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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cincinnati Reds argues with umpire Chris Conroy #98 after being ejected from the game in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on June 5, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 24: Bat To Ball

Lauren Theisen

Reds Week

Is My Hair Red? A Defector Slack Investigation

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<p class="sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY">Vince Guerrieri is an award-winning journalist and author in the Cleveland area. He likes Lake Erie perch sandwiches, Jim Traficant and long walks on the field at League Park. His website is <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://vinceguerrieri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://vinceguerrieri.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">vinceguerrieri.com</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">@vinceguerrieri</a>.</p>
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Vince Guerrieri

Portrait of, from left, baseball players George Crowe, Wally Post, and Gus Bell, all of the Cincinnati Reds, as they pose at Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1957. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)

How Cincinnati Ruined All-Star Voting For A Dozen Years

Tom Ley

Mr. Redlegs dressed as a communist general

Announcements

It’s Reds Week

David Roth

Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns calls a play during a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on August 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

Deshaun Watson: Very Telling That Browns Fans Would Boo Me For Being A Lousy Quarterback And Shitty Guy

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


Chris Thompson

Randy Arozarena celebrates a game-winning dinger.

Randy Arozarena Made The Mariners Smile

Giri Nathan

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 18: Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during a match against Learner Tien of the United States on day eight of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Tennis

Frances Tiafoe Is Peaking At The Right Time

Samer Kalaf

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings in the fourth quarter.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Los Angeles Chargers


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Culture Writer</p>


Israel Daramola

Ray Ratto

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Louisiana State Tigers poses with the mascot before the game against the Houston Cougars during the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

College Football

The 2026 College Football Offseason Recap

Matt Calkins being interviewed on News Nation

Journalismism

Seattle Times Dipshit Quits Because His Editors Were Smart Enough To Spike His Stupid Columns

Patrick Redford

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Yellow Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as final overall winner during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

Tadej Pogacar Returns To The Scene Of His Arrival

Luis Paez-Pumar

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal (hidden by ticker tape) celebrates with the Premier League trophy after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England.

Soccer

And Now, A 2026-27 Premier League Preview In Five Storylines

Dave McKenna

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JULY 28: From left, Brandon Creighton, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System; Wynn Rosser, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; Michael Williams, chancellor of the University of North Texas System; and Brandon Simmons, ombudsman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, testify during a Texas Senate Committee on Higher Education hearing on Senate Bill 37 at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images)

Texas Tech’s  Administration Is Just As Embarrassing As Its Football Program

<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

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after being sacked during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Pittsburgh Steelers

Kathryn Xu

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing pose for a photo in a press conference.

Racing

After All That, Max Verstappen Re-Signs With Red Bull Racing

A photo I took of the sun setting over the bay in Strathmere, NJ. There's a dock at left and The Distraction logo at upper left.

Podcasts

The Sun Is Setting On ‘The Distraction’

Kiki Rice #1 of the Toronto Tempo celebrates a basket as the Toronto Tempo play the Indiana Fever at ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto. August 18, 2026.

WNBA

The Tempo Have To Take Things At Their Own Pace

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 19: Matt Wilkinson #71 of the San Francisco Giants walks off the field at the end of the inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

Tugboat Wilkinson Has Steamed Into Port

Olivia Miles celebrates after making a shot

We’re Still Looking For Someone Who Can Guard Olivia Miles

Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after being hit during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Green Bay Packers

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


Jae Towle Vieira

people dance and celebrate pride with on another in the fountain at washington square park in new york during the Dyke March

Should You Ever Really Trust A Party Promoter?

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners looks on in the seventh inning after being taken out of game down 11-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mariners Surely Reach Pinnacle Of Regular-Season Suffering

LIV Golf flags blow in the wind in New York.

Golf

LIV Golf Pros Meet Their New Investor Overlord At Season’s Sudden Conclusion

Boris Karloff sits next to a child's bed, and the little girl in the bed seems to be shouting at him. He looks distressed.

Minor Dilemmas

“No Dada!” How Do You Deal With A Toddler Who Clearly Prefers The Other Parent?

Kelsey McKinney

Fernando Tatis Jr. in a brown padres jersey, holds a ball flat in his right hand