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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

Podcasts

Dispatches From The Gulf Of Pain, With David Grann

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

My Fabulous Vacation Home On Naboo, With Michael Schur

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

Arts And Culture

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

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.