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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

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and JD Vance attend the Army-Navy football game on December 14, 2024.

Trump Musk Vance

Margin Of Error

Elon Musk Takes What He Can Get

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Rachelle Hampton

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Giri Nathan

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Patrick Redford

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David Roth

Firefighters wash up after fighting the O'Brien Creek fire. Lolo national Forest, Montana, August 21, 1940.

Firefighters Wash Up After Forest Fire

Defector Reads A Book

Racing With Mortality In Norman Maclean’s ‘Young Men And Fire’

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Defector Staff

An old timey drive-in, with an old-timey pickup truck in front of it. The front of the drive in says "DRIVE-IN THEATRE. SIT IN YOUR CAR. SEE AND HEAR TALKING PICTURES. ON THE WORLD'S LARGEST SCREEN. Californa's First." There's also a neon entrance sign. The photo is black and white. The Year in Review Defector graphic is at the bottom.

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Year In Review

The Best Things We Saw In 2024

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-4 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 22, 2024 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League

Soccer

Liverpool Has The Premier League In A Stranglehold

Ruediger Grube, CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG and DB Mobility Logistics AG, travels by a Deutsche Bahn regional express train from Berlin to Potsdam

Profile: Ruediger Grube, Chairman of Deutsche Bahn

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 23: Parting Ways

<p>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>.</p>


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Owen Lewis

Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk during the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBO World Heavyweight championship contest at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury – Kingdom Arena – Riyadh

Boxing

Someone Got Inside Tyson Fury’s Head For A Change

A fan lands himself just foul in the upper level leftfield seats as he keeps cool and takes in the Dodger/Seattle interleague game, Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

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Defector’s Favorite Sports Moments Of 2024

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Billy Haisley

Jhon Duran of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester City FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2024 in Birmingham, England.

Aston Villa FC v Manchester City FC – Premier League

Jhon Durán Can’t Stop Putting Goals On Film

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Ray Ratto

A video message displayed in the stadium after Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Indiana Hoosiers on December 20, 2024, during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 20 CFP First-Round – Indiana at Notre Dame

College Football

The College Football Playoff’s Shitty First Weekend Did Its Job

Multiple exposure of Oakland Athletics Rickey Henderson (24) in action, stealing base vs San Francisco Giants. Game 1. Oakland, CA 10/14/1989

Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants, 1989 World Series

Rickey Henderson Believed In Rickey Henderson

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 19, 2024: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts after Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) scored on a 34 yard touchdown to ice the win over the Denver Broncos at So-Fi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Chargers vs Denver in Inglewood, CA.

Nothing Gets Jim Harbaugh’s Motor Running Like An Obscure Rule

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Israel Daramola

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Arts And Culture

‘Babygirl’ Wants To Know Your Fantasy


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a brown armored catfish that has been named the blob-headed catfish for its extremely sizable blob-shaped face/schnoz region

Creaturefector

Blob-Headed Fish Sets New Standard Of Fishy Blobbiness

Two reflective gold wine glasses emblazoned with "Love is Blind" are held up against the sky.

Love Is Blind Cast Celebrates Netflix’s First Live Reunion With The Iconic Pods In Los Angeles

Could Unionizing Protect Contestants From The Reality Of Reality TV?

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


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Drew Magary

The 2024 Williams Sonoma Haters Guide title graphic, featuring a man in a blue apron holding a baking dish with Williams Sonoma digitally written on it. 'Embroidered' on the apron it says 2024 Williams Sonoma Haters Guide. He's in front of a marble background.

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Hater's Guide

The 2024 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog

Malcolm Gladwell and Carlos Watson speak onstage during OZY Fest 2018 at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 22, 2018 in New York City.

OZY FEST 2018 Presented By OZY.com – Day 2

Podcasts

Feeling Like Ozymandias, With Susie Banikarim

Woody Johnson (center) and his sons attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Super Bowl LVIII Pregame

Report: New York Jets Plagued By Woody Johnson’s Meddlesome Teen Sons

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Kathryn Xu

Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App RB prepares to drive in the garage during practice.

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Racing

Liam Lawson Enters The Red Bull Second-Seat Gantlet

Automobile in a winter landscape with a man coming from Christmas shopping trip with packages, Christmas Tree, etc. Undated photograph circa 1911.

Man Returning from Christmas Shopping

Jamboroo

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

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Presenting The 2024 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

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Barry Petchesky

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 15: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers reacts after losing to the St. Louis Blues 3-2 at Enterprise Center on December 15, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

New York Rangers v St Louis Blues

What Is Up With The Rangers?

<p>Julie Kliegman is a writer and editor in Queens, New York. They wrote <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538168066/Mind-Game-An-Inside-Look-at-the-Mental-Health-Playbook-of-Elite-Athletes"><em>Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes</em></a> and are at work on a biography of Renée Richards. Their work has also appeared in outlets including <em>The New York Times</em>,<em> Sports Illustrated</em>, <em>The Washington Post</em>, Bookforum, Slate, The Ringer, <em>Texas Monthly</em>, Vulture, BuzzFeed News, and The Verge.</p>


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Julie Kliegman

a female golfer floats in space, looking down on a giant moon-like golf ball

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Golf

Hailey Davidson Loves Golf, And Golf Wants To Get Rid Of Her

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College Basketball

Doug Gottlieb Humbled By Michigan Tech, Life

Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Atlanta Falcons v Las Vegas Raiders

Falcons Choose Buyer’s Remorse Over Kirk Cousins

A still from a video capturing a red male cardinal staring menacingly at his reflection in the side-view mirror of a white car

Screenshot 2024-12-18 at 10.22.25 AM

Birdfector

It’s So Confusing Sometimes To Be A Bird

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