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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox throws a knuckleball, in profile

Tim Wakefield Was A Wizard For The Working Day

Ray Ratto

A general view of Tropicana Field during Game 1 of the Wild Card Series between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in Tampa, Florida.

The Rays Are Masters Of Being Forgotten

Luis Paez-Pumar

Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Paris Saint-Germain at St. James Park on October 4, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Soccer

Newcastle Roared To Champions League Life

Giri Nathan

Jannik Sinner poses with the China Open trophy

Tennis

Jannik Sinner Beats The Best At The China Open

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Betnijah Laney #44 of the New York Liberty looks on against the Connecticut Sun on September 29, 2023 in Uncasville, CT at Mohegan Sun Arena.

WNBA

It’s Betnijah Laney’s Turn To Be The Playoff Hero

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


Chris Thompson

Jerry DiPoto makes a face while answering questions.

Jerry Dipoto Wants Gratitude For Kicking The Can Down The Road

Dave McKenna

US swimmer Diana Nyad is seen in the water during her departure from the Ernest Hemingway Nautical Club in Havana on August 18, 2012 . Veteran US endurance swimmer Diana Nyad announced that she will try to swim the treacherous waters from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Swimming

Diana Nyad’s Swimming Brought Her Glory, Fame, And An Adversary Dedicated To Exposing Her Lies

Tom Ley

Chicago Fire fans celebrate from the stands at SeatGeek Stadium on June 6, 2023 in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Chicago Fire Tries Bribing Fans To Attend Game Messi Might Not Play In

Lauren Theisen

Royce Lewis celebrates after hitting a home run

The Twins Regained Some Control Over Their Existence

Soraya Roberts

Joanna Arnow in a scene from her movie, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Arts And Culture

Joanna Arnow’s Time Has Arrived

Patrick Redford

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Anthony Martial, Andre Onana of Manchester United walks off during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and Galatasaray A.S. at Old Trafford on October 03, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United Is Back In The Pain Cave

NBA reporters Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania

Journalismism

The Rivalry Between Woj And Shams Really Is As Imagined

Luis Diaz of Liverpool reacts after a goal was rules offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England.

Audio Reveals Panic, Confusion, And Expletives In Liverpool-Tottenham VAR Room

<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

08 March 2022, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Rottweil: Various streaming services can be seen on the display of an iPhone SE. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Funbag

The Future Of Streaming Will Look A Lot Like The Present Of Streaming

Marcus Semien of the Rangers pops champagne.

Texas Rangers GM: Don’t Anyone Dare Say My Players Partied!

Members Miami Marlins celebrate after a 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to clinch an National Leauge Wildcard berth at PNC Park on September 30, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

These No-Good, Historically Bad Marlins Have Won Me Back

Kelsey McKinney

The beautiful raspberry-topped cakes of the show's contestants.

Chefector

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Once Again Contends With Cake Week

The Namedropping podcast logo, a coffee cup with a scratched-out name

Podcasts

Am I Having A White Thought Or An Indian Thought? With Sridhar Ramesh

Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies in a Phillies jersey, grey, with the top buttons unbuttoned

Is The Phillies’ Good Luck Charm A Dedication To Himbo Culture And Showing Clavicle? [Update]

David Roth

The animals from Paw Patrol, or more accurately people wearing costumes of the animals from Paw Patrol, waving at the Paris premiere of the Paw Patrol movie.

This Is So Stupid

Caitlin Flanagan’s Wheels Are Spinning A Little Too Fast

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: Houston Dynamo owner James Harden waves to the fans after the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Final against the Inter Miami at DRV PNK Stadium on September 27, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

James Harden Begins Going “Ben Simmons Mode”

Announcements

Lori Teresa Yearwood Made A Difference

Miguel Cabrera fields a ground ball at first for the last time

Miguel Cabrera, First To The Last

The giant screen shows a goal from Luis Diaz of Liverpool being checked for offside by VAR during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England.

VAR Fucked Up The One Thing It Is Supposed To Never Fuck Up

Israel Daramola

Singer Taylor Swift and Actor Ryan Reynolds talk prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 01, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.