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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

Anonymous

Politics

I’m A Paramedic. Nothing Prepared Me For What I’ve Seen During The Pandemic

Lauren Theisen

Nate Schmidt #88 of the Vancouver Canucks reaches for the puck

Now More Than Ever, We Need Hockey Guys Being Dudes

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Doc Rivers speaks to players during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center on January 09, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The NBA Season Is Well Into The Shit

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

The writer, Dan McQuade, receiving his coronavirus vaccine.

Life Lessons

I Got The COVID-19 Vaccine, Then I Tried To Figure Out Why

Ray Ratto

So Much For The Feel-Good Browns

Defector Staff

Year In Review

How We Coped With Quarantine In 2020

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A referee signals "touchdown" behind a Jets player whose conflicted expression is inscrutable.

To The Screeching Horror Of Jets And Browns Fans, Jets Beat Browns

Tom Ley

James Harden Says He Was Not Maskless At A Strip Club, But At A Private Party For A Discreet Luxury Concierge Agency

Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins wears his mask improperly, like a real goof.

Washington’s Quarterback Situation Keeps Getting Dumber

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 18: A general view inside TD Garden during the preseason game between the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets on December 18, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The NBA Is Back, At All Costs

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma at a December 17 game against UConn

Death To The NCAA

The Hottest Phrase In COVID-Era Sports Is An Abundance Of Nonsense

Samer Kalaf

An aerial view shows The Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

College Football

College Football Playoff Moves Rose Bowl For The Greediest Reason

Leland Nally is a writer living in Los Angeles.

Leland Nally

A collage of children's letters to Santa.

What I Learned From Reading Over A Thousand Letters To Santa

Pizza The Hutt from the movie Spaceballs.

Hibernating For One Year Has Turned Me Into A Toxic Blob

Even The Ads For College Football Are Stupider This Year

Patrick Redford

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 14: Keyontae Johnson #11 of the Florida Gators dribbles the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second round of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 14, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

College Basketball

What’s Known About Florida Basketball Player Keyontae Johnson’s On-Court Collapse

David Roth

Dez Bryant warming up before a Ravens game, in less complicated times.

Podcasts

Talking About Shame, Plague, And Texas Football, With Kelsey McKinney

The NFL Could Only Get Away With This For So Long

Giri Nathan

Maybe  James Harden Will Continue Partying Until He’s Off The Houston Rockets

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Kendall Hinton #2 of the Denver Broncos looks to pass during the third quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at Empower Field At Mile High on November 29, 2020

Football Is Doing Its Best To Turn A Pandemic Disaster Into A Hall-Of-Fame Moment

Zach Wheeler pitches in a grey Phillies uniform (red cap) in the 2020 season

The Phillies Are Reportedly Looking To Get Worse

Kelsey McKinney

A general view of signage at Lumen Field on November 19, 2020 in Seattle, Washington.

Every NFL Team Now Has Placed A Player On The COVID-19 List

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 02: A fan displays a sign during the third quarter of a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 02, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

When The Football Is Meaningless, What’s Left?

In this still image from video provided by the NFL, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. (NFL via AP)