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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

New Defector Merch For Your Baby

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Merch v3

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David Roth

The shape of the sea: waves crashing

Podcasts

Dispatches From The Gulf Of Pain, With David Grann

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

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Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

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Welcome To The Chair Saga

A Mariachi Band performs on Cinco De Mayo as writers on strike march with signs on the picket line on day four of the strike by the Writers Guild of America in front of Netflix in Hollywood, California.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-STRIKE

A Symphony Of Solidarity Honks, With Adam Conover

What’s A Guy Gotta Do To Make A Friend Around Here?

Malik Monk prepares to push the button that illuminates the beam after Sacramento's win against Golden State in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

The Beam Shines For All, With Patrick Redford

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Kelsey McKinney

Time To Process Our Michael Phelps Trauma!

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud during his session at the NFL Combine in March of 2023.

NFL Combine

Positively Covered In Belichick Dander, With Rivers McCown

When Does Gossip Become A Myth?

Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins and teammate Linus Ullmark #35 share a hug after Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Florida Panthers v Boston Bruins – Game One

Please Like Her Sports, With Lauren Theisen

It’s Good To Laugh So Hard You Weep

Luka Doncic smiling, kind of, for the camera before an early April Mavericks game against the Bulls in which he did not play.

Chicago Bulls v Dallas Mavericks

Scuffing Up The Gossip, With Kelsey McKinney

Please Be Careful Who You Are Texting

A photo of a bunch of people hooting and partying at the MTV Spring Break event in Cancun in 2014.

mtvU Spring Break 2014 – Day 2

Drinking Schnapps On Spring Break

Salt, Fat, Acid, Gossip! Normal Gossip Is Back!

Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell shrugs after hitting a big shot in the Wildcats' Elite Eight game at Madison Square Garden.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – East Regional

Live From The Game Of Somebody’s Life, With Dan McQuade

Dillon Brooks smiling on the floor during a Grizzlies game against the Philadelphia 76ers in February of 2023.

Memphis Grizzlies v Philadelphia 76ers

The Man Who Loved Dillon Brooks, With Rohan Nadkarni

Purdue center Zach Edey scowls at and squeezes a basketball during the Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State.

Penn State v Purdue

Season Of The Oaf, With Ken Pomeroy

Shohei Ohtani looking swole as hell during Samurai Japan's training before the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with The Distraction logo at upper left.

Japan Training Session

My Fabulous Vacation Home On Naboo, With Michael Schur

David Spade on the set of his 2019 late-night series on Comedy Central.

Comedy Central’s “Lights Out With David Spade,” New Late-Night Series Premieres Monday, July 29 At 11:30 P.M. ET/PT., July 29, 2019

Arts And Culture

It’s Hollywood’s Biggest Night And All The Stars Are Out, With Vince Mancini

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

An illustration of several people, each one passing some juicy gossip on to the next one.

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All The Gossip About Normal Gossip’s New Partner

Mac McClung is congratulated by a bunch of much more high-profile NBA players after winning the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend in Utah.

2023 NBA All-Star – AT&T Slam Dunk Contest

Mac McClung And The Soft Bigotry Of Low Expectations, With Israel Daramola

Patrick Mahomes about to complete a pass while leading his team to (spoiler alert) a win in Super Bowl 57.

Super Bowl LVII – Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles

The Boston Scott Prop Bet And Windows That Don’t Exist

A store window display in Philadelphia displays Eagles merchandise in the run-up to the Super Bowl.

Excitement Grows In Philadelphia As Eagles Head To The Super Bowl

Super Bowl Days And Baywatch Nights, With Dan McQuade

Patrick Beverley and LeBron James look upset during a Los Angeles Lakers game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Defector logo is in the corner.

Los Angeles Lakers v Portland Trail Blazers

New Frontiers In Loser Shit, With Patrick Redford

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts leaves the field after his team demolished the New York Giants in the NFL Divisional Round.

NFC Divisional Playoffs – New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles Butt-Push Maneuver And Mike McCarthy’s Anti-Comedy, With Kalyn Kahler