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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

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

Dave McKenna

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

Israel Daramola

Music

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

Ray Ratto

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.

Arts And Culture

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

David Roth

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

Tom Verlaine, Out And Back

Barry Petchesky

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

Bobby Hull Was Not Complicated

Journalismism

Gwen Knapp Paid Attention To The Things That Matter

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

Claes Oldenburg Gave Me A Place To Meet

Roger Angell at the 2009 New Yorker Festival.

See What You Find

Tom Ley

Ray Liotta Saved ‘Field Of Dreams’ From Itself

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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>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
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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.