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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

Barry Petchesky

Waterslide person silhoutted shot on 35mm film vintage style

Life's Rich Pageant

I Can’t Stop Thinking About The Underwater Waterslide Of Horror

Dave McKenna

U.S. President Donald Trump looks at (L-R) golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, and WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque as he speaks during an executive order signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on July 31, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump signed a series of orders that will expand on his council on sports, fitness and nutrition, including by reviving the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools.

Report: Harrison Butker’s PAC Coffers Are As Empty As His Head

Ray Ratto

A ESPN Monday Night Football television camera prior to an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Journalismism

ESPN Now Partially Owned By Biggest League It Reports On


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Larry King and his wife, Shawn Southwick, dressed in Ed Hardy clothes

This Is So Stupid

13 Things I Learned From The Larry King Estate Sale

<p>Former Defector intern, now freelancer.</p>
<p>For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lucy Bloom

Video Games

Aw Shit, My Favorite Genre Just Got Changed Forever

<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>


Drew Magary

Tools in the vehicle workshop at the road maintenance depot. In the road maintenance depot in Teterow, the future road attendants for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are trained. The road maintenance department is responsible for around 200 kilometres of state and federal roads. Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB

Funbag

You Don’t Have To Let Big Allen Wrench Control Your Life

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Here Is One Real Bad Baseball Swing

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers calls a play in a huddle with teammates during the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: San Francisco 49ers

Tom Ley

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Sky during the first half at the United Center on July 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. 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.

Media Meltdowns

Wall Street Journal Calls For Congressional Investigation Into Caitlin Clark Getting Fouled

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in Eddington

Arts And Culture

Ari Aster Wants You To Take The Bait

Kathryn Xu

Lewis Hamilton of Scuderia Ferrari walks in the paddock during free practice of the Hungarian GP.

Racing

Heartbreaking: Ferrari Once Again Makes Two Men Lose Their Joie De Vivre

Agustin Ramirez of the Miami Marlins and Edward Cabrera #27 of the Miami Marlins celebrate in the game against the New York Yankees.

The Marlins Are Actually Doing Some Stuff

Luis Paez-Pumar

Marta Vieira and Kerolin Israel of Brazil hold the trophy after the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina 2025 Final match between Colombia and Brazil at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium on August 2, 2025 in Quito, Ecuador.

Soccer

The Copa América Femenina Final Had It All: Goals, Controversy, And Marta

Lauren Theisen

Jhoan Duran #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies enters the game for the ninth inning

What’s The Big Deal About Jhoan Durán’s Entrance?

Brandon Lockridge and Julio Borbon of the Brewers laugh together.

Fifty-Six Hits Is Too Damn Many

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Pitching coach Carl Willis #51 of the Cleveland Guardians makes a mound visit in the second inning during Game 2 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 in New York, New York.

Crosswords

The Crossword, August 4: Big Finish

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<p>Mike Tanier has covered the NFL for 20 years for Football Outsiders, the New York Times, The Messenger, Bleacher Report, Sports on Earth, and other ancient empires. He&#8217;s a co-author of Aaron Schatz&#8217;s FTN Football Almanac and the author of the Y/A novel for grownups <i>Long Snapper&#8217;s Blues. </i>He lives off Exit 3 of the New Jersey Turnpike with his long-suffering wife, two sons and a 70-pound American Bully named Frank the Tank. <span style="font-weight: 400">His newsletter, <a href="https://too-deep-zone.ghost.io/">Too Deep Zone</a>, has officially launched.</span></p>
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Mike Tanier

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass while being tackled by Edgerrin Cooper #56 of the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on January 05, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Chicago Bears

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<p>Robert Rubsam writes fiction and nonfiction. His work has appeared in the NYT Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Baffler, and Liberties. He is a contributing writer for Commonweal Magazine.</p>
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Robert Rubsam

Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa poses for the photographer during the 81st Venice International Film Festival

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Visions Of Hell

A general view of Bristol Motor Speedway during the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic presented by BulidSubmarines.com between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, August 3, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee.

MLB’s Speedway Classic Featured Only A Mild Amount Of Mayhem! Mayhem! Mayhem!

Samer Kalaf

Blaze, the Connecticut Sun mascot, waves a flag during starting lineup introductions before a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at TD Garden

WNBA

A WNBA Team In Boston Seems Like A No-Brainer

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.

Baby Racer Stunts On Competitors By Standing Up And Walking

The Cowboys’ Annual Contract Stalemate Has A Fun New Twist

Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners tips his cap during his first at bat back with the Mariners.

Jerry Dipoto Will Never Stop Doing Jerry Dipoto Things

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JULY 24: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs during a training camp practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New Orleans Saints

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) celebrates following the Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and Cleveland Guardians on July 18, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.