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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

Ray Ratto

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Balmer before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California.

Steve Ballmer Is Just Going To Have To Take It

Tom Ley

US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks during the second day of the Republican National Committee midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on September 10, 2026. US Republicans are betting that putting President Donald Trump at the center of their campaign can rescue a party facing grim election forecasts, despite the president's negative approval ratings. A day earlier, on the first day of the midterm convention, he promised $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP)

Death To The NCAA

The Protect College Sports Act Finally Has Its Suitably Off-Putting Mascot

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Myles Garrett #95 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up prior to the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

A Whole Lot Changed In One Week For The Rams

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics pitches during the top of the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Sutter Health Park on September 12, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

There’s Job Security In Putting Out Fires For The West Sacramento Arsonists

Barry Petchesky

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 24: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans is introduced before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars during play at LP Field on December 24, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans won 23-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

They Don’t Come Much Cooler Than Chris Johnson

LAWRENCE, KS - SEPTEMBER 11: Anthony Favrow #31 of the Missouri Tigers carries a Kansas Jayhawks drum on his shoulder after a college football game between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks on Sep 11, 2026 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

College Football

College Football Means Finding Something To Get Mad About

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

Markell Dabney of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after winning a college football game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 13-12 on a last second "Hail Mary" touchdown reception.

Cheating Is A College Football Feature, Not A Bug

Dave McKenna

Media Meltdowns

Famously Undiplomatic Britt McHenry Handed State Department Gig

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Fans cheer after Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated Yibing Wu of China in their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Honey Deuce McBride, With Giri Nathan

Kathryn Xu

Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks to the dugout during the first inning.

Report: Family Of Oneil Cruz Hired Fixer To Cover Up Fatal 2020 Car Crash

Renardo Green #0 of the San Francisco 49ers catches the ball during the NFL football game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026.

The 49ers Struck A Blow For Sensible Travel Strategies And Thumped The Rams

Head coach Mike McDonald of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl LX victory celebration and parade at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Interviews

How NFL Teams Avoid The Great Big Middle

Alex Sujong Laughlin

An apartment building where all the windows are blacked out except for two.

Life Lessons

How Do I Avoid Becoming A Doomsday Prepper?

Giri Nathan

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is interviewed by Jim Courier following victory over Alex de Minaur of Australia during the Men's Singles Quarter Final match on day 10 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

How Tennis Channel’s Jim Courier Sees The Sport

<a href="http://Feldman.cool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brian Feldman</a> is a software engineer living in Brooklyn.

Brian Feldman

New yorkers throw garbage at the green goblin from the Queensboro bridge

Arts And Culture

How An Unsubtle 9/11 Tribute Was Added To Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man’

A huge group of fans mill around at the 2026 U.S. Open

Tennis

The State Of The U.S. Open Is The State Of Us

Laura Wheatman Hill

Emily St. John Mandel, author of Exit Party

Talking To Emily St. John Mandel About Revision, Timeline Corruption, And Living Without A Floor

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 01: TV personality Barry Melrose speaks during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Practice Sessions at Citizens Bank Park on January 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Barry Melrose Brought Hockey Home

Nehemiah Pritchett #28 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammates after an intercepting a pass intended for Romeo Doubs #87 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of the game on September 9, 2026.

The NFL Opener Had That Wednesday Night Football Feeling

The author can be reached at postpostdoc@protonmail.com.

Post-Postdoc

A visual representation of the Navier Stokes proof

The Machines

What Gets Left Out Of Math’s New Era?

USA's Ben Shelton celebrates his win against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during the men's singles quarter-final tennis match on day ten of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Leonardo MUNOZ / AFP) / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Leonardo MUNOZ has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [USA's Ben Shelton] instead of [Spain's Carlos Alcaraz]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”

Ben Shelton Took Down Carlos Alcaraz In The Match Of His Life

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

A high school performance of "One Day More" from Les Miserables.

Do You Hear The People Sing? Singing The Song Of Sequined Teens?

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.