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Defector

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

We’ve Arrived At The “Nitpicking The Officiating” Portion Of The Finals

Ben Dowsett is a freelance technology and sports nerd based in Utah. His other recent work can be found at Wired, ESPN and elsewhere.

Ben Dowsett

An illustration of a referee's shirt with an absurd number of military-style medals pinned to it

One Of The NBA’s Most Important Jobs May Be Headed Toward A Crisis

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

Diana Moskovitz

Down judge Robin DeLorenzo #134 during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.

Female Ref Sues NFL For Discrimination, Says She Was Told To “Shut Your Fucking Mouth” By Another Official

Ray Ratto

Bill Kennedy explaining, to the NBC cameras, that a play was called correctly. He is making "the Bill Kennedy face."

Everybody Loves Bill Kennedy

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: Jameson Williams #1 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Williams is hugging the goal post after scoring a touchdown. He's in his white and silver and blue Lions jersey and he's pretty high up on the goalpost, above the NFL "Salute to Service" logo and he's clearly very excited.

The NFL Needs To Cool It With The Celebration Penalties

Ja'Marr Chase faces Jalen Ramsey after spitting on him.

Ja’Marr Chase Thought He Got Away With Spitting On Jalen Ramsey

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty defends against Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx d2q in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Target Center on October 18, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

WNBA

The Lynx And Liberty Are Getting Too Close For Comfort

Giri Nathan

US' Coco Gauff speaks with an official after a call goes against her while playing Croatia's Donna Vekic during their women's singles third round tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on July 30, 2024.

Olympics

Coco Gauff’s Olympic Singles Run Ends With An Umpire Argument And Tears

Patrick Redford

Handball referees Marcus Helbig (l) and Lars Geipel show the new blue cards in Leipzig, Germany, 1 August 2016. The two will be refereeing at the Olympic games for the second time. PHOTO: JAN WOITAS/DPA | usage worldwide (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Soccer

Soccer’s Rulemakers Are Rolling Out Blue Cards

Referee Eric Lewis #42 looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Semi Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBA Referee Eric Lewis Abruptly Retires Before Twitter Burner Drama Can Be Resolved

<a href="https://twitter.com/kenpomeroy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ken</a> has been cranking out college basketball statistics at <a href="http://kenpom.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kenpom.com</a> since 2004. He’s written at The Athletic, Slate, the late ESPN The Magazine, and the late Basketball Prospectus. He hopes to live long enough to see the men&#8217;s game start using quarters, like every other basketball league in the world.

Ken Pomeroy

Michigan defender Will Tschetter draws a charge against Minnesota guard Ta'lon Cooper in a Big Ten game in Ann Arbor, Mi.

College Basketball

College Basketball’s New Anti-Flopping Rules Seem To Be Working

Lauren Theisen

Blake Coleman kicks the puck past Mike Smith for a non-goal

I Never Want To Hear The Phrase “Distinct Kicking Motion” Ever Again So Help Me God

USA's Alexandra Carpenter (C) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against Finland during their women's preliminary round group A match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition, at the Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing on February 3, 2022.

International Hockey Referees Continue To Struggle With The Concept Of A Goal

The NFL’s Explanation Of That Raiders-Bengals Whistle Doesn’t Make Any Sense

The Crackdown On Unnatural Motions Is Working

Jrue Holiday goes the other way following a Chris Paul turnover.

Basketball Saved The Finals From The Refs

Some Suspect Officiating Led To The Fall Of Troy

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 03: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz is escorted off the court after being ejected during overtime against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)