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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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Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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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

Washington Senators

Frank Howard Was The Only Senator Who Mattered

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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

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

wakefield

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)

Baltimore Orioles

Third Base, Heading For Home

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Barry Petchesky

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

Dock Of Artists’ in Monaco on February 14, 2001.

Arts And Culture

Fernando Botero Was Larger Than Life

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Luis Paez-Pumar

BrayWyatt

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>


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Hesse Deni

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

Montreal Canadiens v Buffalo Sabres

Rick Jeanneret’s Voice Gave Buffalo Hope

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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)

Photo of BAND

Music

The Last Of The Band

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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.

La Lecon De Cinema: William Friedkin – Photocall –  The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival

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

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Albert Burneko

peewee

Paul Reubens Did Everything Funny

Sinead O'Connor singing at a recent UFC fight

UFC 189: Mendes v McGregor

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)

FIA World Rally Championship Croatia – Day One

Life Lessons

It’s Continually Alarming That Choices Matter

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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,)

75th Tour De Romandie 2022 – Stage 5

Cycling

Gino Mäder Had Too Much More To Give

Giuliani Receives Major Endorsement In Washington

Politics

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


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


DFM New Headshot

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

Jim Brown’s Legacies

Tina Turner

Tina Turner Did Nothing Nice And Easy


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

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

tedsilary.com

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.

New York Knicks Willis Reed, 1970 NBA Finals

Willis Reed Met The Moment


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


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

Hedgehog adult sitting amongst autumn leaves and Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria

Hedgehog and toadstool

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)

GettyImages-112372821

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.

2010 Essence Music Festival – Day 2

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

Actress Angie Dickinson watching her husband composer

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

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David Roth

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

Photo of Tom VERLAINE and TELEVISION

Tom Verlaine, Out And Back

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

Bobby Hull Skidding to Stop on the Ice

Bobby Hull Was Not Complicated

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Journalismism

Gwen Knapp Paid Attention To The Things That Matter

David Crosby And Graham Nash Perform In Amsterdam

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

Obits