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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.

Defector

Kathryn Xu

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies on September 19, 2023 at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

Nobody’s Buying Blake Snell

A Genshin Impact app by miHoYo Limited logo is seen displayed on a smartphone.

Video Games

How To Win In Gacha Gaming

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner attends the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 27, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Racing

Red Bull Boss Christian Horner Under Investigation For Alleged Misconduct Toward Team Employee

Barry Petchesky

David Roth

Metlife Stadium across the Hackensack River in Secaucus, New Jersey, on June 15, 2023. Activist Bill Sheehan has turned mountains to clean up the river, polluted by industry, ten kilometers (6.2 miles) from Manhattan, even if much remains to be done. "It didn't take me long to realize that the river needed a full-time advocate," he says of the hemmed in by an ultra-dense urban grid. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Soccer

Let Us Discuss What The World Cup Final Means For “New York New Jersey”

Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari, Alfa Romeo Racing Team Principal Frederic Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP look on before the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 14, 2019 in Shanghai, China.

How Exactly Is This Whole Lewis Hamilton And Ferrari Thing Going To Work?

Dillon Dube #29 of the Calgary Flames during a break in play against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Calgary Flames’ Original Excuse For Dillon Dubé’s Absence Now Looks Slimy

Clayton Keller #9 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates with teammate Sean Durzi #50 after a goal scored by Lawson Crouse.

Here’s How To Score On The Power Play Without Taking A Single Shot

A box of Sports Illustrated supplements. White bottles of various sizes. The most visible bottle is Sports Illustrated Nutrition: Collagen + Enzymes

Journalismism

Sports Illustrated As We Know It Appears To Be Dead

Guenther Steiner during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2023.

Guenther Steiner Is Out At Haas, But His Linguistic Genius Is Immortal

Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders makes the save on Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks.

To Watch The Canucks Is To Believe In The Canucks

Philadelphia Flyers pick Cutter Gauthier stands between management during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, including Danny Briere.

The Flyers Dumped Cutter Gauthier Before He Could Dump Them

Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators retrieves a loose puck from Samuel Ersson #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers to score the overtime game winning goal.

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Variance

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Embracing The Dark Heart Of Shohei Ohtani’s Contract

Hand taking food with chopsticks. Eating Hot Pot at restaurant

Chefector

Let’s Explore The Infinite Realm Of Hot Pot

General manager Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners looks on prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

The Mariners Are Making Mariners Moves Again

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers protects himself from Zack MacEwen #17 of the Ottawa Senators during the third period at Canadian Tire Centre on November 27, 2023.

This Is So Stupid

NHL Workbook Quiz No. 23: Panthers Vs. Senators

Charles Leclerc talks to George Russell in the cool down room during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.

In Formula 1, The Only Way To Win Is To Lose To A Red Bull

The San Jose Sharks celebrate with goalie Mackenzie Blackwood in front of a giant banner reading SHARKS WIN.

Oilers Loss Provides Important Data Point For Grand Unified Theory Of Sports

Jason Benetti looks on from the White Sox broadcasting booth.

White Sox Lose The Broadcaster Who Made Their Games Tolerable

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 7: Anthony Duclair #10 of the San Jose Sharks skating with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers at SAP Center on November 7, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Andreea Cardani/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Flyers Ruined Our Stink-Off

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris talk in the cool down room after the Brazil GP.

Lando Norris Is Tantalizingly Close To A Win

Pitching coach Brent Strom meets with Zac Gallen during Game Five of the World Series.

I Hate The Third Time Through The Order!

Lance Lynn reacts after giving up a home run to Gabriel Moreno.

The Dodgers Need A 75-Game Series

Manager Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins relieves Sonny Gray #54 in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the Division Series at Target Field on October 10, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Negating Effects Of First-Half-Inning Run Scoring On Competitive Integrity And Entertainment Fidelity

Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team looks on in the FIA garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar.