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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

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Tom Ley

A woman wearing Save Girls Sport hat records a video of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the girls long jump at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School on May 24, 2025 in Moorpark, California.

CIF Southern Section Masters Meet

Youth Sports

It’s A Great Time To Be A Pathetic Loser

Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.

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Maya Goldberg-Safir

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History

How The Japanese-American Basketball Leagues Built Natalie Nakase

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Patrick Redford

Striking Touchstone route setters demonstrate in front of a California climbing gym.

routesetter union

Climbing

There’s No Climbing Without Route Setters, And They’re On Strike

Vince Mancini is a culture writer and old school blogger whose work has appeared in GQ, The Ringer, Uproxx, and more. He writes <a href="https://vincemancini.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://vincemancini.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739555630062000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0e3B6TjurbpZyGcyNkVTcQ">The #Content Report</a> on Substack and podcasts about prestige TV on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/frotcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.patreon.com/c/frotcast&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1739555630062000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0xjEhxjt84GGvFCgoW4S0E">Pod Yourself</a>.

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Vince Mancini

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Capital

‘Pistachio Wars’ Tells The Story Of California’s Terraforming

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Typing

Sabrina Imbler

a small brown shrew called the Mount Lyell shrew in a natural environment

Lyell Shrew on Natural Background

Creaturefector

Much Ado About Shrew

Steve Ballmer speaks onstage at the Intuit Dome opening night event held at Intuit Dome on August 15, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Intuit Dome Opening Night – Press Conference

Clippers Fans, And Only Clippers Fans, Can Now Buy Alcohol At 3:17 In The Morning In California

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Ray Ratto

Steve Garvey, in the foreground, at his induction into the Legends of Dodgers Baseball inaugural class back in September of 2018. He's got sunglasses on and is clapping.

San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers

Politics

Nobody Wants Senator Steve Garvey

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Laura Wagner

Democrats Hold Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee

Sad: Steph And Ayesha Curry Are NIMBYs

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 13: Detail view of a DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement during the first period of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on October 13, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Nashville Predators

Gambling

Where Betting Failed

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Aubrey Huff sells weird supplements on YouTube.

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Aubrey Huff’s Chapped Buttcheeks Karate-Kicked Off In School Board Election

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a campaign event with US President Joe Biden at Long Beach City Collage in Long Beach, California on September 13, 2021. - US President Joe Biden kicked off a visit to scorched western states Monday to hammer home his case on climate change and big public investments, as well as to campaign in California's recall election. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

Well That Was A Big Waste Of Time

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Kelsey McKinney

Edited in Prisma app with Mononoke

Zillowing Out

A $4 Million Home Some Rich People Ruined With Their Bad Taste

The walnuts an hour or so after being quartered.

some walnuts

Chefector

How To Make Nocino, The Black Potion That Is Summer’s Ode To Winter

johncoxbear-sens

Senators Week

Failed Senate Candidate Visits Sacramento With Bear

A $650,000 Home In Lake Tahoe That Will Put A Curse On You And Everyone You Love

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The Fights

Tito Ortiz’s Term As City Council Member Is Off To A Comical Start

Tito gives an interview on the campaign trail.

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Tito Ortiz, Former UFC Champ And Total Kook, Now Holds Public Office

App-based drivers from Uber and Lyft protest in a caravan in front of City Hall in Los Angeles on October 22, 2020 where elected leaders hold a conference urging voters to reject on the November 3 election, Proposition 22, that would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors and not employees or agents. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

California