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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

Ray Ratto

Custom painted Pac-12 University of Colorado Buffaloes football on display at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas on July 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

College Football

In Realignment, It’s Survival Of The Fattest

Kathryn Xu

This Is So Stupid

The Ballad Of The Austin Weirdos’ Only Win


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

BOSTON, MA - November 11: City Hall plaza under construction on November 11, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Life's Rich Pageant

The Boston Cop Slide Fail Video Has Been Investigated Thoroughly, But I Have More Questions

Luis Paez-Pumar

Sofia Bouftini and Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia.

Soccer

Group H Gave This Group Stage The Astonishing Send-Off It Deserved

(Original Caption) 8/27/1951-St. Louis, MO-: Bill Veeck, new owner of the St. Louis Browns, who believes that a zany atmosphere in baseball is good "box office," carried his idea to a new high when he staged a "grandstand managers" night when the Brownies played the Philadelphia Athletics. Fans who always know what the managers of the opposing teams "shouldda done" were given the opportunity to vote on decisions. Here, Jay Edson, of the Browns publicity staff, is asking the Board of Managers to decide on a pitcher.

History

The Best Team Is One That Can’t Hurt You Anymore

Billy Haisley

The players of Jamaica celebrate after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Jamaica and Brazil at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 2, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

Jamaica Showed How Much Not Losing Can Mean

Samer Kalaf

Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom walks past a photo of the 2007 Red Sox after they won the World Series.

At A Crossroads, The Red Sox Just Stood There

Israel Daramola

Quarterback Hunter Dekkers #12 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws the ball in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Ames, Iowa. The Baylor Bears won 31-24 over the Iowa State Cyclones.

Gambling

Iowa State QB Charged With Being A Normal 21st-Century Sports Fan

<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

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels speaks with owner Mark Davis prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 27, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Las Vegas Raiders

Soraya Roberts

Writers on strike march with signs on the picket line on day four of the strike by the Writers Guild of America in front of Netflix in Hollywood, California on May 5, 2023. - More than 11,000 Hollywood television and movie writers are on their first strike since 2007 after talks with studios and streamers over pay and working conditions failed to clinch a deal.

Arts And Culture

Is An Independent Hollywood Possible?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts in the fourth inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

AL Central Power Rankings: Post-Deadline Edition

Racing

What Does It Mean To Mourn In Formula 1?

Barry Petchesky

A NASA image of one of the Voyager space probes. Voyager 1 and its identical sister craft Voyager 2 were launched in 1977 to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space. (Photo by NASA/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Science

Voyager 2 Has A Few Last Things To Say

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler during a spring training workout on Feb. 18, 2023 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

The Mets Threw Some More Money At Their Problems


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A general view of the outside of Stadium Australia with the official FIFA Women's World Cup logo ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Try Watching This World Cup In Spanish

Tom Ley

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of the New York Jets talks to reporters after the teams OTAs at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on June 9, 2023 in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Defector Up All Night

Nathaniel Hackett Bravely Addresses Being Accurately Described As A Failure

Patrick Redford

2-time FIFA World Cup Winner and investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC emcees the World Cup Send Off for the players going to represent their countries in the 2023 FIFA World Cup after the National Women's Soccer League Match between the Chicago Red Stars and NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 25, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey.

Carli Lloyd Somehow Finds Invalid Criticism For Team That Did Everything Wrong

Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams talks with Greg Gaines #91, Bobby Wagner #45 and Aaron Donald #99 as they stretch before mini camp on June 8, 2022 at the team's facility at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Los Angeles Rams

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, USA, circa 1970. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Funbag

What Are The Best Roads In America?

Bunch of people dressed like Rocky, woman standing on a blue car talking to them

Track And Field

They Can’t Take The “Rocky Run” Away From Us

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


Chris Thompson

Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen report on a playoff game.

ESPN Lays Off Mark Jackson One Month After Dropping Jeff Van Gundy

Netherlands' forward #22 Esmee Brugts (centre L) scores her team's sixth goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Vietnam and the Netherlands at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on August 1, 2023.

Esmee Brugts Only Scores Absolute Firecrackers

Dave McKenna

Neon sign welcomes visitors to Bakersfield. Country western star Buck Owens, built a $10million 'Buck Owen's Crystal Palace' at Highway 99, right next to the Crystal Palace is the huge Yellow and black BAKERSFIELD sign of Sillect street that we all see from the 99 freeway Bakersfield is a city increasingly popular with Southern California families because its houses are affordable and its schools good and it still has a smalltown feel. (Photo by Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Arena Football

Arena Football League Relaunch Comes As Surprise To Cities That Will Allegedly Have Teams 

Aaron Civale #43 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during inter-league play at PNC Park on July 19, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Guardians Picked A Direction

Ana Capeta #21 of Portugal sends a shot off the post during the second half of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia Auckland, New Zealand.