Jumbo-Visma and US' Sepp Kuss of Jumbo-Visma pictured in action during stage 21, the final stage of the Tour de France cycling race, from Paris la Defense Arena to Paris Champs-Elysees, France, on Sunday 24 July 2022. This year's Tour de France takes place from 01 to 24 July 2022. BELGA PHOTO POOL LEQUIPPE - UK OUT (Photo by POOL LEQUIPPE / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by POOL LEQUIPPE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

The Defector Guide To The 2023 Tour de France

Dave McKenna

Giri Nathan

TOPSHOT - Jumbo-Visma team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey (C), Jumbo-Visma team's Belgian rider Wout Van Aert wearing the sprinter's green jersey (C) and Jumbo-Visma team's American rider Sepp Kuss (R) celebrate with champagne as they cycle during the 21st and final stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 115,6 km between La Defense Arena in Nanterre, outside Paris, and the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, on July 24, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / various sources / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

What Can Hardcore Fans And Curious Newbies Learn From ‘Tour de France: Unchained’?

Israel Daramola

David Roth

Lauren Theisen

Defector Music Club

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

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Ada Hegerberg celebrates after their sides victory with Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 group A match between Norway and Northern Ireland at St Mary's Stadium on July 07, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Maddie Meyer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Norway’s Quest For Redemption Starts Now

Lance Armstrong is seen on January 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Lance Armstrong Is Suddenly Concerned With Fairness In Sports

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 24: Ryne Stanek #45 of the Houston Astros reacts to a balk call from second base umpire Junior Valentine #25 as he comes off the field, allowing Jonny Deluca #89 of the Los Angeles Dodgers to score a run for an 8-7 Dodgers lead, after the end of the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Astros Reliever Melts Down After Balk Call Gives Dodgers Game-Winning Run

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Scoot Henderson celebrates after being drafted third overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Blazers Are At A Fascinating Crossroads

Shams Charania gestures during an interview.

Shams Charania’s Whoopsie Sure Made Someone A Lot Of Money

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 29: Bill Simmons is seen on March 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Bill Simmons Finds Himself In Row Across The Pond After Slagging Off Harry And Meghan

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 18: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final against Canada at Allegiant Stadium on June 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Folarin Balogun Is Exactly Who The USMNT Has Been Waiting For

VILLARS-SUR-OLLON, SWITZERLAND - MAY 01: Gino Mader of Switzerland and Team Bahrain Victorious celebrates the second place on the podium after the 75th Tour De Romandie 2022 - Stage 5 on May 1, 2022 in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images,)

Gino Mäder Had Too Much More To Give

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Naomi Girma #27 of the United States warming up before a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images).

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Naomi Girma

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Oakland Athletics fans display signs during a reverse boycott game against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 13, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)