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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.

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Defector

Defector's 5th Birthday Party Is On Sept. 10 In Brooklyn

5th birthday party

Birthday party 2025

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<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is unable to cross the goal line during a two-point conversion attempt during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills v Kansas City Chiefs

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Buffalo Bills

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Álex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing) celebrates winning the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NTT IndyCar Series 109th Indianapolis 500

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 1: Flushing Out

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David Roth

A screengrab from Mark Teixeira's website for his congressional run. He's holding out a baseball and grinning and wearing a tight red golf shirt. It looks like an ad for a real estate agency.

TeixMessage

Mark Teixeira Is Ready To Do Whatever It Is Congress Guys Have To Do

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Rachelle Hampton

A young woman at home, feeling sick. She is, appropriately, holding her lower back.

Young woman feeling sick

Life Lessons

I Hurt My Back

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Tom Ley

Fans celebrate after Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil defeated Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Five of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

2025 US Open – Day 5

Defector Up All Night

Have A Chill Time In The Labor Day Weekend Open Thread

<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>


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Drew Magary

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the NFL Draft in the Oval Office of the White House on May 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. Joined by, (L-R) Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Trump announced that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held on the National Mall.

President Trump Announces 2027 NFL Draft To Be Held On The National Mall

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Washington Commanders

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United reacts during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England.

Grimsby Town v Manchester United – Carabao Cup Second Round

Soccer

Everyone Wins When Manchester United Loses

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Loading screen from Crusader Kings 3, showing a group of four people crowded around a chess board.

CrusaderKings3

The Backlog

Embrace ‘Crusader Kings III’ And It Will Take Over Your Life

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Ray Ratto

2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber Had A Real Shot At Home Run History

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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

Armed members of the National Guard patrol Union Station on August 27, 2025 in Washington, DC.

troops in union station

Margin Of Error

Well, He Sent In The Troops

image0 (5)

Israel Daramola

Texas Spring Football Game

College Football

It’s Time To See What Arch Manning Can Do

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 11: Jerry Jones attends the Premiere of Netflix's "America's Team: The Gambler And His Cowboys" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on August 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Premiere Of Netflix’s “America’s Team: The Gambler And His Cowboys”

What’s In Jerry Jones’s Head?

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Kelsey McKinney

Nationwide cinema festival

Food

I Apologize For The Behavior Of Barry “The Popcorn Moron” Petchesky

Justin Jefferson wearing sunglasses and looking up and to the left, smiling widely. He's not in uniform. I put the little Defector logo up there so it looks like he's smiling at it.

Minnesota Vikings v Tennessee Titans – NFL Preseason 2025

Podcasts

Jerry Jones Promises He’ll Be Normal, With Kalyn Kahler

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


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Chris Thompson

Doris Burke

ESPN Demotes Wrong Culprit From Lousy NBA Finals Commentary Team

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Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (R) argues with Taylor Townsend of the United States (L) following their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

2025 US Open – Day 4

Tennis

Jelena Ostapenko Remains A Sore Loser

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


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

President Trump Meets With His Cabinet At The White House

Science

RFK Jr. Is Making His Bid To Become One Of American History’s Biggest Killers

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Lauren Theisen

GettyImages-2232442215-min

Tennis Player Acts Normal

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Barry Petchesky

Woman holding giant sized popcorn and drink

I Submit To You That Popcorn Is A Bad Movie Snack

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell delivers emotional comments during an NFL Divisional Round game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Detroit Lions

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Reese McGuire #20 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at Oracle Park on August 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs v San Francisco Giants

“Pitcher” Is A State Of Mind

a swarm of bumblebee catfish climbing the vertical rock of a waterfall

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 1.00.06 PM

Creaturefector

Where Are You Going, Fish?

<p>Lindsey Adler is a writer based in Brooklyn. She exclusively covered sports for a decade but has other interests, too.</p>


Lindsey Adler

Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher perform onstage at the Oasis Live '25 - Toronto concert at Rogers Stadium

Oasis Live ’25 – Toronto

Arts And Culture

The Oasis Reunion Tour Has Shaken Up My Gallagher Brother Power Rankings

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Samer Kalaf

Samer Kalaf in a Hell Gate hat at the Mets game

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Life's Rich Pageant

TNT Sports Airs Guerrilla Marketing For Worker-Owned Website That Isn’t Defector

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Albert Burneko

A man faces the realistic artist" robot "Ai-Da" using artificial intelligence at a stand during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva on May 30, 2024.

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The Machines

Butlerian Jihad Now

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