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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

Tom Ley

FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest Sean Charles Dunn, after he allegedly assaulted law enforcement with a sandwich, along the U Street corridor during a federal law enforcement deployment to the nation's capital on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement to Washington, DC in an effort to curb crime.

Life's Rich Pageant

If The Sub Didn’t Split, You Must Acquit

Giri Nathan

A circle around the mark Jaylen Brown left on OG Anunoby's jersey during a game

Jaylen Brown’s Really Leaving His Mark On Opponents

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

Dan McQuade

Rick Mathews holding a sign that says "ALL" on a children's coaster to say he has all of them.

The Journey Of All 1,091 U.S. Roller Coasters Ends With A Toot Around The Track

Dave McKenna

Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin leaving the first presidential debate on The Tonight Show, at Virgin Media Television Studios in Dublin. Picture date: Monday September 29, 2025.

Politics

Small-Time Political Scandals Still Have Consequences In Island Nation Called Ireland

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Charles Omenihu #90 of the Kansas City Chiefs grabs the face mask of Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

A Thorough And Depressing Review Of The Raiders’ Three First Downs

Samer Kalaf

Two little Yorkies, one owned by Isabelle Harrison and one owned by Dan Campbell.

This Is So Stupid

Sports Yorkie Showdown: Whose Pup Is Punier?

Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON - September 17 Head Coach Craig Berube chats to the media.

The Maple Leafs Can’t Seem To Get Out Of The First Round Against Punctuation

Samer Kalaf in a Hell Gate hat at the Mets game

TNT Sports Airs Guerrilla Marketing For Worker-Owned Website That Isn’t Defector

Three images, stills from a baby race on a basketball court at a Las Vegas Aces WNBA game. The first one is the baby, clad in pink, crawling. The second is the baby taking her first steps! The third is the baby hugging her mom as she reaches the finish line walking. The crowd is going wild the whole time.

WNBA

Baby Racer Stunts On Competitors By Standing Up And Walking

Kathryn Xu

New York Yankees Left Fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) steals second base with Los Angeles Angels Shortstop Zach Neto (9) catching the throw.

Will The Yankees Ever Score Another Run? No

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

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum on April 10, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Ja Morant Is Doing A New Thing, And That Thing Is Grenade

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his walkoff walk as Julio Rodríguez #44 jumps on home plate.

The Mariners Find Catharsis In A Walk-Off Walk

Mitch Voit pretending to snort a line of cocaine

Defector Up All Night

Michigan Baseball Player Sorry For Doing The Cocaine Thing

A little girl completes a jigsaw puzzle delivered to her by Santa Claus, 24th December 1938.

Life Lessons

It’s Puzzling Time

Patrick Redford

Mounted police officers remove the riot gear from their police horse outside the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, site of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

They Defunded The Ponies

ESPN FC studio reacts to a fart-like noise

Media Meltdowns

ESPN Soccer Show Once Again Derailed By Fart-Like Noise

A statue of Dwyane Wade outside the Miami Heat's arena

That Isn’t Dwyane Wade, Sir

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a giant red-eyed tree frog sculpture at the rainforest cafe

Who Lives At The Rainforest Cafe?

Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after the game-winning hit to defeat the New York Mets.

Nick Castellanos Answers The Mets’ Whimsy

Phil Banks refusing to answer questions about Eric Adams's indictment.

Embattled Deputy Mayor Does Not Know Ball

Ray Ratto

Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman argues with umpire Laz Diaz from the dugout, while manager John Schneider stands in front of him.

Please Rise And Remove Your Caps For Kevin Gausman’s Argument With The Umpire

A 3D model of Jake Cave among his teammates is contorted beyond human bounds.

MLB’s Gameday 3D Feature Turns A Walk-Off Win Into A Devil’s Dance

Kelsey McKinney

This Is NOT A Damn Bell!!

Rachel is a writer, performer and improv instructor from Boston, Massachusetts. She has written for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Reductress, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. She thinks the sports horror novel she is working on could be her <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1325514-max-landis" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1325514-max-landis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1718077591839000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0XT84xOkGfzjDGoFo6dhG7">Bright</a>.

Rachel Andelman

Luka Doncic does kind of a weird follow-through as he watches a shot against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 13, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

Whimsy