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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

Lauren Theisen

Johnny Gaudreau And His Brother Matthew Have Died

Israel Daramola

Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under The Influence

Arts And Culture

Gena Rowlands Played Pathetic Better Than Anyone

Ray Ratto

(Original Caption) Lakers' Jerry West (C) is guarded closely by Celtics' Bill Russell (L) as he goes in for a layup, 3rd period, 1st game of championship playoffs of the NBA, Boston Garden (4/18). Celtics' Willie Naulls is on the right. Celtics won the game, 142-110.

Jerry West Never Left His Game

Organized Noize members, Raymond Murray (L), Rico Wade (C), and Sleepy Brown (R)

Rico Wade And Organized Noize Were The Architects Of Southern Rap

O.J. Simpson leaves the courtroom during a trial in Las Vegas in September 2008. Simpson was later convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping.

O.J. Simpson Was Always More Than Polarizing

Luis Paez-Pumar

Pro Wrestling

Bray Wyatt Was Wrestling’s Most Irrepressible Star

Patrick Redford

VILLARS-SUR-OLLON, SWITZERLAND - MAY 01: Gino Mader of Switzerland and Team Bahrain Victorious celebrates the second place on the podium after the 75th Tour De Romandie 2022 - Stage 5 on May 1, 2022 in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images,)

Cycling

Gino Mäder Had Too Much More To Give


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

Quick, Everyone Play Dead!

Albert Burneko

An NYC subway car with an MTA badge by the door

Capital

Jordan Neely Just Needed Some Help

Dave McKenna

Music

And This Byrd Can Sing: David Crosby, 1941-2023

A view of RFK stadium during a football game

Elder Wisdom

A Dead Fan’s Notes

Pittsburgh Steelers' running back Franco Harris is mobed by fans at Three Rivers Stadium after scoring the winning touchdown, nicknamed the "Immaculate Reception," during the American Football Conference (AFC) semi-final game against Oakland. Harris made the touchdown, one of the most famous single plays in the history of professional American football, on a tipped pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw to Frenchy Fuqua to Harris for the score in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh.

They Don’t Make Fame Like Franco Harris’s Anymore

Samer Kalaf

Grant Wahl holds a microphone while covering an international friendly.

Soccer

Grant Wahl Dies In Qatar After Collapsing During World Cup Match

Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders Ray Guy (8) in action, punt vs Philadelphia Eagles.

Ray Guy Was The Last King Of Hang Time

EAST BERNARD, TEXAS - AUGUST 28: The East Bernard Brahmas walk to the locker room before the high school football game against the Edna Cowboys on August 28, 2020 in East Bernard, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Aqib Talib’s Brother Turns Self In After Fatal Shooting At Youth Football Game

The Game Bent Around Vin Scully’s Voice

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 13: the Los Angeles Dodgers the San Francisco Giants on September 2, 2009 at Dodger Stadiium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Vin Scully Knew When The Best Words Were No Words

Bill Russell at the Celtics arena in 2016

Bill Russell Was The Most Important

Every Animal On The Wikipedia Page For “Apparent Death,” Ranked By How Dead They Appear

during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 2: A New Era at Mississippi Coast Coliseum on August 25, 2018 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The Fights

Do We Really Need Bare Knuckle Boxing?

Giri Nathan

Farewell To A Man’s Prose

Melvin Van Peebles speaking at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in 2008.

Defector At The Movies

Film Lost Melvin Van Peebles Just When It Needed Him Most

Barry Petchesky

ASPEN - FEBRUARY 28: Norm MacDonald performs during the US Comedy Arts Festival at the historic Wheeler Opera House February 28, 2003 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Brands/Getty Images)

Things We Actually Like

Norm Macdonald Surprised Us One Last Time


<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Brock_toon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ian Williams</a> is a writer and PhD student studying relationships between craft and mass production at UNC-Chapel Hill. He also writes about labor, games, and pro wrestling.</p>


Ian Williams

Daffney in a match also featuring Miss Elizabeth somehow.

Daffney Revealed The Heart Of Wrestling’s Unquiet Storm

MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 4: Drummer Charlie Watts Perform at the opening night of the European leg of The Rolling Stones Forty Licks Tour at the Olimpiahalle Spiridon on June 4, 2003 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Getty Images)