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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 July 15

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Live Event

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Ray Ratto

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

2025 NBA Finals – Game Seven

“Deserve” Has Nothing To Do With It

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

2025 NBA Finals – Game Six

The Finals Have Given Us Everything But An Ending

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

San Francisco Giants’ President Buster Posey talks to the media before Giants play San Diego Padres during MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants play San Diego Padres During MLB Game At Oracle Park In San Francisco

Buster Posey Made The Big Deal Giants Fans Have Been Waiting For

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Four

Oilers-Panthers Isn’t A Rivalry, It’s A Saga

New York Knicks owner James Dolan attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

The Whole NBA Is Telling James Dolan To Piss Off

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Albert Burneko

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Tom Ley

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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Patrick Redford

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David Roth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

shai vs pacers

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

Miguel Andujar of the Athletics reacts at a called strike against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

Philadelphia Phillies v Athletics

The Athletics Have Hopped Back Into The Dumpster

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a pass against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers – Game Four

They Can’t All Be Thrillers

Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up against the Dallas Stars in Game Four

Dallas Stars v Edmonton Oilers – Game Four

Oh God, Stuart Skinner Controls The Oilers’ Destiny

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 22 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Eastern Conference Final Panthers at Hurricanes

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025.

NHL: MAY 09 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Maple Leafs at Panthers

Paul Maurice And The Panthers Do Not Care If You’re Having Fun

Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on May 22, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Milwaukee Brewers v Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Avoid Historic Humiliation, Suffer Regular Kind Instead

Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 21, 2025.

Edmonton Oilers v Dallas Stars – Game One

Three Goals, Six Minutes, No Response

Rich Hill #44 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the seventh inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 29, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox

It’s Time To Start The “Rich Hill Is BACK” Countdown

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers fights with Shayne Gostisbehere #4 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 20, 2025.

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

For The Panthers And Thunder, The Worse The Better

TORONTO, ON - May 18: The Toronto Maple Leafs skate off the ice after game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 18, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 18 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Panthers at Maple Leafs

Seven Is The Leafs’ Unlucky Number


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Sabrina Imbler

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Kelsey McKinney


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

The two Eurovision hosts are surrounded by dancers holding giant fondue sticks.

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Music

Can You Do Racism Against Italians? A Eurovision Roundtable

Group shot of the 1919 White Sox. They would after this year be known as the "Black Sox Scandal" team, due to the allegation that eight members of the team accepted bribes to lose the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.

Group Shot of 1919 White Sox

Baseball Frees Its Gambling Ghosts

Tyrese Haliburton greets fans after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.

Indiana Pacers v Cleveland Cavaliers – Game Five

No One Ever Sees The Pacers Coming

Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort, left, during batting practice before the opening day game against the Athletics at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Colorado Rockies vs The Athletics

The Colorado Rockies Can’t Even Lose Right

A passer-by looks on as worker hangs papal bunting over the entrance to the Holy Name Cathedral after Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago, had been named as first American leader of the Catholic Church. She's wearing a White Sox hat.

The U.S. Reacts To First American Pope In History

Which Accursed Chicago Baseball Fan Base Will Get To Claim Pope Leo XIV?

Cardinal Robert Prevost, newly elected as Pope Leo XIV is seen on the Saint Peter's Basilica balcony, at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican on April 8, 2025.

Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected As Pope Leo XIV

Life's Rich Pageant

Well, They Made A Cubs Fan The Pope [UPDATE]

Mikal Bridges celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.

New York Knicks v Boston Celtics – Game One

The Knicks And Maple Leafs Are Refusing To Stick To The Script

Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on October 21, 2017.