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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

<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

Safety Jeremy Chinn #11 of the Washington Commanders deflects a pass intended for tight end Kyle Pitts #8 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, at Northwest Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Atlanta Falcons

<p>Jordan Sargent is a writer and music industry professional living in Brooklyn. His work has appeared in Gawker, Pitchfork, Slate, and more.</p>


Jordan Sargent

Mods Asleep

There Has Never Been A Better Time To Be A White Rapper

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Temi Fágbénlé #14 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts against the Las Vegas Aces in the third quarter at Chase Center on August 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 11: Lose Control

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Puja Patel is a writer, editor, and curator who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork and <em>Spin</em>, a culture editor for Deadspin, and a columnist for MTV and the <em>Village Voice</em>. Her work has appeared in publications such as the <em>New Yorker</em>, <em>Harper&#8217;s Bazaar</em>, and <em>Rolling Stone,</em> among others. She serves on the advisory board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Building Beats, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to underserved youth across New York City and Los Angeles.</div>
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Puja Patel

Huddle Up, Take A Knee: It’s Puja Week

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Victoria Mboko of Canada reacts against Naomi Osaka of Japan during the Women's Singles Final match on day twelve of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Tennis

Victoria Mboko Is Here To Break Brains

Brandy Jensen

Shakira Austin #0 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against Maria Kliundikova #77 of the Minnesota Lynx in the first quarter at Target Center on August 08, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

WNBA

Why A Bunch Of Real Dicks Keep Throwing Fake Ones

Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That...'

Arts And Culture

And Just Like That… It’s Over

Tom Ley

an old-timey family sitting around the radio

Announcements

Programming Notes

Defector Staff

Staff Chat

Well Look At That, It’s Time To Chat With The Defector Staff Again

The ballroom photo from the end of The Shining

You’re Invited To Defector’s Fifth Birthday Party And Also Some Baseball Games

Ray Ratto

Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts is sacked by Danielle Hunter #55 of the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Indianapolis Colts

Kelsey McKinney

black and white photo of woman holding book

How To Put Down Your Phone And Read A Book

<div>David Covucci is the editor-in-chief of <a href="https://foiaball.beehiiv.com/p/foiaball-football-for-the-people">FOIAball</a>, a new publication utilizing public records to report on college football.</div>


Dave Covucci

Sparty showing the incorrect way to lay on the field

College Football

How College Mascots Conceal Their Identity And Their Ass

The Indiana Fever down in the second half of the game against The Los Angles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

Lamest Members Of Society Claim Responsibility For WNBA Dildo-Throwing Epidemic

David Roth

Soda packaging are seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States on November 17, 2023.

Podcasts

A Very Fine Cheerwine, With Emma Baccellieri

Kathryn Xu

Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run.

Josh Naylor Is So Slow That Nobody Can Catch Him

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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

Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins speaks to the media after losing to the Green Bay Packers 30-17 at Lambeau Field on November 28, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Miami Dolphins

Luis Paez-Pumar

Tom Brady, Minority Owner of Birmingham City, looks on prior to the Sky Bet League One match between Birmingham City FC and Wrexham AFC at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park on September 16, 2024 in Birmingham, England.

‘Built In Birmingham’ Can’t Save Tom Brady From Himself

<p>E.Y. Zhao is a writer and editor from St. Louis. Her debut novel, <a href="https://astrapublishinghouse.com/product/underspin-9781662603266/"><i>Underspin</i></a>, set in the world of competitive table tennis, is out now. She holds a BA in history from Harvard College and an MFA from the University of Michigan.</p>


E.Y. Zhao

Felix Lebrun of France competes in the Men's Singles Semifinal match against Wang Chuqin of China on day 7 of the United States Smash 2025 World Table Tennis at the Orleans Arena on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Table Tennis

Sweating Through The Existential Angst Of A Las Vegas Table Tennis Tournament

Lauren Theisen

Mason Miller #22 and Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres celebrate a 3-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks

Better Not Guess Wrong Against Mason Miller


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

a 3D-printed crab named Wavy Dave is waving his claw at a fiddler crab in the distance

Creaturefector

The Brief Adventures Of Wavy Dave

A screengrab of Alan Dershowitz on his Dershow podcast's mailbag segment. He is literally saying the words "Jeffrey Epstein" at this moment.

Life's Rich Pageant

Are You Aware Of The Alan Dershowitz Martha’s Vineyard Pierogi Situation?

Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks gestures after a call during the second half against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on August 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Cameron Brink Is Back And Ready To Swat

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaks to reporters during the team's training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields on July 25, 2024 in Oxnard, CA.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Dallas Cowboys

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates while running the bases after hitting a two run home run