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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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2025 gift subs

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Ray Ratto

Brooklyn Nets v Denver Nuggets

There’s Only One Solution To Bad Refereeing

Oakland Athletics team president Dave Kaval waving his team's flag during the 2020 playoffs.

The Oakland Athletics Take Trolling Back Twenty Years

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - MAY 23: Connor McDavid #97 and Jesse Puljujarvi #13 of the Edmonton Oilers react after the Jets tied up Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on May 23, 2021 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Winnipeg Jets – Game Three

New Disappointments, Same Old Oilers

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores the game winning three point basket against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the closing minute of an NBA Tournament Play-In game at Staples Center on May 19, 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)

Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers – Play-In Tournament

What If We Just Did Six More Of That?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 18: Spencer Turnbull #56 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with his teammates after a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 18, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Tigers beat the Mariners 5-0. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers v Seattle Mariners

Maybe It’s Time To Stick An Asterisk On No-Hitters Against The Mariners

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his game winning goal in overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.The Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins v Washington Capitals – Game Two

Give Me Multiple Overtimes Or Don’t Even Bother

Chicago White Sox v Minnesota Twins

Astudillo Versus Mercedes Was A Battle Of Brains And Brawn

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts as he drives between LeBron James #23 and Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 115-113 Warriors win on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Staples Center on January 18, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA Should Beware Of Getting What It Wanted From The Play-In Games

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

Alex Rodriguez Finds Another Way To One-Up Derek Jeter

Washington Capitals v New York Rangers

Wilson Versus Marchand Is The First Course These Stanley Cup Playoffs Deserve

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: A general view of RingCentral Coliseum during the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum on April 04, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics

The A’s Are Playing The Same Tired Old Dirge

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 02: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels walks to the dugout after striking out against the Seattle Mariners ninth inning at T-Mobile Park on May 02, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels v Seattle Mariners

Albert Pujols In Sun And Shade

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Senators Week

Clark Griffith Was Too Cheap To Integrate Baseball

Mike Reilly #5 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Canadian Tire Centre on April 7, 2021 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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The Ottawa Senators Have Even Failed At Truly Sucking

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 16: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates defeating the Los Angeles Rams 32-18 in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field on January 16, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Divisional Round – Los Angeles Rams v Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers May Not Have A Choice

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces Gregory Rousseau being selected 30th by the Buffalo Bills during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

2021 NFL Draft

Try As It Might, The Draft Is Still A Dog Of An Evening

Arizona Diamondbacks v Atlanta Braves

Baseball’s Stupid New Rules Turned A Potential No-Hitter Into A Maddening Paradox

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Jake McGee #17 and Curt Casali #2 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate beating the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park on April 22, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Miami Marlins v San Francisco Giants

Curt Casali Is Catching Some History

Fans Respond To News Of Football Super League

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The Super League Protests Showed American Fans What’s Worth Getting Mad About

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on prior to a game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on March 17, 2021 in Houston, Texas. 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 Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets

How The MVP Race Works

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José Mourinho Leaves Spurs As A Hero And A Villain, Just As It Should Be

An anti-European Super League banner is pictured outside the Emirates Stadium, home of English Premier League football club Arsenal, in north London on April 19, 2021. - Twelve of Europe's biggest clubs on Monday said they planned to launch a breakaway Super League, despite the threat of an international ban for them and their players. "AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as founding clubs," said a statement by the group. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

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To Hell With The American Model

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Mitch Moreland #18 of the Oakland Athletics is mobbed by teammates after hitting into a fielding error to score teammate Matt Olson #28 and win the game against the Detroit Tigers in the bottom of the ninth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on April 18, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers v Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A’s Are Not Oakland Ass And So I Am Forced To Eat Shit

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JANUARY 09: Cardboard cutouts are seen in a general view as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Washington Football Team during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff Round at FedExField on January 09, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. No fans were permitted due to health concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Wild Card Round – Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Washington Football Team

Let’s Dissect The List Of Potential New WFT Names

Dallas Mavericks v Detroit Pistons

The NBA’s Play-In Tournament Is A Fun Idea, Until You Actually Have To Play In It