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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

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


Chris Thompson

Laz Díaz gestures at his wrist and yells something during a baseball game.

Laz Díaz And Modern Baseball Are Mutually Through With One Another

<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

Chefector

I Fought A Pie And I Won

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid holds up a printout with two fouls he believed should have been red cards for Atletico Madrid during the derby.

Soccer

José Mourinho Gives Real Madrid Exactly What It Paid For

Ray Ratto

The Chargers Have Placed Their Own Asses Directly Into The Jackpot

Maitreyi Anantharaman

(L-R) Donna Kelce, Singer Taylor Swift and actor Tom Cruise attend the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 21: Cheeky Move

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Podcasts

Jasper Wang Quit His Corporate Career To Do … This

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Interviews

China Miéville On The “Completely Defining” Book It Took 20 Years To Write

Tom Ley

Esteban Ruiz-Haynes watching sports in his apartment

Gambling

The Gambling Companies Need Their Customers’ Misery

Justin Ellis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward scores a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 20, 2026

Hot Feet On Main Are Only One Part  Of The NFL’s Climate Problem

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is carted off the field with an injury during a game with the Minnesota Vikings on September 20, 2026

Caleb Williams Suffers Awful Injury At Awful Time In Awful Game

Members of the Vanderbilt Commodores football team react after a last second fumble return in the endzone won the game against NC State, 35-31

College Football

NC State Innovates Brand-New Endgame Choking Strategy

ESPN's College GameDay show on the quad at LSU, with Rece Davis, Nick Saban, Lainey Wilson, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, and Pat McAfee

This Is So Fucking Embarrassing

Brandy Jensen

David Roth

Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher character glowers at a screaming man with his hand stuck in an industrial shredder during an episode from season four of Amazon's "Reacher." Reacher is wearing a t-shirt that says "Get Cracked In Philadelphia," and is huge.

He’ll Take The Elevator: Defector Reacher Creatures On ‘Reacher’ Season 4

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


Israel Daramola

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 5: Lane Kiffin of the LSU Tigers walks down victory hill prior to a game against the Clemson Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 5, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Lane Kiffin And ESPN Are Both Shilling For Their Agendas

Barry Petchesky

Russian Alexander Ovechkin talks to media in a locker room after the charity hockey "Match of the Year" between Russian players of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) at the CSKA arena in Moscow on July 13, 2025. (Photo by TATYANA MAKEYEVA / AFP via Getty Images)

Alex Ovechkin Finally Faces Some Pushback For Supporting Vladimir Putin

Josh Allen pats Aidan Hutchinson on the helmet after their game

The Lions’ Defense Is Dyin’ Out There

Patrick Redford

CHESTER, PA - SEPTEMBER 09: Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan #6 is shown before the game between the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati on September 9th, 2026 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cavan Sullivan And The USMNT’s Future Are Here


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels look on prior to a game against the Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2025 in Syracuse, New York.

Steve Belichick Is Gone From UNC

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Rory Dames’s SafeSport Suspension Has Ended

Giri Nathan

Kelsey McKinney

Annie Dillard receiving her 2014 National Humanities Medal

Arts And Culture

Annie Dillard Gave It All

<p>Grace Byron is a critic, reporter, and novelist based in Queens. Her writing has appeared in <em>The New Yorker</em>, <em>Granta</em>, <em>Bookforum</em>, and elsewhere. Her debut novel <em>Herculine</em> is out now.</p>


Grace Byron

Books

A New Book Examines The Wickedness Of Trump. Sort Of.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 28: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 134-109. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Zoomer Cultural Exchange Hour, With ‘State Of The League’

Science

There’s A Big New Crater On The Moon

Jamboroo

Everybody Hates Bob Kraft

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 28: Lil Durk performs during iHeart Powerhouse 105.1 at Prudential Center on October 28, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.