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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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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

First responders wearing Hazmat gear investigate a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of the entrance to the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas on Jan. 01, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Margin Of Error

How Crazy Was The Las Vegas Cybertruck Bomber?

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


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Nicholas Russell

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Arts And Culture

‘Nosferatu’ Keeps You Waiting And Waiting

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<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is set to be released on May 13th, 2025 by Levine Querido. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 22: Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal (93) recovers a fumble and celebrates with teammates in action during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on December 22, 2024 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.

NFL: DEC 22 Lions at Bears

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Go For It

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and JD Vance attend the Army-Navy football game on December 14, 2024.

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Elon Musk Takes What He Can Get

<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

Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk during the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBO World Heavyweight championship contest at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury – Kingdom Arena – Riyadh

Boxing

Someone Got Inside Tyson Fury’s Head For A Change

<p>Julie Kliegman is a writer and editor in Queens, New York. They wrote <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538168066/Mind-Game-An-Inside-Look-at-the-Mental-Health-Playbook-of-Elite-Athletes"><em>Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes</em></a> and are at work on a biography of Renée Richards. Their work has also appeared in outlets including <em>The New York Times</em>,<em> Sports Illustrated</em>, <em>The Washington Post</em>, Bookforum, Slate, The Ringer, <em>Texas Monthly</em>, Vulture, BuzzFeed News, and The Verge.</p>


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Julie Kliegman

a female golfer floats in space, looking down on a giant moon-like golf ball

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Golf

Hailey Davidson Loves Golf, And Golf Wants To Get Rid Of Her

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Alan Kluegel

Denzel Washington looking incredibly sinister and cool in Gladiator II.

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Defector At The Movies

II Decadent II Decrepit: The Politics Of ‘Gladiator II’