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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.

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Defector

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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

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the first quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.

Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder – Game Seven

Can The NBA Still Produce Interesting Coaches?

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Soraya Roberts

Benny (Benito Skinner), Carmen (Wally Baram), Holmes in OVERCOMPENSATING

Overcompensating – First Look

Arts And Culture

‘Overcompensating’ Is Not A Joke

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Donald Trump holds up a printed article from "American Thinker" while accusing South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa of state-sanctioned violence against white farmers in South Africa during a press availability in the Oval Office at the White House on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Margin Of Error

What Do You Do About A Declining President?

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


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Nicholas Russell

MITomCruise

‘Mission: Impossible’ Must Finally Reckon With Tom Cruise’s Ego

Robert Pastore

A protester waves a "Black Lives Matter" flag across the street during a demonstration at Elmira Correctional Facility

A protester waves a “Black Lives Matter” flag across the

Politics

The Earned Time Act Would Bring Freedom To Those Who Need It

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Dan Sinykin

County Libraries Book Auto, Cincinnati & Hamilton Ohio

Close Reading Is For Everyone

Amos Barshad

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 20, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain.

Tottenham Hotspur Training Session And Press Conference – UEFA Europa League Final 2025

Soccer

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s Lovably Embattled Idealist, Stands On The Brink Of Redemption

<p>Abigail Segel is a writer based in Montreal.</p>


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Abigail Segel

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman is seen on the field before a match between Bay FC and Angel City FC in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Bay FC v Angel City FC

NWSL

Jessica Berman Makes Her Priorities Clear

<p>Emily Bice is a Brooklyn-based writer. Her work centers on explorations of how we navigate love and life in the 21st century. These investigations have taken her to a fishmonger, inspired meditations on dating, and even led to rollerblading a marathon. You can find more on her Substack, <a href="https://129waysto.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://129waysto.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728739707762000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1SlDWyDATtJJ90_yxFN0B1">129 Ways to Get a Life</a>.</p>


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Emily Bice

a woman bowls into a time travel-like vortex

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Life Lessons

Ten Frames Of Time Travel

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.</p>


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Owen Lewis

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo with his trophy alongside his team following victory against Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Men's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2025 at Foro Italico on May 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy.

Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2025 – Day Fourteen

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Keeps Smiling At Jannik Sinner’s Expense

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Robert Rubsam

Havoc

Netflix Keeps Ruining Action Movies

<p>Violet Lucca is the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/david-cronenberg-clinical-trials-violet-lucca/21170132"><i>David Cronenberg: Clinical Trials</i></a>. Her writing has appeared in the <em>New York Times</em>, <em>Art in America</em>, <em>Sight and Sound</em>, the <em>Village Voice</em>, and elsewhere. She was the VP of Digital at <em>Harper’s Magazine</em> and Digital Producer at <em>Film Comment</em>, and was the host of their respective podcasts.</p>


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Violet Lucca

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Defector At The Movies

‘The Shrouds’ Is David Cronenberg’s Typically Prescient Epitaph For Our Present And His Career

FRIENDSHIP_01

‘Friendship’ Can’t Sustain The Relationship

<p>Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.</p>


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Maya Goldberg-Safir

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History

How The Japanese-American Basketball Leagues Built Natalie Nakase

LAVAL, CANADA - JANUARY 29: Catherine Dubois #28 of the Montreal Victoire skates during the second period against the Ottawa Charge at Place Bell on January 29, 2025 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Victoire defeated the Ottawa Charge 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Ottawa Charge v Montreal Victoire

PWHL

It Took Two Years And Four Overtimes For The Victoire To Live Up To Their Name In The Playoffs

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Veronica de Souza

Drawing of an Interior: Atelier, 1857. Artist Anon. (Photo by Heritage Images via Getty Images)

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Make It Nice

Make It Nice: Bringing Order To Chaos

New York City police arrested dozens of Pro-Palestinian protesters on Columbia University on Wednesday evening after they took over part of a central library in New York, USA on May 7, 2025.

Columbia Gaza protest arrests May 7

Teachable Moment

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Rafaela Bassili

Nicolas Cage on a beach holding a surfboard.

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‘The Surfer’ Mostly Sputters And Flails


<p>Jasper Hutson is a lapsed journalist.</p>


Jasper Hutson

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Fitness

Any “Halfway Decent Person” Can Join And Own Ireland’s Oldest Gym

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Ben Goldfarb

A bulldozer moves a pile of dirt, which features two hoofs sticking out of the top

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Capital

An Abundance Of Concrete

Author Photo_Stratis_Credit Alysha Haugen

Niko Stratis

Jakob Dylan, in 1997, singing in front of a microphone. He has short curly hair, maybe has a little beard, and he's in a long sleeve collared button-front shirt. He's playing guitar. In the corner there's an image of a book cover: The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman, by Niko Stratis

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Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Got To Be Something Better Than In The Middle

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Kate Wagner

Zuck-House

Mark Zuckerberg Still Can’t Buy Taste

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Jack Hanson

Curzio-Malaparte

The Perfect Fascist

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Music

Tunde Adebimpe’s Solo Debut Channels The Gift Of The Mixtape

President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton attend the White House State Dinner for the President of Ukraine on November 22, 1994 in Washington, D.C.

bill and hillary clinton

The Era Of Meek Government Is Over