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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

Buy a Defector Gift Subscription, Get A (Different) Gift Subscription

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2025 gift subs

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Ray Ratto

Team USA Basketball Training Session

Olympics

It Might Just Not Be Our Quadrennial

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Golf

A Big Day For Bellyachers

SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - JULY 08: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred walks to a session at the Allen &amp; Company Sun Valley Conference on July 08, 2021 in Sun Valley, Idaho. After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, and technology worlds will converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive week-long conference. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Allen And Company Annual Meeting Brings Business Executives, Media Moguls, And Politicians To Sun Valley, Idaho

Rob Manfred Throws Fans Some Crumbs From The Table

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 11: Josh Rojas #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts to second base umpire Brian O'Nora #7 after he was called out trying to steal second base against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers

The Diamondbacks Might Be Bad Enough To Deserve Your Awe

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The Senators And Pierre McGuire Deserve Each Other

Players of Italy celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Semi-final match between Italy and Spain at Wembley Stadium on July 06, 2021 in London, England.

Italy v Spain  – UEFA Euro 2020: Semi-final

Soccer

[WILD GESTURING AND SCREAMING IN ITALIAN]

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels waves after advancing to second base against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 05, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Boston Red Sox v Los Angeles Angels

I Have Done It, I Have Fixed The All-Star Game

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 25: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks draws up a play during a huddle during the second half in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum on June 25, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Atlanta Hawks v Milwaukee Bucks – Game Two

Congrats To Mike Budenholzer On Not Being Fired

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to the crowd after a Phoenix Suns foul during the first half in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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 Harry How/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Clippers – Game Six

Is That All There Is?

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You Can Always Rely On Soccer’s Coaching Carousel To Produce Humiliations And Threats Of Violence

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 02: Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning watches the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre on January 2, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens

Your Stanley Cup Rooting Interest Is A Measure Of Your Generosity

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 22: Pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals takes off his belt after throwing his cap and glove down as umpires ask to search him for sticky substances during the fourth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 22, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Washington Nationals v Philadelphia Phillies

We Can Make Gunk Inspections Even Weirder. We Must.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees rubs the ball between pitches during the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field on June 16, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays

Bring On The Sticky-Stuff Anarchy

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers bumps into fans during the fourth quarter during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center on June 20, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Atlanta Hawks v Philadelphia 76ers – Game Seven

Who Wants Ben Simmons?

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Damn You, Defector, For Forcing Me To Rewatch ‘Taskmaster’ Out Of Envy And Cussedness

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate the win of game seven of the Eastern Conference second round at Barclays Center on June 19, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111 in overtime to win the series.

Milwaukee Bucks v Brooklyn Nets – Game Seven

Defensive Heroics Made For A Wild Night In The NBA And NHL Playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 15: Mike Yastrzemski #5, LaMonte Wade Jr #31 and Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after Yastrzemski hit a grand slam home run to put the Giants ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park on June 15, 2021 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the game 9-8. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks v San Francisco Giants

The Biggest Surprise In Baseball Still Doesn’t Make Much Sense

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Consider The Power Of “Just Happy To Be Here”

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: The New York Islanders celebrate an empty net goal by Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum on June 09, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Bruins 6-2 to move on to the Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins v New York Islanders – Game Six

Where Weird Shit Is Status Quo

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There’s A Problem, And It’s Not Baserunning

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball against Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of Game Seven of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Clippers – Game Seven

The Clippers’ Demons Aren’t Theirs

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a Phoenix Suns foul in the second quarter during game six of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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.