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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Tom Ley

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 21: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets throws a no-look alley-oop pass to Aaron Gordon #32 against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Ball Arena on January 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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.

Philadelphia 76ers v Denver Nuggets

How The Hell Is Nikola Jokic Doing This?

Great Perfecting Printing Press

Announcements

Transactions, January 17

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 02: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Denver Nuggets passes the ball to Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Ball Arena on November 2, 2024, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. 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.

Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets

Russell Westbrook Is Enjoying The Nikola Jokic School For Wayward Careers

Consultant Mike Vrabel of the Cleveland Browns smiles on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Pittsburgh Steelers v Cleveland Browns

Mike Vrabel Finds His Landing Spot

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens stiff arms Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football wild card playoff game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens Ran ‘Em Over

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 22: A general view of the DraftKings logo in the outfield during the Major League baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on June 22, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphis, PA.

MLB: JUN 22 Nationals at Phillies

Gambling

DraftKings Determined To See How Much It Can Squeeze Out Of Problem Bettors

BARNET, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Santa Claus, who delivered the match ball waves to the crowd during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at the StoneX Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Barnet, England.

Saracens v Northampton Saints – Gallagher Premiership Rugby

Defector Up All Night

Be Merry In The Christmas Open Thread

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 4: Police officers investigate the scene where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan near a hotel on 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues on December 04, 2024 in New York, United States. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in what authorities are calling a 'brazen, targeted attack' outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The masked gunman, who waited several minutes before ambushing Thompson, fired multiple times, striking him in the back and right calf. Thompson was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Healthcare executive gunned down in New York City in apparent ‘targeted attack’

Politics

What Comes After The Gun?

Coffee

This Is So Stupid

I Lost My Coffee

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

North Carolina Tar Heels Present New Football Coach Bill Belichick

College Football

It’s A Good Time Be One Of Bill Belichick’s Lackeys

31 January 2024, USA, Los Angeles: The Netflix logo can be seen on a building belonging to the video streaming provider. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa

Netflix

Netflix Can’t Even Do Commercials Right

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half at Intuit Dome on December 01, 2024 in Inglewood, 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.

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers

Math Is Catching Up To The Nuggets

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - OCTOBER 19: Brooke Slusser #10 of the San Jose State Spartans serves the ball during the first set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

SJSU v Air Force

Bigots Don’t Know Ball

1940s YOUNG BOY STUDYING IN ROOM WITH ARMY NAVY PENNANTS ON WALL

1940s YOUNG BOY STUDYING…

Journalismism

How To Be Sure You Are Reading Some Dumb Bullshit

Marta #10 of Orlando Pride battles during the NWSL Playoff Semifinals between Orlando City v Kansas City Current at Inter&amp;Co Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando Pride v Kansas City Current – NWSL Playoffs

Soccer

The Pride Feasted On Kansas City’s Fear

Screenshot 2024-11-14 at 11.44.47 AM

Jon Gruden’s Quest To Coach Again Takes A Detour At The Dipshit Factory

An elderly man ensures a clean print onto the paper while another man turns the wheel that operates the machine. Framed prints hang on the wall, others hang up to dry. | Location: indoors. (

Printing by Hand

Would You Like To Be Defector’s Fifth-Ever Editorial Intern?

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium on November 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (

Miami Dolphins v Los Angeles Rams

You Can’t Sell Tua Tagovailoa’s Story

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 21: Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., speaks during day three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

2024 Democratic National Convention

The Cowards Are Already Making Plans

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Defector At The Movies

‘Red Rooms’ Is Too Fucked Up To End

UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC: Torres v Bahamondes

Jeff Bezos Made Someone Else’s Business Decision

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Albert Burneko

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

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Giri Nathan

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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Patrick Redford

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Ray Ratto

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

an old-timey family sitting around the radio

Family Night In

Programming Notes

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cincinnati Bengals v Cleveland Browns

Crying Deshaun Watson Carted Off Field After Non-Contact Leg Injury

Forward Temwa Chawinga #6 of the Kansas City Current dribbles the ball with defender Abby Dahlkemper #13 of Bay FC defending in the second half during a game between Bay FC and the Kansas City Current at PayPal Park on October 12, 2024 in San Jose, California.

Kansas City Current v Bay FC

NWSL

Temwa Chawinga Has Conquered The NWSL