David Davis

Our editor-in-chief Tom Ley remembers Soraya Roberts: defector.com/soraya-rober...

“Over the threshold, into the dream, the light fades, and the world falls away…” Betye Saar 1926–2026 share.google/YyXrTY1eK1TC...

This is Bruno and Rocket. Rocket insists on making a grand entrance. Bruno is happy to help with that. 13/10 for both (IG: bruno_da_doxie_doggie)

The story behind the iconic photo of the “Hand of God“ goal: @defector.com defector.com/the-man-who-...

Dear Knicks Fans ALL OVER THE WORLD… why should you enjoy the winning bucket by OG only in English? Anunoby would like you to enjoy it in many languages. 🧡💙

Cast of Laocoön and his Sons (Roman version of a lost Greek original), 100BC-50AD

Click on the gift link rather than image (of Hank Aaron and young Baker. Baker's mother had Aaron promise to look after Baker when he was drafted by the Braves. Aaron kept his promise. Baker was on deck when Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record). www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

"Langs is an indispensable resource for nearly every writer, reporter and creator at the league-run outlet, providing a seemingly never-ending stream of stats to be incorporated into their stories, videos and tweets." (h/t @ddavisla.bsky.social ) sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/...

Freelancing is hard enough already, and inflation sucks. Defector is raising our base freelance rates by 20 percent. Great time to pitch us. Email me or pitches@defector.com

Oh, Artemis. You beautiful beast. So grateful to Pasadena Humane for taking in thousands of animals in the wake of the Eaton Fire and my friends who gave so generously to it h/t @ddavisla.bsky.social laist.com/news/eaton-f...

This is a great blog. defector.com/nathaniel-bu...

Today, two (two!) men ran sub two-hour marathons for the first time in human history and the news is nowhere to be found on the ESPN or Sports Illustrated home pages. One of the greatest feats in sports history and it’s less important than the final round of the NFL Draft.

I think about Ron Rapoport’s June 1972 interview of Jackie Robinson a lot, especially every April 15th.

Before there was “Heated Rivalry,” there was this New Yorker cartoon by Harry Bliss, published in 2001.

❌👑 except...

A viral dog rescue from 2016 is now immortalized with a statue in Kazakhstan. When a dog fell into the Sayran reservoir, bystanders formed a human chain to pull him to safety. The statue is a reminder of the value of unity, solidarity and collective action. 14/10 for all

A devastatingly beautiful piece of writing, and Blair has kindly shared a gift link. Do read it. (I'll be busy crying about my own aging sled dog.)

The real Marty Supreme:

we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad

In the before times, LA artist Robert Vargas painted Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela and Shohei Ohtani thelalocal.org/neighborhood...

what we loved about Dan McQuade defector.com/what-we-love...

For those of you who asked if there was any way to help out Dan's family:

for those of you who dm'd me for ways to help dan's family everloved.com/life-of/dan-...

Rest in peace to one of the great bloggers and the de facto mayor of Philadelphia. It was my honor and pleasure to work with him. defector.com/dan-mcquade-...

Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.

This is Ollie. He found a perfectly placed carrot snack on his walk. Simply can't believe his luck. 13/10 best day ever (TT: maxime_aries)

The Dogs of 2025 youtu.be/K_1tNbud-8g?...

who calls the shots where you get your news? defector.com/products

Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.

This is Ranger. He has picked you as the chosen one for this dinner party. Or as he calls it, the weakest link. 13/10 an honor (TT: sunnycorina)

The coolest ever

UCLA and USC's football teams “first competed against each other in 1929, with USC winning 76-0,” @ddavisla.bsky.social (from Davis' book “Play by Play: Los Angeles Sports Photography, 1889–1989). #UCLA #USC #collegefootball Los Angeles Times (September 29, 1929):

I have been taking surfing lessons. Still in the beginner kook trenches, but celebrating my last time on a foam board 😎 Graduating to a hard top next session. It’s fun to learn new things! Even if you look like a goober at the beginning. 🏄🏽‍♀️

This is what made me a dog person ❤️

Thanks for taking the time to read this week's SLR, featuring excellent writing/reporting by @kylemacneill.bsky.social, @jonathanmahler.bsky.social, @danielrensch.chess.com, @dwallacewells.bsky.social & more mailchi.mp/sundaylongre...

Would you like to see me do a backflip through a flaming hula hoop? Well, too bad, here’s a thoughtful political podcast interview instead.

"Hannah Dreier and @rubycramer.bsky.social's latest pieces bring human scale drama to often-difficult-to-grasp discussions of wildfires and immigration, full of details you could nearly reach out and touch." - @jacobfeldman.bsky.social on his top picks

Check out guest editor Katherine Laidlaw's SLR featuring @mckinneykelsey.bsky.social, @violazhou.bsky.social, @ellyfishman.bsky.social, @c-cauterucci.bsky.social & more mailchi.mp/sundaylongre...

"Platters stacked with cash, thieves making off with priceless pigeons in the night, wronged fanciers and devoted detectives. This crime caper has everything I could ask for in a story." -Guest editor Katherine Laidlaw's pick by Kevin Sieff @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...

After 50 years of shooting hockey, Bruce Bennett finds an even tougher challenge: birds