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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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

10-minute-quarters-3-2-fix (1)

Live Event

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Ray Ratto

Mike Baumann #53 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during the game against the Chicago White Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 12, 2024 in Seattle.

Chicago White Sox v Seattle Mariners

Mike Baumann Is The MLB Trade Deadline’s Holy Vagabond

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 28: Victor Robles #10 of the Seattle Mariners scores during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox on July 28, 2024 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.

MLB: JUL 28 Mariners at White Sox

Why Are The White Sox Like This?

Sideline reporter Pam Oliver interviews head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans at halftime against the San Francisco 49ers at Nissan Stadium on December 23, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.

San Francisco 49ers v Tennessee Titans

The Scourge Of In-Game Coach Interviews Spreads To The NFL

Kyler Murray #1 and Hjalte Froholdt #72 of the Arizona Cardinals walk onto the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.

Arizona Cardinals v Chicago Bears

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Arizona Cardinals

Owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots reacts before Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefsat Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Super Bowl LVIII – San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: New England Patriots

Ellie the Elephant Mascot of the New York Liberty arrives to the arena before the Kia Skills Challenge and Starry 3 point contest on July 19, 2024.

2024 WNBA All Star – Skills Challenge & 3-Point Contest

WNBA

A Mascot Skeptic Warns Of What Comes After Ellie The Elephant

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks out on the stage during day 1 of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2024 at Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI. (Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NFL: APR 25 2024 Draft

The 18-Game NFL Season Already Feels Inevitable

Plate of chicken wing bones

Wings Week

Wings Are What You Order When You’re Out Of Self-Respect

A closeup view of the Detroit Red Wings logo during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 16, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout.

Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Canadiens

All Hail The Winged Wheel Of Detroit

Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after striking out against the Minnesota Twins on July 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Minnesota Twins v Chicago White Sox – Game Two

The White Sox Can Be Eliminated On August 9, And Other All-Star Break Truths

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 11: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 11, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Pirates v Milwaukee Brewers

Save Paul Skenes’s Arm, For The All-Star Game

Gregg Berhalter Head Coach of the United States during the National Anthem before the CONMEBOL Copa America group C match between the United States and Uruguay at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

United States v Uruguay – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

Soccer

U.S. Soccer Is Happy To Make You Wait

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as he and Britain's Meghan (unseen), Duchess of Sussex, visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

NIGERIA-BRITAIN-ROYALS-INVICTUS-GAMES

Arts And Culture

Don’t Look Now, But The British Tabloids Have Discovered The ESPY Awards

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 02: A general view of signage promoting the 2024 MLB All Star Game is shown outside the ballpark before the game bw at Globe Life Field on July 02, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

San Diego Padres v Texas Rangers

Seven Ideas, Ranging From Sensible To Terrible, For Fixing The MLB All-Star Game

Uruguay v Brazil – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024

Sometimes Ugly Gets The Job Done

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 02: Lebron James watches as the Los Angeles Lakers introduce 2024 NBA draft picks Dalton Knecht and Bronny James at UCLA Health Training Center on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / For The Times)

Lakers Draft Press Conference

Roster Flexibility Is A Flexible Term

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 1: United States Head Coach Gregg Berhalter walks across the field at the end of the CONMEBOL Copa America group C match between the United States and Uruguay at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 1: during the CONMEBOL Copa America group C match between the United States and Uruguay at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

U.S. Soccer Is Damned If It Does

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 16: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 Play-In Tournament on April 16, 2024 at Golden 1 Center 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

2024 SoFi Play-In Tournament – Golden State Warriors v Sacramento Kings

Klay Thompson Left It All In Oakland

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice raises the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: JUN 24 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Paul Maurice Is A Gem

TEMPE, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: The Arizona Coyotes mascot, "Howler" holds up a sign reading "thank you fans" following the NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers at Mullett Arena on April 17, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. Tonight's game likely marks the end of 28 years for the franchise, playing in the NHL's smallest arena, with an anticipated move to Utah with the team's expected sale to the NBA's Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Arizona Coyotes

Go Ahead And Start Shoveling Dirt On Alex Meruelo’s Coyotes

, FLORIDA - JUNE 18: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates between teammates Aleksander Barkov #16 and Gustav Forsling #42 of the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 18, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Five

It’s Connor McDavid’s Playoffs

Willie Mays walking across the outfield at the Polo Grounds as a member of the San Francisco Giants during a 1962 game against the New York Mets.

Willie Mays Walking Across Field Inside Stadium

Willie Mays Was Baseball

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics exults near the Larry O'Brien Trophy after his team's win in the decisive Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

2024 NBA Finals – Boston Celtics v Dallas Mavericks

The Boston Celtics Are Champions, Among Other Things

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after getting hit by a pitch during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on June 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Kansas City Royals v Los Angeles Dodgers

There Is No Replacing Mookie Betts

Jude Bellingham of England celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Serbia and England at Arena AufSchalke on June 16, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.