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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

Lauren Theisen

David Montgomery with his knee on top of a tackler

David Montgomery Steamrolled Detroit’s Opening-Night Jitters

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A Pop Star Academy contestant looks at her phone, in a screenshot of the show.

Under The Influence

Talent Has Never Been Enough

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against Jakob Glesnes during the Leagues Cup 2023 semifinals match at Subaru Park on August 15, 2023 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 9: Ope

Luis Paez-Pumar

Alex Morgan #13 of San Diego Wave FC waves to the crowd after the game against the North Carolina Courage at Snapdragon Stadium on September 08, 2024 in San Diego, California. This was Morgan’s final NWSL game before her announced retirement.

Soccer

Alex Morgan Conquered The World

Samer Kalaf

Tyreek Hill does a fake arrest celebration during the Dolphins' Week 1 game, hours after being detained by Miami-Dade police

Tyreek Hill Had A Hell Of A Day

Jerod Mayo smiles as the Patriots beat the Bengals in Week 1

The Patriots Spoil The Bengals’ Party

Giri Nathan

Aryna Sabalenka raises the U.S. Open trophy

Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka Conquers The U.S. Open At Last

Ray Ratto

Dante Rossi of San Marino and Ferhat Saglam of Liechtenstein compete for the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 League D match

The World’s Worst Soccer Team Is Finally Something Else

Northern Illinois Huskies players celebrate after an upset win over Notre Dame.

College Football

Notre Dame Fast-Tracks Humiliating Part Of Season With Loss To Northern Illinois

David Roth

a Washington Commanders helmet rests near the sidelines during the game between the Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Politics

Disgraced Conservative Media Creep Gets Commanders Employee Fired With Hidden-Camera Video

Patrick Beverley Reveals More Than He Intended About Life In Israel

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

three photos of subadult male northern elephant seals, one named Brian, one named Dennis, and one named Carl

Creaturefector

The Gang’s All Here!

Israel Daramola

Rich Homie Quan performs onstage at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on September 01, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.

Arts And Culture

Rich Homie Quan Got To The Top Of The Mountain

Rachelle Hampton

Portrait of professional road racing cyclist David Millar taken on May 16, 2011. (Photo by Joby Sessions/Procycling Magazine via Getty Images)

Writing Is An Act, Not An Aesthetic

Soraya Roberts

Adam Sandler: Love You. Adam Sandler at the Nocturne Theater in Glendale. Cr.

Adam Sandler Lets Us Love Him

Isaiah Likely of the Baltimore Ravens stretches for a pass he can't quite catch near the end of the fourth quarter of the 2024 NFL season opener in Kansas City.

Who’ll Stop The Reign?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Jessica Pegula (R) of the United States shakes hands after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland during their Women's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Iga Swiatek Came Up With No Answers Against Jessica Pegula

Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever is congratulated by Caitlin Clark #22 after scoring during the second half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on September 01, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

WNBA

Caitlin Clark Is Contagious On The Court

Head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers, at Allegiant Stadium on August 23, 2024.

Podcasts

The Good, The Bad, And The Kalyn, With Kalyn Kahler

Presentation by two secretaries of the typing robot at the exhibition 'Happiness in the office', in Paris, France, on October 13, 1960.

The Machines

ESPN Masks Cynical AI Pivot As Benevolent Coverage Of “Underserved” Sports

T.J. McFarland #48 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the top of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Coliseum.

What Defector Saw At “The Janson Junk Game”

Patrick Redford

US Chess grandmaster Hans Niemann speaks to the press in the run-up to the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, on January 11, 2024. Niemann was previously accused of cheating by former world champion Norway's Magnus Carlsen, but the two have now ended their feud. (Photo by Olaf KRAAK / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT

Chess

Hans Niemann And Magnus Carlsen Are, Somehow, Going At It Again

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.

Drew Magary

CLEVELAND - 1987: Defensive backs Hanford Dixon #29 and Frank Minnifield #31 of the Cleveland Browns draw plays in the dirt on the field before a game at Municipal Stadium circa 1987 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Jamboroo

A Well-Executed Day

Barry Petchesky

A man waves the Russian national flag as he arrives at the patriotic concert at the Red square in downtown Moscow ahead the Russia Day on June 11, 2023. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Media Meltdowns

Dimwitted Right-Wing Influencers Accused Of Being Unwitting Russian Assets

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 13: Head coach Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs talk prior to a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on August 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)