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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

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Ray Ratto

National League Championship Series Game 5: San Diego Padres v. Philadelphia Phillies

John Middleton Spoke The Forbidden Words Of Sports Ownership

20230215E0621DS - Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks to the media

Spring Training Cactus League Media Day

The Owners Are Getting Ornery

Richard Belzer during 55th Annual Writers Guild of America East Awards - Arrivals at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

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Richard Belzer Was An Old Crank To The End

BOTSWANA - 2014/06/12: Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in river near Chitabe in the Okavango Delta in northern part of Botswana. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in river near Chitabe

Animals

Here’s To Hippos

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 16: A generic basketball photo of the Official NBA Wilson basketball during NBAE Media Circuit Portraits as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency 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 Jeff Dean/NBAE via Getty Images)

2023 NBA All-Star – NBAE Media Circuit Portraits

The Best Part Of The All-Star Break Is The Break

Fans are seen waving flags inside the stadium as they await the unveiling of new FC Barcelona Head Coach Xavi Hernandez during a press conference at Camp Nou on November 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Xavi Hernandez Unveiled As New FC Barcelona FC Head Coach

Soccer

Barcelona Insists There’s Nothing Weird About Paying A Referee $1.3 Million

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVII victory parade on February 15, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs Victory Parade

The Chiefs’ Belief In Disbelief Is Becoming Unbelievable

Super Bowl LVII – Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles

The Chiefs Wouldn’t Let The Super Bowl Be Anything But Great

Golden State Warriors v Denver Nuggets

There’s No Good Way For The Warriors To Clean Up This Mess

Edmonton Oilers v Nashville Predators

Gambling

You Are Now Free To Complain To Your Congressional Rep About Sports Betting Ads

Cleveland Browns v New England Patriots

The NFL Has Yet Another Scandal To Eat

Brooklyn Nets v Los Angeles Lakers

There Go The Nets

LeBron James breaks the all-time scoring record

Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James Is All That Matters In Los Angeles

Tennessee Titans v Indianapolis Colts

There Is No Escape From The Colts’ Coaching Search

Golden State Warriors v Minnesota Timberwolves

Four Brief Proposals For Unclogging The Western Conference

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 24: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addresses the media prior to the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins at Centre Bell on January 24, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins v Montreal Canadiens

NHL Ratings Are Not Your Problem

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 23: A general view of Climate Pledge Arena with the center ice logo prior to the Kraken's inaugural home opening game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks on October 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Vancouver Canucks v Seattle Kraken

The Kraken Will Not Abide Between-Periods Entertainment Being Slightly Mean To Jeff Bezos

Tom Brady looking gaunt at a press conference.

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Tom Brady Gets It Over With

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: The Oakland Athletics play against the Texas Rangers in front of nearly empty stands at RingCentral Coliseum on May 26, 2022 in Oakland, California. Attendance at Oakland Athletics baseball games have dwindled to historic lows as the team has traded away fan favorite players and continues to explore moving the team to Las Vegas if they can't reach a deal to build a new stadium near the Port of Oakland. The Athletics have the lowest attendance of all 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) as well as the league's lowest single game attendance for a May 2nd game that only drew 2,488 fans. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Oakland A’s Attendance Dwindles To Historic Lows

The A’s Just Want To Be Wanted

Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics

LeBron James Is Next In A Long Line

Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers gives his teammates a hype-up speech before their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Conference Championship.

NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers v Philadelphia Eagles

Someone Woke Up The 49ers Before The Eagles Put Them To Bed

St. Louis Cardinals v Cincinnati Reds

The Hall Of Fame Charts No Course

Memphis Grizzlies v Sacramento Kings

The NBA Is Good When It’s Goofy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi's Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

NFC Divisional Playoffs – Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers

How, Indeed, ‘Bout Them Cowboys?

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 14: Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno answers questions during a press conference to introduce Anthony Rendon at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on December 14, 2019 in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

MLB: DEC 14 Anthony Rendon LA Angels Press Conference

Arte Moreno To Continue Disappointing Angels Fans