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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

Albert Burneko

A four-square of Brian Windhorst talking, with a little Windy in the middle as well

This Is So Stupid

Allowing For Various Metaphors

Samer Kalaf

Shedeur Sanders is selected at the NFL Draft

Shedeur Sanders’s Weekend Of Humiliation Ends With Him Going To The Browns

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Shannon Sharpe Stepping Away From ESPN Following Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Barry Petchesky

Mark Messier, Namesake And Sole Voter Of Mark Messier Leadership Award Presented By Mark Messier, Knows How To Fix The Rangers: Mark Messier

Kelsey McKinney

Patrick McAfee You Are 37 Years Old

Patrick Redford

ESPN: LeBron James, On ESPN, To ESPN: “ESPN.”

Why Did Adam Schefter Write “Composite Matchups” Like This?

Giri Nathan

Oratorical Uncles Bond Over Increasingly Reactionary Views

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

Dan McQuade

Ray Ratto

Jason Kelce with his past and future selves in a bit from the first episode of his late night show. This skit was pretty good!

Jason Kelce, Who Was Already Everywhere, Is Now In Late Night

During an interview with sportscaster Greg Gumbel (right), American disc jockey (from WLUP radio, 'The Loop') Steve Dahl breaks a disco record over his head prior to hosting an anti-disco promotion at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 1979. The event, held between games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, allowed fans to attend the games for 98 cents along with an unwanted record and, following the detonation of those records, eventually resulted in the White Sox forfeiture of the second game due to unsafe playing conditions when fans stormed the field causing serious damage to the venue and playing surface.

Greg Gumbel Kept It All In Perspective

Year In Review

Presenting The 2024 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

ESPN FC studio reacts to a fart-like noise

ESPN Soccer Show Once Again Derailed By Fart-Like Noise

Justin Ellis

Actor Timothee Chalamet answers questions on a press tour.

SHOCKER: This Handsome Actor Is In Fact A Ball-Knower

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium on November 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (

You Can’t Sell Tua Tagovailoa’s Story

Shams Charania speaks with Mike Miller (L) and Donnie McGrath during the Paolo Banchero All Star Weekend kickoff party

Journalismism

Shams Charania’s Syntactical Talents Are Headed Toward A Bristol-Based Location

Adrian Wojnarowski on ESPN discussing trade proposals for Jerami Grant

What Is The Cost Of A Woj Bomb?

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski looks on at a Lakers game

Adrian Wojnarowski Leaves The Scoopster Life For A Job With His Alma Mater

LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 16: Fans check in at the ESPN Bet members lounge to receive Callaway golf balls on the 13th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images)

Gambling

Penn’s ESPN Bet Scheme Looks Increasingly Grim

Luis Paez-Pumar

Presentation by two secretaries of the typing robot at the exhibition 'Happiness in the office', in Paris, France, on October 13, 1960.

The Machines

ESPN Masks Cynical AI Pivot As Benevolent Coverage Of “Underserved” Sports

‘ESPN Bet’ Is A Black Hole

Bigots Need Their Useful Idiots

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 04: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is interviewed before Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Landmark TV Deal Shows What Matters

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Bronny James is drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Much Ado About A Worthless Pick In An Awful Draft

JJ Redick looks on before the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers on March 2, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

After All That, The Lakers Hire LeBron’s Podcast Co-Host

NBA reporters Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania

ESPN