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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

Defector's 2025 Tip Jar Sweepstakes: Join Chris and Kelsey in the Great Blogger Bake Shop

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Tip jar sweepstakes

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Defector Staff

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Defector Reads A Book

The Blog Of The South

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Giri Nathan

Charles Portis Can Make You Love A Loser

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Brandy Jensen

Defector Reads A Book Is Deciding If This Is The Funniest Novel Ever Written

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.</p>


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Owen Lewis

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Interviews

Lucas Schaefer Understands The Brutality, Absurdity, And Transcendence Of Boxing

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Giri Nathan DISHES On Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz In This EXCLUSIVE Interview

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Tom Ley

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Defector Reads A Book: The Art of Fielding

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The Art Of Reading

(Original Caption) St. Louis: Los Angeles Dodgers' Steve Sax is forced to make a leaping throw over sliding St. Louis Cardinals' Gene Tenace to allow David Green to beat the ball to first in the fourth inning. Green hit to Dodgers' Bill Russell to force out Tenace at second. The Dodgers defeated the Cards 11-3.

Steve Sax Throwing Ball

‘The Art Of Fielding’ Knows What’s Scary About Baseball

Bill Veeck holds up a sign to the crowd so they can manage the baseball game

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Bills Week

Bill Veeck’s Goofy, Gag-Filled Baseball Book Was Ahead Of Its Time

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Defector Reads A Baseball Book

Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever talks to the media during a press conference before the match-up against the Brazil National Team, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 4, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Brazil National Team v Indiana Fever

WNBA

Christine Brennan’s Caitlin Clark Book Is More About Gripes Than Greatness

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Soraya Roberts

Hanif Kureishi attends the press night after party for "The Buddha Of Suburbia" at the Barbican Centre on October 29, 2024 in London, England.

“The Buddha Of Suburbia” – Press Night – After Party

Hanif Kureishi Writes Himself Anew In ‘Shattered’

In the shadows, c.1920. Private Collection. Creator: Cucuel, Edward (1875-1954).

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Arts And Culture

Books We Think You Should Read This Summer

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Patrick Redford

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David Roth

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Kathryn Xu

Cyclists in a race are in the background. There is a house or wall on the left side of the road. There is a man in front, looking at the peloton, squatting halfway with his arms spread just past his knees. Next to him in the center of the road is a bicycle laid across the ground.

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Tim Krabbe’s ‘The Rider’ Won Us Over By Losing