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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

Barry Petchesky

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 12: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes the field before kickoff against the Houston Texans during an AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Remember When Aaron Rodgers Was Good?

Ray Ratto

Will Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans forces Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers to fumble the ball and Sheldon Rankins #90 of the Houston Texans returns it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL wild card playoff game on January 12, 2026.

The Houston Texans Ushered Aaron Rodgers Into Oblivion

Patrick Redford

Coach John McLendon showing and discussing play strategy to the players on the chalkboard doing basketball practice in the gym. (Photo by North Carolina Central University via Getty Images)

Podcasts

Convening The TrueHoop Ideas Summit, With Henry Abbott

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

This Is So Stupid

How Much Is Eight Dollars?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a basket during the second half of a game against the Texas Longhorns at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 11, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

College Basketball

LSU Actually Did Not Eat Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

Kathryn Xu

Amber Glenn competes in the 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships.

Figure Skating

Amber Glenn Will Take Her Triple Axel To The Olympics

Luis Paez-Pumar

Fans hoist Luke Duffy of Macclesfield (L) and Paul Dawson of Macclesfield onto their shoulders as they celebrate victory after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Macclesfield and Crystal Palace on January 10, 2026 in Macclesfield, England.

Soccer

Macclesfield’s Historic Upset Is Why The FA Cup Rules

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings is fouled while going up for a shot against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at Golden 1 Center on January 11, 2026 in Sacramento, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Sacramento Watch: Several Teams Tainted By Proximity To Kings

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

‘Industry’ Is As Beautifully Dumb As Ever

Tommy Craggs is an editor and writer, late of Game Theory With Bomani Jones on HBO, Mother Jones (no relation), HuffPost, Slate, Gawker Media, and Deadspin. He&#8217;s part of the <a href="https://flaminghydra.com/">Flaming Hydra</a> cooperative of independent writers and artists, and one of the many founders of the <a href="https://www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/">Oakland Review of Books</a>.

Tommy Craggs

Bari Weiss seated onstage at a Free Press event in 2024.

Journalismism

Bari Weiss Is The Symptom

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - MARCH 23: Ilia Malinin of the United States competes in the Men's Free Skating during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Centre Bell on March 23, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Joosep Martinson)

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 12: Shuffle Along

Tom Ley

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is This ICE Goon Eating Shit

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

Jaguars Junction: Wild Card Round

Bill Kennedy explaining, to the NBC cameras, that a play was called correctly. He is making "the Bill Kennedy face."

Everybody Loves Bill Kennedy

Foxborough, MA January 11, 2026 Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (30) recovers a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the third quarter during the AFC wild card game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Every Chargers Playoff Game Is A Profound Waste Of Time

Dave McKenna

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball during the AFC Wildcard Playoff game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen Endures An Ass-Kicking And Gets His First Road Playoff Win

Samer Kalaf

Matt Ryan Ate Dinner And Did All His Homework, So He Gets To Be President Of Football

Indiana Hoosiers running back Kaelon Black (8) runs a touchdown against Oregon during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

College Football

Indiana Turned Oregon Into Duck Confit

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after an NFL Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers

The Bears Live For The Fourth Quarter

Colby Parkinson #84 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass to score a touchdown

The Panthers Could Only Give The Rams A Good Scare

Young Palestinian choir members, attending an UNRWA-funded school, sing during a performance on July 18, 2023, in Gaza City.

Rolling Stone Makes The Absurd Claim That Women Are Not Allowed To Sing In Gaza

Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

Diego Simeone head coach of Atletico de Madrid argues with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid CF during Copa del Rey match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on January 18, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Diego Simeone Spiced Up The Supercopa With A Bit Of Vinícius Heckling

Justin Ellis

Protestors stare down federal officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside a federal building near Minneapolis following the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.

Politics

When Everyday Life Becomes Domestic Terrorism

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci in which he looks displeased, perhaps making the face he would make if he learned that scientists were trying to grind up some ancient hair to unlock a supervision gene

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