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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

Kathryn Xu

Jose Altuve takes a swing at a pitch over two feet off the plate.

José Altuve Takes Mighty Rip At Pitch That Would Have Knocked A Lefty Batter’s Shoes Off

A racegoer holds an umbrella which is inside out on Grand National Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree Racecourse.

Life's Rich Pageant

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Damp And Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Mexico in action during the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Mexico and the United States.

Even At The World Baseball Classic, The Mariners Cannot Escape Themselves

Maitreyi Anantharaman

College basketball betting odds on the video board at the Westgate SuperBook sports book on November 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gambling

Rigging A College Basketball Game Seems Stressful

Tom Ley

The Indiana Fever down in the second half of the game against The Los Angles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

WNBA

Lamest Members Of Society Claim Responsibility For WNBA Dildo-Throwing Epidemic

A racegoer relaxes on day two of the Grand National Festival horse race meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, north-west England, on April 4, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the dugout in the third inning during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at BayCare Ballpark on March 2, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida.

Bob, That’s The Wrong Bryce!

AI Anthony Davis points a gun at his head

The Mavericks Don’t Want To Talk About Their Creepy AI Video In Which Anthony Davis Points A Gun At His Head

Racegoers fight each other as they scuffle on the second day of the Grand National Festival horse race meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, north-west England, on April 12, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Samer Kalaf

Brock Burke pitches for the Texas Rangers

Rangers’ Brock Burke Disrupts Recent Spate Of Pitcher Elbow Injuries, Breaks His Hand

Race winner Doriane Pin of France and PREMA Racing (28) celebrates on the podium during Round 1 Jeddah race 2 of the F1 Academy at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Racing

Doriane Pin Penalized For Not Realizing Race Was Over, Winning Too Hard

Barry Petchesky

A Marcus Rashford kit that says "Rahford."

Capital

Fanatics Ruined Christmas

A general view of a DraftKings advertisement on top of the Green Monster during the ALS Awareness college baseball game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boston College Eagles on May 19, 2023, at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.

DraftKings Apologizes For Pushing “Never Forget” 9/11 Parlay

Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi's Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.

Dak Prescott Finally Ready To Win Super Bowl After Learning Tactical Breathing Maneuvers From Ex-Navy SEALs

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

Dan McQuade

Jonathan Gannon scratching his head, asking: "Who took the bus?"

Jonathan Gannon’s Gut Might Need A Little More Fire

Still from a police body camera showing Rally Runner at the Jan. 6 riot

Rally Runner Has Fallen

Jarred Kelenic #10 of the Seattle Mariners looks on before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 03, 2023 in San Francisco, California.

Jarred Kelenic Is Really, Really Sorry About Kicking That Water Cooler

Paul Pierce Traps Kevin Garnett In Grim Men’s Livestream

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Mission Re-Accomplished: Shaq Served At Former FTX Arena

Oh No, Shaquille O’Neal Is Still Evading The FTX Lawsuit!

Shaq hams it up for photographers at a Formula 1 event.

Mission Accomplished: Shaquille O’Neal Finally Served With Class-Action Lawsuit Documents

A Surreal, Chum-Choked Plunge Through Ja Morant’s Countersuit Against A Teen Boy

Giri Nathan

Paul Pierce looks at his phone during a Celtics game

The Very Divorced Paul Pierce Has Dating Questions

Laura Wagner

Four tweets from Chargé 'Affaires Karen Decker (@USAmbKabul) As I reflected on his legacy this week, it occurs to me to ask -Who is Afghanistan's MLK? What Afghan person, driven by their faith and a desire for peace, can lead the Afghan people "to the mountaintop?" Are Afghans familiar with #BlackGir|Magic and the movement it inspired? Do Afghan girls need a similar movement? What about Afghan Women? Teach me, ready to learn. #BlackHistoryMonth®® @Beyonce @lizzo @ReginaKing Abe Lincoln born today in 1809. He did some stuff. It's also NAACP Day - home of grassroots activism, inclusive communities and making sure Black voices are heard. What does that look like for Afghans struggling to be heard? #BlackHistoryMonth • @NAACP @LincolnsCottage Super Bowl LVII. 2 elite QBs who happen to be Black made history in epic showdown. Congrats to @Chiefs for thrilling victory! Afghans - what's the most exciting sports match you remember? #BlackHistoryMonth°

SPORTS

CULTURE

OTHER

Sad Whimsy

José Altuve Takes Mighty Rip At Pitch That Would Have Knocked A Lefty Batter’s Shoes Off

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Damp And Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Even At The World Baseball Classic, The Mariners Cannot Escape Themselves

Rigging A College Basketball Game Seems Stressful

Lamest Members Of Society Claim Responsibility For WNBA Dildo-Throwing Epidemic

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Bob, That’s The Wrong Bryce!

The Mavericks Don’t Want To Talk About Their Creepy AI Video In Which Anthony Davis Points A Gun At His Head

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Rangers’ Brock Burke Disrupts Recent Spate Of Pitcher Elbow Injuries, Breaks His Hand

Doriane Pin Penalized For Not Realizing Race Was Over, Winning Too Hard

Fanatics Ruined Christmas

DraftKings Apologizes For Pushing “Never Forget” 9/11 Parlay

Dak Prescott Finally Ready To Win Super Bowl After Learning Tactical Breathing Maneuvers From Ex-Navy SEALs

Jonathan Gannon’s Gut Might Need A Little More Fire

Rally Runner Has Fallen

Jarred Kelenic Is Really, Really Sorry About Kicking That Water Cooler

Paul Pierce Traps Kevin Garnett In Grim Men’s Livestream

Mission Re-Accomplished: Shaq Served At Former FTX Arena

Oh No, Shaquille O’Neal Is Still Evading The FTX Lawsuit!

Mission Accomplished: Shaquille O’Neal Finally Served With Class-Action Lawsuit Documents

A Surreal, Chum-Choked Plunge Through Ja Morant’s Countersuit Against A Teen Boy

The Very Divorced Paul Pierce Has Dating Questions

U.S. Ambassador To Afghanistan Celebrates Black History Month With Deranged Tweets

Stephen Silas May Not Be Getting A Callback