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Defector

David Roth

Andre Braugher in a black and white portrait taken in 2015.

Arts And Culture

The Good Guy

Tom Ley

Henry Kissinger looking like a little goblin while watching a Yankees fan

Yankees Honor Least Evil Fan

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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

College Basketball

The Life Of That Unhappy Bobby Knight Is Brought To An End

Dave McKenna

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1966: First Baseman Frank Howard #9 of the Washington Senators bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1966 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Howard played for the Senators from 1965-71. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Frank Howard

Frank Howard Was The Only Senator Who Mattered

Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox throws a knuckleball, in profile

Tim Wakefield Was A Wizard For The Working Day

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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

BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1970's: Third baseman Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles in action sets to make a throw during a circa 1970's Major League Baseball game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Third Base, Heading For Home

Barry Petchesky

MONACO - FEBRUARY 14: Fernando Botero in Monaco on February 14, 2001 (Photo by Alain BENAINOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Fernando Botero Was Larger Than Life

Luis Paez-Pumar

Pro Wrestling

Bray Wyatt Was Wrestling’s Most Irrepressible Star

<p>Hesse Deni is a podcaster and screenwriter from Buffalo, New York currently living in Manhattan. Her podcast is called <em>Seeking Derangement</em>s and is available on all major platforms.</p>


Hesse Deni

Veteran broadcasters Harry Neale (left) and Rick Jeanneret (right) of the Buffalo Sabres get ready for their game

Rick Jeanneret’s Voice Gave Buffalo Hope

Ray Ratto

UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 03: ROYAL ALBERT HALL Photo of BAND, L-R: Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm (playing guitar), Rick Danko, Richard Manuel (on drums), Garth Hudson - performing live onstage (Photo by Mick Gold/Redferns)

Music

The Last Of The Band

Israel Daramola

William Friedkin attends the La Lecon De Cinema photocall during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2016 in Cannes, France.

In An Era Of Gnarly Filmmakers, William Friedkin Aimed To Be The Gnarliest

Albert Burneko

Paul Reubens Did Everything Funny

Sinead O'Connor singing at a recent UFC fight

Sinead O’Connor Was A Rebel With A Cause

Felix Kent

ZAGREB, CROATIA - MARCH 20: A sign in tribute to Craig Breen of Ireland and Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team who succumbed to injuries sustained in a testing crash last week during Day One of the FIA World Rally Championship Croatia on March 20, 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

Life Lessons

It’s Continually Alarming That Choices Matter

Patrick Redford

VILLARS-SUR-OLLON, SWITZERLAND - MAY 01: Gino Mader of Switzerland and Team Bahrain Victorious celebrates the second place on the podium after the 75th Tour De Romandie 2022 - Stage 5 on May 1, 2022 in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images,)

Cycling

Gino Mäder Had Too Much More To Give

Politics

Pat Robertson, Anti-Gaming Crusader And Horse Racing Enthusiast, Is Dead


<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 black and white photo of a young Jim Brown, when he played for the Cleveland Browns. It shows Brown sitting on a bench, with fans off in the blurry distance.

Jim Brown’s Legacies

Tina Turner Did Nothing Nice And Easy

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


Dan McQuade

Ted Silary.com, with a very 1990s design.

High School Sports

Ted Silary Gave A Voice To High School Athletes

Willis Reed in action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1970 NBA Finals.

Willis Reed Met The Moment


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Hedgehog adult sitting amongst autumn leaves and Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria

Creaturefector

Thorvald, World’s Oldest European Hedgehog, Was Killed By Dog At Age 16

Richard Belzer during 55th Annual Writers Guild of America East Awards - Arrivals at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Richard Belzer Was An Old Crank To The End

NEW ORLEANS - JULY 03: Musician David Jude Jolicoeur better known as Trugoy of De La Soul performs at the 2010 Essence Music Festival at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

We Are All Indebted To Trugoy The Dove Of De La Soul

Burt Bacharach, The Genius Who Got Punks To Admit Elevator Music Was Cool, Is Dead

Photo of Tom Verlaine performing with Television during the 1970s.