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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

Patrick Redford

Michael Oher #73 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates with his family after the NFC Championship Game against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank Of America Stadium on January 24, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Judge Formally Ends Michael Oher’s Conservatorship

Kelly Conaboy

A cupcake baking pan messily filled with French onion soup

Chefector

French Onion Soup In Cupcake Tins? French Onion Soup In Cupcake Tins

Tom Ley

Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Lions Are Finally Good Enough To Cause Someone Else’s Coach To Have An Emotional Outburst

A side-view of a rove beetle with a swollen body that resembles a termite.

Creaturefector

How Do You Do, Fellow Termites?

Ray Ratto

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 21, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Angel Hernandez Will Make You Want To Throw A Thing

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: The Grounds crew pull the tarp back on the field at Citi Field on September 28, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Fish All Wet

Curt Schilling Reveals Former Teammate Tim Wakefield’s Cancer Diagnosis Against His Wishes

Kathryn Xu

Julio Rodríguez reacts after striking out against Héctor Neris.

Héctor Neris Got Mad, And The Mariners Couldn’t Get Even

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after stealing second base in the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on September 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Acuña Jr. is the first player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in a single season.

It’s Starting To Feel Kind Of Cubs

David Roth

Taylor Swift watching the Kansas City Chiefs game on Monday night in a luxury box with Travis Kelce's mother, Donna.

Podcasts

Pinning Your Ears Back For Taylor Swift, With Giri Nathan And Samer Kalaf

<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

Jamboroo

Driving Is The Nemesis Of All Parents

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1970's: Third baseman Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles in action sets to make a throw during a circa 1970's Major League Baseball game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Third Base, Heading For Home

<div>Nate Jackson is a former NFL tight end and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/slow-getting-up-a-story-of-nfl-survival-from-the-bottom-of-the-pile-nate-jackson/6430451?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote9JzWMngZDpSjF2eoL1_JlyPm2QhDfkNgOzqvaB4n9ic0qqUNQ4iCwaAsasEALw_wcB"><em>Slow Getting Up</em></a>. He lives in Denver.</div>
<div></div>


Nate Jackson

Not All Ass-Beatings Are Created Equal


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a beautiful tortoise beetle adult, with a gold and brown shell ringed with blue.

These Baby Beetle Backpacks Are Made Of Poop

Giri Nathan

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in a game between the Bucks and Blazers

Damian Lillard Becomes A Milwaukee Buck In A Wild Three-Team Trade


<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

Head coach Mel Tucker of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on November 26, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. He's wearing a green jacket and a headset.

College Football

Mel Tucker Officially Fired From Michigan State

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 17: Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors speaks to the crowd during the Golden State Warriors Chase Arena groundbreaking ceremony on January 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

WNBA

Report: Warriors Mercifully End Oakland’s Pro Sports Drought By Putting WNBA Team In San Francisco

Neal and Suit talking in what could honestly be any episode of the USA series "White Collar"

Arts And Culture

Background Television Isn’t As Easy As It Looks

<p>A. Andrews is a thirty-something disabled queer/trans writer and illustrator. They spent the majority of their young life sketching in hospitals and experienced their first heartbreak at age 8 during Game 6 of the &#8217;96 NBA championships. When they aren’t writing and drawing their guts out, they’re hanging with their dog, George, and drinking too many coffees. They will probably never tell you “what’s <em>wrong</em> with [them]” and you shouldn’t ask! They were named one of <em>The Advocate</em>&#8216;s 2021 People of the Year, are a 2020 Tin House Summer Workshop scholar, and their debut graphic novel, <em>A Quick and Easy Guide to Sex &amp; Disability</em> topped 2020 lists for the NYPL best books for teens, and YALSA&#8217;s best books for teens, and is available anywhere books are sold. You can find more of their work at <em>Washington Post</em>, <em>Esquire</em>, the Nib, and other fun corners of the internet.</p>


A. Andrews

Drawing of a group of people helping each other over a labyrinth

Histories Of Transition

How I Transitioned With Complex Disability

<p>Katharine Trendacosta writes about tech policy, the entertainment industry, pop culture, and where those things intersect. In her day job, she&#8217;s the Associate Director of Policy and Activism for the digital civil liberties nonprofit the Electronic Frontier Foundation. (Her writing here reflects her views alone and not those of EFF.) In her spare time, she writes things like this.</p>


A photo of the author, Katharine Trendacosta

Katharine Trendacosta

Members of WGA cheer at the end of their picket in front of CBS Television City on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Hollywood, CA. Saturday marked the fourth straight day of talks, which kicked off Wednesday with the heads of four major studios participating directly. The union and studio alliance had not announced a deal as of early Saturday evening.

Capital

The Hollywood Writers Strike Proved That Collective Action Works

A photo of a brown stationwagon next to the water. It is covered in stickers.

Racing

The Legend Of The Brown Smear In Newfoundland

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


Dan McQuade

Alex Rodriguez looks at his teeth, with this hand pulling one of his lips back, and you see him in the mirror and also see the back of his head.

This Is So Stupid

Breaking: A-Rod Still Has Gum Disease

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty drives as Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun defends at Barclays Center on May 27, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Everyone Made Their MVP Case Last Night

Luis Paez-Pumar

Victor Osimhen of Napoli looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on September 24, 2023 in Bologna, Italy.