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Defector

Giri Nathan

Fans cool off in misters during Day Three of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Tennis

A Sweltering U.S. Open Inspires Many Ways To Stay Cool, Most Of Them Useless

Ray Ratto

Bocce is played near the ferry building, Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in San Francisco, Calif.

Life's Rich Pageant

A Bocce Loser’s Guide To Losing At Bocce

Jannik Sinner of Italy shakes hands with Frances Tiafoe of the United States after beating him in the final of the Cincinnati Open

Frances Tiafoe Samples The Air At The Top Of The Tour

<div dir="auto">
<div dir="auto">Corbin Smith is a writer and photographer from Vancouver, Washington. His work has appeared in Deadspin, The Daily Beast, and <em>Rolling Stone</em>. He is also the host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pacific-northwest-insurance-corporation-moviefilm/id1712416222"><em>The Pacific Northwest Insurance Corporation Moviefilm Podcast,</em></a> a podcast about movies.</div>
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Corbin Smith

People riding bikes around in a very small loop at the Ladd's 500 relay in Portland, Oregon.

The Beauty And Boredom Of 500 Laps Around The Same .148-Mile Loop


<p>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</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A photo of the baseball field and the scoreboard at Meji Jingu Baseball Stadium stadium in Tokyo. The night sky is a dark blue and, despite the rain, the outfield seats still hold a good number of fans. There's also a runner on second base.

The Key To Having Fun At A Baseball Game Is Flying To The Other Side Of The World

Rafael Nadal is playing against Alexander Zverev in the first round of the men's singles at the Roland Garros French Open tennis tournament in Paris, France, on May 27, 2024.

There Are No Tidy Endings In Rafael Nadal’s Clay Temple

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

UConn center Donovan Clingan celebrates during the team's Elite Eight win in Boston during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

College Basketball

UConn Is Exhaustingly, Relentlessly Great

Patrick Redford

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Luca Nardi of Italy is congratulated by Novak Djokovic of Serbia after their match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 11, 2024 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Defector Tennis Bureau Indian Wells Dispatch Day 1: Novak Djokovic Put To The Sword By Italian Hotshot

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Jordan Poole scratches his head during the loss.

The Wizards Leave You Nothing To Root For But The Other Guys

Kelsey McKinney

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Alex Sujong Laughlin and Kelsey McKinney standing beside Flat Margaret.

Podcasts

Kelsey And Alex’s Big Adventure: Notes From Normal Gossip On The Road

Fans take in some Wimbledon matches at Murray Mound.

The Wimbledon Experience Is Diligence, Dampness, And Cream

I Could Stare At The Roland Garros Clay All Day

Baseball Was Never The Problem

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 26: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during Round 1 Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Draymond Green And The Warriors Taught Sacramento A Painful Lesson

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: Davion Mitchell #15 of the Sacramento Kings is congratulated by teammates after they beat the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 17, 2023 in Sacramento, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

It Took Everyone To Put Steph Curry Somewhere He’s Never Been Before

De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings lights the beam after defeating the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at the Golden 1 Center on April 15, 2023 in Sacramento, California. 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 Loren Elliott/Getty Images)

Sacramento Worships Beneath The First Playoff Beam

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Mike Brown, head coach of the Sacramento Kings, looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center on November 13, 2022 in Sacramento, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)