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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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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

A photo of John Clayton. He is sitting in a TV studio, wearing a suit, and smiling.

John Clayton

John Clayton Loved Football More Than You Did

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 8: (L-R) Tom Holmoe, director of athletics at Brigham Young University, works as the NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee meets on Wednesday afternoon, March 8, 2017 in New York City. The committee is gathered in New York to begin the five-day process of selecting and seeding the field of 68 teams for the NCAA MenÕs Basketball Tournament. The final bracket will be released on Sunday evening following the completion of conference tournaments. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee Meets In Manhattan

College Basketball

This March Madness, Consider Suffering In Silence For Once

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 16: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers wipes his face in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on March 16, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 124-104. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers v Minnesota Timberwolves

Which Specific Form Of Lakers Humiliation Are You Rooting For?

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 05: Atlanta Braves c celebrating following their World Series Parade at Truist Park on November 5, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Braves won the World Series in six games against the Houston Astros winning their first championship since 1995. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)

Atlanta Braves World Series Parade

The Stove Is Back On And It’s Hot As Hell

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors competes for a loose ball against Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Chase Center on March 16, 2022 in San Francisco, 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)

Boston Celtics v Golden State Warriors

The Warriors Were Healthy Just Long Enough To Get Their Hopes Up

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Matt Olson #28 and Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after Olson hit a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Seattle Mariners v Oakland Athletics

The A’s Have Made A Science Of Giving Up

FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-NEWCASTLE

Soccer

Chelsea’s Win Felt Mercifully Routine

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament – Second Round

Death To The NCAA

Will Wade Just Couldn’t Help Himself

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 18: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights takes a break during a stop in play in the third period of a game against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on February 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Kings defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Kings v Vegas Golden Knights

Sabres Fans’ Last Laugh Should Probably Be A Sob

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred walks to a press conference during an MLB owner's meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league's collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

MLB Owners Meetings

With Baseball Back, What Are You Supposed To Do With All That Bitterness?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors is congratulated by Stephen Curry #30 after scoring and drawing a foul against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half during an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 08, 2022 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors

I Suppose What The Warriors Needed All Along Was Will Ferrell

Divisional Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks – Game Three

Now Is The Time To Find One MLB Owner To Hate More Than Ever

Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers

If LeBron James Can Score 56 Points Every Game, The Lakers Might Be Alright

SUN VALLEY, ID - JULY 12: Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB), attends the annual Allen &amp; Company Sun Valley Conference, July 12, 2019 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Every July, some of the world's most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, and technology spheres converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive weeklong conference. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Allen & Co. Holds Its Annual Sun Valley Conference In Idaho

What’s The Price Of Shame?

Philadelphia Phillies v Miami Marlins

Everyone Becomes A Loser Eventually

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Mallory Pugh #9 of the United States celebrates her goal against New Zealand with teammates during the SheBelieves Cup 2022 at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 20, 2022 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2022 SheBelieves Cup – New Zealand v United States

U.S. Soccer Got Dragged Kicking And Screaming Into One Good Decision

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 12: Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entrant Medina Spirit is bathed following a training session for the upcoming Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 12, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Preakness Preview

Horse Racing

Dead Horse Guilty

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 16: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after an injury to his hand and a technical-foul during the second half of the NBA game against the Houston Rockets at Footprint Center on February 16, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Rockets 124-121. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Phoenix SunsÀÜ

Chris Paul And The Suns Deserve A Hand

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Eric Weddle #20 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Super Bowl LVI – Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals

I’m Not Sure How My Manhood Got Dragged Into This

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 15: Kamila Valieva of Team ROC skates during the Women Single Skating Short Program on day eleven of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 15, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Figure Skating – Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Day 11

Figure Skating

The Kamila Valieva Saga Is Going To Get Weirder Before It Gets Better

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred answers questions during an MLB owner's meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league's collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Rob Manfred Either Thinks The Owners Are Idiots, Or That You Are

2021 NHL Expansion Draft

Things Just Got Interesting In The Granato-Ferraro Household

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 20: Damian Lillard #0 and CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers react during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Moda Center on October 20, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings v Portland Trail Blazers

It’s The End Of Something In Portland

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell, Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor and human resources in the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, Major League Baseball, NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, Michael Weiner, general counsel for the Major League Baseball Players Association, Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Gabriel Feldman, associate professor of law and director of the Sports Law Program at Tulane University Law School, and Jeffrey Standen, professor of law at the Willamette University College of Law (L-R), testify on Capitol Hill on November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. The hearing focused on doping in professional sports.(Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Goodell; Rob Manfred; DeMaurice Smith; Michael Weiner; Travis Tygart; Gabriel Feldman; Jeffrey Standen

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Testifies On Anti-Doping Measures

Capital

Why Do We Need Commissioners Anyway?

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looks on before the Las Vegas Raiders play against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 4, 2021 in Inglewood, California.

Roger Goodell

Roger Goodell Re-Re-Re-Re-Re-Reaffirms His Unwavering Commitment To Sending Out New Memos About The Failures Of All His Old Memos