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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

A screenshot of an ESPN broadcast, featuring a live win probability graphic displaying a 35-percent Dodgers win probability, and Chris Taylor making a beaver face.

ESPN’s Win Probability Graphic Wants To Give You Gambling Brain

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers.

Chicago White Sox Make Opening Day History (Derogatory)

Shohei Ohtani #17 and Will Ireton of the Los Angeles Dodgers are seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani’s Presser Reveals The Gaps In Translation

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Gives Two Different Stories

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox looks on during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch on February 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Dylan Ceases Toiling For The White Sox

J.D. Davis #7 of the San Francisco Giants singles in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies.

The Giants Used A Loophole To Screw Over J.D. Davis

Race winner Doriane Pin of France and PREMA Racing (28) celebrates on the podium during Round 1 Jeddah race 2 of the F1 Academy at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Racing

Doriane Pin Penalized For Not Realizing Race Was Over, Winning Too Hard

Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner looks on in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

At Jeddah, Nobody Wins

TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Matt Moore #55 of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona.

How To Watch Spring Training Baseball

Screenshot of the opening screen of the video game Balatro.

Video Games

It Is, In Fact, Preferable To Suck Real Bad At A Game Like ‘Balatro’

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.

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.

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.