defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

let-drew-cook-final

tip jar sweepstakes

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - NOVEMBER 8: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after a made basket during the first half against the Houston Rockets at Paycom Center on November 8, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.

Houston Rockets v Oklahoma City Thunder

The NBA Is Turning Into One Big Hospital Ward

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The image is blurry in an artful way.

Cincinnati Bengals v Baltimore Ravens

America Needs More Ravens/Bengals Football

Stephen Curry (right) and Steve Kerr (left) high-five during an April 26, 2023 Warriors game against the Sacramento Kings.

Golden State Warriors v Sacramento Kings – Game Five

The Warriors Are Still Doing It The Warriors Way

Goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck (left, in a helmet) and Eric Comrie (right, arms flung up as if to give a big hug) of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate following a 7-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning v Winnipeg Jets

Might As Well Believe In The Winnipeg Jets

Head coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a foul call during the first half against the Phoenix Suns on November 4, 2024.

Philadelphia 76ers v Phoenix Suns

The Eastern Conference Is 87 Percent Butt

Head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders yells during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season.

Las Vegas Raiders v Cincinnati Bengals

Raiders Fire Three Coaches For Lack Of Anything Else To Do

Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodges runs in from the bullpen at Dodger Stadium during Game 2 of the 2024 World Series.

World Series – New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers – Game Two

There Was No Relief From, Or For, The Dodgers Bullpen In This World Series

Gleyber Torres of the Yankees celebrates his eighth-inning homer in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series while rounding the baes at Yankee Stadium.

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees – Game 4

A World Series Of Unexpected Heroes Just Minted A Few More

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy speaks to media at a press conference after the game against the Detroit Lions on October 13, 2024. He is wearing a plaid Cowboys hat and looks exhausted.

Detroit Lions v Dallas Cowboys

Mike McCarthy Is Still Sitting In The Hottest Seat In Sports

Freddie Freeman points his bat at the sky in the foreground while various Dodgers fans watch his game-winning grand slam home run and freak out in the background. This was from Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, at Dodgers Stadium.

World Series – New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers – Game One

That’s How You Start A World Series

IMG_6025-800

Albert Burneko

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

IMG_5859

Giri Nathan

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

headshot1

Patrick Redford

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

A circa-1900 black-and-white photo of basketball players receiving dance lessons from a lady in a flapper hat and dress.

nba dance lessons

A Preview Of The 2024-25 NBA Season, Accurately Enumerating Everything That Will Happen In It

A black and white photo of people around a craps table gambling in Las Vegas in 1963

Las Vegas, Craps Gambling Table In 1963

Risk Week

If You Must Gamble, Gamble In Person, Like An Adult

Manager Dave Roberts celebrates with bench coach Danny Lehmann, right, as the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the New York Mets 10-5 to win game 6 of a National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the New York Mets 10-5 to win game 6 of a National League Championship Series.

History Is For The Dead And The Boring

CHIMCHIME, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - 2024/10/13: (EDITORS NOTE: Image taken with drone) In this aerial view, the domed roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is seen ripped to shreds from Hurricane Miltonís powerful winds in St. Petersburg. The storm passed through the area on October 10, 2024, making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Siesta Key, Florida. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

(EDITORS NOTE: Image taken with drone) In this aerial view,

Where Should The Rays Play?

Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his home run sail out to right field in Game 3 of the NLCS in New York.

Championship Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Mets – Game 3

The Dodgers Are More Than Advertised

Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis (L) and Tom Brady attend Game One of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals between the Aces and the New York Liberty. Brady looks kind of gaunt and pointy; Davis looks like Mark Davis.

2023 WNBA Finals – Game One

As Owner Or Broadcaster, All Tom Brady Has To Do Is Show Up

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looks on, and kind of like a very rich/mean version of Yoda, before a game against the Baltimore Ravens in September of 2024.

Baltimore Ravens v Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones Doesn’t Appreciate Your Tone

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryan Brasier (57) hands the ball to manager Dave Roberts as he is taken out of the game one of the National League Division Series game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 5, 2024.

MLB: OCT 05 NLDS Padres at Dodgers

It Takes A Village To Pitch A Shutout

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres screams triumphantly in the outfield at the end of his team's Game 3 win in the National League Divisional Series on October 8, 2024.

Division Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v. San Diego Padres – Game Three

The Padres Keep Getting Louder

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty shoots a layup against Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces in the fourth quarter of Game Four of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 06, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Liberty defeated the Aces 76-62 to win the series three games to one. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

New York Liberty v Las Vegas Aces – Game Four

WNBA

The Liberty Get To Talk The Crap Now

Jurickson Profar #10 of the San Diego Padres makes a jumping catch into the crowd to rob a home run during game two of the National League Divisional Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 6, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

Division Series – San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 2

Jurickson Profar Got In Dodgers Fans’ Heads

Kirk Cousins ns celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins Had The Kirk Cousins Of Football Games On Thursday Night

Head coach Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars adjusts his headset prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills. He looks pretty goofy, and the JAMBORAY badge is imposed over the Jags logo on his shirt.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Buffalo Bills

Jamboroo

A Bet You’ll Always Lose

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs

Pete Rose, All-American

Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold?! Uh, Yeah. Sam Darnold.