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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Israel Daramola

Photo of Val Kilmer signing a movie poster.

Val Kilmer

Arts And Culture

Remembering Val Kilmer In Five Movies

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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Ray Ratto

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Typing

Sabrina Imbler

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Kathryn Xu

Artists Way journals

Defector Reads A Book

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 12: Is Julia Cameron Wrong?

Jarred Kelenic #24 of the Atlanta Braves is forced out at second base by Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers

The Braves May Never Win A Game

looks on during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 1, 2025. His mouthpiece is hanging out of his mouth and he looks faintly sinister in how delighted he seems.

Golden State Warriors v Memphis Grizzlies

Steph Curry Went Off, Again

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Albert Burneko

The Golden Gate Bridge and Downtown San Francisco are seen from the Marin Headlands during a brief rain break near Sausalito, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.

Northern California Weather

This Is So Stupid

Tech CEO: Do Not Say To Me That I Was Not Just Assassinated By The Jackal

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Lauren Theisen

Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues reacts after winning against the Detroit Red Wings

Detriot Red Wings v St Louis Blues

What The Heck Got Into The Blues?

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Tom Ley

Russell Westbrook #4 of the Denver Nuggets fouls Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves on a three point attempt as time expires in the double overtime period resulting in a game winning free throw by Alexander-Walker at Ball Arena on April 1, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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.

Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets

Noooo, Russell Westbrook, Don’t Do That! Nooooo, Don’t Do That Either!

John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and Maclean’s.

John Loeppky Headshot

John Loeppky

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Wheelchair basketball athletes Natalie Schneider of Team USA, Zoie Voris of the Arlington Lady Movin' Mavs, Hayley Nielsen #20 of Arizona and and Josie Aslakson #7 of Team USA compete at halftime during the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship between the Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina Gamecocks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – National Championship

Parasports

University Parasports Brace For Trump’s Anti-DEI Crusade

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

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Drew Magary

Philadelphia Eagles run the tush push for a first down during the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 22, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field.

NFL: OCT 22 Dolphins at Eagles

Funbag

Banning The Tush Push Is A Chickenshit Idea

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Soraya Roberts

Ludwig – Series 1

‘Ludwig’ Gets Cozy With David Mitchell’s Limits

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

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Dan McQuade

On a homer to right center by the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman, the Phillies and visiting team bullpens are visible on a TV broadcast. Both teams’ bullpens have doors in front of the benches for relievers to sit on, but most of them are open. There are also ads for Hatfield meats, Temple Health, the Pennsylvania Lottery ("Play to win!"), Independence Blue Cross, and Budweiser visible in the shot.

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Philly Fan Hecklers Thwarted By Doors

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Patrick Redford

Striking Touchstone route setters demonstrate in front of a California climbing gym.

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Climbing

There’s No Climbing Without Route Setters, And They’re On Strike

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.

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Owen Lewis

Aryna Sabalenka returns a shot against Jessica Pegula

Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 – Day 12

Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka Is Thrillingly Imperfect

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Dadfector

Why Your Children’s Toy Sucks: Playhut

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda #32 of the Texas Longhorns reacts in front of Hailey Van Lith #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 31, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.

TCU v Texas

College Basketball

Texas Cut TCU To Pieces

Bree Hall #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 30, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Duke v South Carolina

Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks Are Escape Artists

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David Roth

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Willson Contreras On Eating Grip Tape: “It Was Disgusting. It Was A Bad Taste.”

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux (9) disagrees with umpire Andy Fletcher who called him out on strikes in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Life Isn’t Fair. Why Should The Strike Zone Be?

Austin Wells of the New York Yankees hits a home run with a torpedo bat.

Austin Wells torpedo bat

What Is The Deal With The Yankees’ Weird Bats?

Rafael Devers

Spare A Thought For Baseball’s Poor Flailing Bozos

8 Nov 2001: Alex Wesby #23 of Temple and #50 of Florida jump for the ball during the game in the Coaches vs. Cancer IKON Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Florida won 72-64. The photo is cropped so you only see the heads and arms of both players. Wesby is facing the camera; Haslem is looking away from it.

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Eliminate The Possession Arrow

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Kyle Stowers #28 of the Miami Marlins receives a gatorade bath after hitting a walk off single to defeat Pittsburgh Pirates on their Opening Day game at loanDepot park on March 27, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Pittsburgh Pirates v Miami Marlins

The Marlins Walk It Off, Again And Again And Again

Vivian Blaxell grew up in rural Australia and co-founded Tiresias House, Australia’s first shelter and resource centre for and by trans people. Her essay &#8220;Nuclear Cats&#8221; was shortlisted for the 2021 Melbourne Prize for Literature. She lives in Naarm/Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

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Vivian Blaxell

Coke Sign at corner of William Street and Kings Cross, Sydney

GET THE FUCK OFF THIS CORNER

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

“Get The Fuck Off This Corner. It’s Mine.”

Jordan Mailata #68 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with fans during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Championship Parade on February 14, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Championship Parade

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 31: Rules Lawyer (Themeless)

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Veronica de Souza

Drawing of an Interior: Atelier, 1857. Artist Anon. (Photo by Heritage Images via Getty Images)

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Make It Nice

Introducing: Make It Nice

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