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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

Tom Ley

An AI-generated map of the united states that has incorrect borders and puts Detroit in Canada.

The Jets May Want To Reconsider Being “AI-First”

Kelsey McKinney

Macklemore in a green fur coat poses on stage.

Arts And Culture

Robert Kraft Now Decides Who Tours With Ed Sheeran

Giri Nathan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates with the trophy after defeating Ben Shelton of the United States in their Men's Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Tennis

The U.S. Open Men’s Final Changed Nothing

Dave McKenna

Ryan Garcia punches Conor Benn while Benn is on the ropes

Boxing

Conor Benn Wasn’t Ready For Ryan Garcia

Israel Daramola

Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers looks on after losing to the Minnesota Vikings 39-22 at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Something Is Wrong With The Green Bay Packers

Luis Paez-Pumar

Enzo Fernandez of Manchester City, Harry Maguire of Manchester United and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United wait for Referee Michael Oliver to reveal the VAR decision for the goal scored by Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Soccer

The Premier League Has Its First VAR Disaster Of The Season

Luisa Rollenhagen is a German-Argentinian freelance journalist based in Berlin. She&#8217;s written for publications such as The Guardian, BuzzFeed News, Deutsche Welle, and GQ.

Luisa Rollenhagen

A basecap with the lettering 'Make Germany Great Again' is seen in a shelf behind co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the party's candidate for chancellor Alice Weidel prior to a live discussion with US tech billionaire and businessman Elon Musk on social network X, formerly known as Twitter, in her office at the Jakob Kaiser Building in Berlin on January 9, 2025. Musk is set to host a discussion on X with AfD's leader Weidel on Thursday. (Photo by Kay Nietfeld / POOL / AFP)

Politics

The Far Right Had Its Biggest Electoral Win In Germany Since The Nazis. What Now?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina interacts with Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 14: Miscalculation

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The cover of Observer over a black-and-white photo of the Nevada desert.

Interviews

Nicholas Russell’s Debut Novel Gets Weird In The Desert

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

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

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

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)

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?

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.