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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

David Roth

Closeup view of butter roll. It's a stock photo.

Podcasts

The State Of The Website And The Two Types Of Butter

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

Chilling Tales Of A Haunted And Constipated Global Traveler

Paul Schrader attends the "Oh, Canada" press conference ahead of the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2024 in Cannes, France.

Staying On Paul Schrader’s Good Side, With Stephen Rodrick

The Dream Of The Future Is Alive In That Musky Dorm Room

Caitlin Clark disputing a call during her first WNBA game, a loss to the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 14, 2024,

When The Planes Become Available, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

You Can’t Take Just Anyone To Your Secret Sexy Mushroom Collection

A black-and-white 1970 photograph of Hall & Oates looking out the window of an apartment building, taken by Michael Ochs. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Marriage Lore And A Song About Pissing

Is Nana Drunk And Running A Dice Game?

Josh McRoberts of the Miami Heat attacks the hoop in a game agains the Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland in December of 2016.

Josh McRoberts Reconsidered, With Rohan Nadkarni

Justin Ellis

Chutes, Ladders, And Dagger Hours

Drake Maye wears "Draft Me" sunglasses during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Data, Romance, And The NFL Draft, With Alec Lewis

The Taming Of The Xanadu

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on April 9, 2024. I put the little Distraction logo at upper right so it looks like he's glowering at it.

We’re All Lifelong Nuggets Fans Here, With Patrick Redford

The Passion Of The Familiar Stranger

Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers pitches in a game against the Yankees in May of 2010. The facial hair is outrageous.

Make Gambling Embarrassing Again, With Justin Halpern

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in an uncharacteristically undistinguished and unflattering way against the San Francisco Giants. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Subtraction By Subtraction, With Ray Ratto

Austin Powers's XK8 Union Jack Jaguar convertible at the New York premiere of "Austin Powers in Goldmember" with The Distraction logo at upper right.

Junior Year Abroad: The Return

N'Faly Dante of the Oregon Ducks celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats at Matthew Knight Arena on January 14, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon.

In Search Of The Vibes Team, With Ken Pomeroy

Art, Commerce, And Frankly Irresponsible Apple Consumption, With Kathryn Xu

o-founder of Subway, Fred DeLuca poses for a portrait in February 1991 in Toronto Canada.

Truth In Sandwich Advertising, With Rohan Nadkarni

A guest wears new Apple Vision Pro outside Bora Aksu during London Fashion Week February 2024 on February 16, 2024 in London, England.

The Future Doesn’t Work, With Ed Zitron

A man skiing fresh powder in Alta, Utah. You might assume from context that the man skiing is Drew Magary, but it is not.

A Bloody Footprint By The Toilet

Chris "Mad Dog" Russo looking smug or sleepy, depending on your perspective, on radio row in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl.

Looter Capitalism, Loser Capitalists, And Mad Dog Russo Mindset

Travis Kelce faces the media during Super Bowl Media Days in the lead up to Super Bowl LVIII. It's pretty dramatically lit for something happening at a Westin in Henderson, Nevada.

Big Ideas And Big Novelty Slot Machines At The Super Bowl, With Matthew Coller

Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.