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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

Barry Petchesky

(Original Caption) Chicago Black Hawk Bobby Hull skids to a stop on the ice.

Bobby Hull Was Not Complicated

Ray Ratto

Journalismism

Gwen Knapp Paid Attention To The Things That Matter

Dave McKenna

Music

And This Byrd Can Sing: David Crosby, 1941-2023

A view of RFK stadium during a football game

Elder Wisdom

A Dead Fan’s Notes

Soccer

To Think Of Soccer Is To Think Of Pelé

Soraya Roberts

Anne Heche at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Defector At The Movies

Anne Heche For Me Is Anne Heche In ‘Walking And Talking’

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 13: the Los Angeles Dodgers the San Francisco Giants on September 2, 2009 at Dodger Stadiium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Vin Scully Knew When The Best Words Were No Words

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


Dan McQuade

Arts And Culture

Claes Oldenburg Gave Me A Place To Meet

David Roth

Roger Angell at the 2009 New Yorker Festival.

See What You Find

Tom Ley

Ray Liotta Saved ‘Field Of Dreams’ From Itself

<div class="author-header-content">
<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>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

The Coach Who Made Fencing Fun

A photo of John Clayton. He is sitting in a TV studio, wearing a suit, and smiling.

John Clayton Loved Football More Than You Did

Pro Wrestling

Scott Hall Knew The Value Of Losing

ATLANTA - FEBRUARY 8: Singer 'Meatloaf' performs at the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest during the 2003 NBA All Star weekend at Philips Arena on February 8, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

If It Weren’t For Meat Loaf, I Might Not Be Here

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Women's Basketball

Lucy Harris Couldn’t Be Forgotten


<p>Chip Chantry is a television writer and stand up comedian. He has written for <em>Crazy Talk, </em>a comedy/talk series for NBC Universal and the syndicated series <em>Whacked Out Sports</em>. He most recently wrote on the NatGeo series <em>Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things. </em>In 2012, he released his first live comedy album, ACROSS FROM THE ADONIS. His second album, SWINGERS PARTY, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts in March 2019.</p>


Chip Chantry

&lt;&gt; on March 15, 2010 in Hollywood, California.

I Was Bob Saget’s Underwear Guy

John Madden and Pat Summerall in the booth during a CBS Sports NFL broadcast.

Every Sport Could Use A John Madden

John Madden Invited Us In

Kelsey McKinney

Politics

Harry Reid Was A True Believer

John Madden points to the sky after lighting a flame in the honor of Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis during halftime of their game against the Cleveland Browns at O.co Coliseum on October 16, 2011 in Oakland, California.

Only John Madden Could Have Lived John Madden’s Life

A graveyard near a steelmill in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Life's Rich Pageant

Can Andy Corren Do My Obit When The Time Comes?

Virgil Abloh in a silly hat, sunglasses, Hartford Whalers jersey, and bright blue painters pants

Virgil Abloh Made Clothing Special For Me

Giri Nathan

Farewell To A Man’s Prose

Israel Daramola

Melvin Van Peebles speaking at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in 2008.

Film Lost Melvin Van Peebles Just When It Needed Him Most

ASPEN - FEBRUARY 28: Norm MacDonald performs during the US Comedy Arts Festival at the historic Wheeler Opera House February 28, 2003 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Brands/Getty Images)