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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

Ray Ratto

ESPN Boldly Asks: What If These Two Generational Athletes Were Just Average Athletes?

Lauren Theisen

Screenshot of Seton Hall game with scoreboard covering 25 percent of the screen

Media Meltdowns

Scorebug Inflation Must Be Stopped

Laura Wagner

Seriously, What The Fuck Is Wrong With Adam Schefter?

Barry Petchesky

attends the Annual Charity Day Hosted By Cantor Fitzgerald And BGC at the Cantor Fitzgerald Office on September 11, 2013 in New York, United States.

Journalismism

Adam Schefter Is Pathetic And ESPN Is Gutless

Giri Nathan

Why Did Adam Schefter Say “Clean Sweep” Like This?

Patrick Redford

Steele dishing her takes on Jay Cutler's podcast.

Sage Steele Stumbles On Path To Lucrative Self-Cancellation


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Fans mob the field after Stanford upset Oregon. the quality of the still is not very good.

College Football

No One, Especially ABC Viewers, Could Clearly See Stanford’s Upset Win Coming

Tom Ley

Adam Schefter Gives Up On Journalism

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<div>Casey Taylor is a writer living and working in Pittsburgh. He is currently writing a book for St. Martin&#8217;s Press about cannabis religions, Haile Selassie I, and the Cold War in the Caribbean. He also writes a free newsletter called <a href="https://weedchurch.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weedchurch.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709306863919000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mVH2xiID6S0zvlyj6yHco">Weed Church</a> covering foolish spiritual things that occur to him. His work has appeared in The New Republic, WIRED, New York Magazine, and a sports blog he can’t currently recall the name of. You can <a href="mailto:caseyt7@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> him if you’d like.</div>
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Casey Taylor

High School Sports

Bishop Sycamore’s Capital Crime Was Not Being Good Enough At Football

ESPN Bungles Makeup Call For Previous Bungling

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


Chris Thompson

Live basketball action, and a masked man.

No One Needs To See The Face

A view as a detective examines fingerprints in the Finger Department at Scotland Yard in London, England. Circa 1950. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Defector Has Concluded Its Investigation Of A Fart-Like Noise On A Basketball Podcast

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA - JULY 10: NFL athlete Aaron Rodgers looks on from the first hole during round two of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe South golf course on July 10, 2020 in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

This Isn’t Helpful, Schefty

David Roth

Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani high-five at the MLB All-Star Game's Home Run Derby

ESPN Has Found The Absolute Worst Way To Talk About The Absolute Coolest Stuff

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 11: ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith during Game Three of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on July 11, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

This Is What Happens When ESPN Only Has One Pundit

Samer Kalaf

ESPN sports broadcaster, Rachel Nichols at American Airlines Center on February 06, 2021 in Dallas, Texas.

The Current Version Of Deadspin Can’t Even Eat Shit Correctly

Senators Week

ESPN’s Marvel-Themed NBA Game Was The Sweatiest, Most Painfully Shoehorned Crossover Event By Any Sports Media Company This Week

Wow: I Can’t Wait To Watch A Broadcast Crossover Event Between The NBA And This Beloved Action Film Franchise

Life's Rich Pageant

Paul Pierce Loses ESPN Gig After Broadcasting Grim Men’s Evening

ESPN Details How Billionaire’s Son Overcame Family’s Wealth And Connections To Become NFL Head Coach

Pedro Gomez, Without Pretense

Funbag

Dan Le Batard Was One Of The Last Good Things At ESPN

DAVIE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey of the Miami Dolphins looks on during training camp at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southern University on August 18, 2020 in Davie, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Chan Gailey, Fired By A Fake Adam Schefter, Quits

ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, with some tweets of his with really long links superimposed over it

Why Do Adam Schefter’s Links Look So Weird?

A trader walks past a screen during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 17, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City. - Wall Street stocks rallied Tuesday on expectations for massive federal stimulus to address the economic hit from the coronavirus, partially recovering some of their losses from the prior session. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP) (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

ESPN