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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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Defector

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

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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

Olga Kharlan of Ukraine celebrates as she wins bronze medal after competing against Choi Se-bin (not seen) of South Korea in the Fencing Women's Foil Individual on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais in Paris, France on July 29, 2024.

Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Fencing

Olympics

Olga Kharlan Came All The Way Back In Paris

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Billy Haisley

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (M) in action against goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin (r) of Ukraine.

Euro 2024: Ukraine – Belgium

Soccer

It Sucks How Much Belgium Sucks

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Nicolae Stanciu of Romania scores his team's first goal past Andriy Lunin of Ukraine during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Romania and Ukraine at Munich Football Arena on June 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany.

Romania v Ukraine: Group E – UEFA EURO 2024

These Are The Bangers Fox Is Hiding From You

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Chris Thompson

Max Shulga of Utah State stands at the free-throw line.

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College Basketball

Colorado State Apologizes For Fans Chanting “Russia” At Ukrainian Opponent

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Giri Nathan

An umpire requests that a fan wearing a Ukraine flag at a match between Russian players remove the flag.

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Tennis

Fan With Ukrainian Flag Booted From Cincinnati Open Match Between Russian Players

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Patrick Redford

CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 05: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Ukraine applauds the fans after their sides defeat during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier between Wales and Ukraine at Cardiff City Stadium on June 05, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Wales v Ukraine – FIFA World Cup Qualifier

It Doesn’t Get Much More Heartbreaking Than That

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Laura Wagner

The All England Tennis Club during Wimbledon 2021.

Day Thirteen: The Championships – Wimbledon 2021

What Message Is Wimbledon’s Ban On Russian Players Really Sending?


<p>Luisa Rollenhagen is a German-Argentinian freelance journalist based in Berlin. She&#8217;s written for publications such as <em>The Guardian</em>, BuzzFeed News, Deutsche Welle, and <em>GQ</em>. </p>


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Luisa Rollenhagen

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MARCH 25: Ukrainian refugees queue at Immigration and Border Control, after arriving from Moldova at Frankfurt Airport on March 25, 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany. Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, has taken in over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. Germany is providing assistance to ease the burden. (Photo by Ronald Wittek - Pool/Getty Images)

Germany Receives Ukrainian Refugees From Moldova

Politics

Who Is The “Right” Kind Of Refugee?

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Tom Ley

FBL-ENG-PR-RUSSIA-UKRAINE-SANCTIONS

Chelsea Belongs To The U.K. Now

Media Meltdowns

Crisis Averted: Bill Walton Fails To Complete Random Thought About Russian Invasion During Basketball Broadcast

Abramovich watches during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2015 in London, England.

Chelsea v Sunderland – Premier League

Premier League Ponders Separating Good Billionaires And Bad Billionaires

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Albert Burneko

NASCAR's Richard Childress holding a tomahawk ribeye like a big dumbass

NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300

Life's Rich Pageant

Retired NASCAR Bozo: Behold, It Is I, The Angel Of Death

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Ben Tippett

TOPSHOT-UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT

The International Community Worked Hard To Make Putin’s Illegal War Permissible

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 10: Sergei Karjakin is seen playing the first round at the First Move Ceremony during the World Chess Tournament on March 10, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for World Chess)

World Chess Tournament 2018 – First Move Ceremony

Chess

Chess Has A Russia Problem

Liverpool fans show a Ukrainian flag to indicate peace and sympathy with Ukraine prior to the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 27, 2022 in London, England

Chelsea v Liverpool – Carabao Cup Final

European Soccer United In Support Of Ukraine This Weekend

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David Roth

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, seen here deep in thought.

Senate Armed Services Examines Defense Authorization Request

College Football

Don’t Worry, Tommy Tuberville Can Explain This Whole Russia Thing To You

Jack Crosbie

Activists Hold A Pro-Ukraine Rally Outside The United Nations

The Ukraine Crisis Continues To Make People Go Insane

Netherlands' defender Denzel Dumfries (R) celebrates after scoring the third goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group C football match between the Netherlands and Ukraine at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on June 13, 2021.

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You Don’t Always Have To Be Good In Order To Be Great

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