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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

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Ray Ratto

of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting three home runs in three swings to win the Inaugural All-Star Game Swingoff. The Bills Week logo is at lower left.

95th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard

Bills Week

The All-Star Game’s Confusing Ending Fit The Bill For A Confused League

bills-week-belichick

Bill Belichick’s Talent Is Becoming Tiresome

EAST RUTHERFORD - JUNE 9: NBA legends Bill Russell and Bill Walton talk before game three of the NBA Finals on June 9, 2002 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New Jersey Nets are attempting to stop the Los Angeles Lakers from winning their third championship in a row. AFP PHOTO/MATT CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)

NBA legends Bill Russell (L) Bill Walton talk befo

Where Have All The Sports Bills Gone?

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 05: NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell discusses the state of the union and its direction for the upcoming year before fielding questions from the media on February 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Super Bowl LIX Previews

The NFL Union-Busting Is Now Coming From Inside The Union

taskmasterSeries19

Arts And Culture

Sure, We Gained Our Independence, But We Lost The Ability To Make Anything As Good As ‘Taskmaster’

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4), left, with GM Mike Rizzo during the second day of full squad workouts at the Nationals training facility on February 22, 2023 in West Palm Beach, FL. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Nationals spring training

Mark Lerner Stops Neglecting The Nationals Long Enough To Fire Everyone

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown looks on from the sideline in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center on December 22, 2024 in Sacramento, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers v Sacramento Kings

The Knicks Backed Their Way Into A Good Coach

UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 18: Red Panda performs during halftime of a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun on May 18, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

WNBA: MAY 18 Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun

WNBA

Get Well Soon, Red Panda

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 04: Managing and principal partner Jimmy Haslam of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns OTA offseason workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 04, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts

Ohio Caves To The Haslams, Tells Cleveland To Eat Dirt

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 28: Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins and Heriberto Hernandez #64 of the Miami Marlins celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images)

Miami Marlins v Arizona Diamondbacks

They Let The Fish Get Hot!!

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches during the game between the Athletics and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Athletics v. New York Yankees

Luis Severino And The A’s Can’t Wait For Luis Severino To Leave

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 29: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals prepares to bat during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Washington Nationals v. Los Angeles Angels

James Wood If They’d Let Him

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred (L) and principal owner John Fisher of the Athletics shake hands after participating in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the A's new stadium in Las Vegas.

Athletics Break Ground At Las Vegas Ballpark Site

Take A Look At These Ghouls

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

2025 NBA Finals – Game Seven

“Deserve” Has Nothing To Do With It

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

2025 NBA Finals – Game Six

The Finals Have Given Us Everything But An Ending

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

San Francisco Giants’ President Buster Posey talks to the media before Giants play San Diego Padres during MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants play San Diego Padres During MLB Game At Oracle Park In San Francisco

Buster Posey Made The Big Deal Giants Fans Have Been Waiting For

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Four

Oilers-Panthers Isn’t A Rivalry, It’s A Saga

New York Knicks owner James Dolan attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

The Whole NBA Is Telling James Dolan To Piss Off

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Albert Burneko

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Tom Ley

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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Patrick Redford

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David Roth

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.

shai vs pacers

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

Miguel Andujar of the Athletics reacts at a called strike against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

Philadelphia Phillies v Athletics

The Athletics Have Hopped Back Into The Dumpster

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a pass against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers – Game Four

They Can’t All Be Thrillers

Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up against the Dallas Stars in Game Four

Dallas Stars v Edmonton Oilers – Game Four

Oh God, Stuart Skinner Controls The Oilers’ Destiny

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 22 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Eastern Conference Final Panthers at Hurricanes

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025.

NHL: MAY 09 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Maple Leafs at Panthers

Paul Maurice And The Panthers Do Not Care If You’re Having Fun