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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

Sarah Hagi

Arts And Culture

Finally, A Shitty Movie Where Muslims Are The Bad Guys

Tom Ley

Case Keenum Made For Great TV

Giri Nathan

Samer Kalaf

Azeez al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

NFL Threatened To Pull Azeez Al-Shaair From Game For Eye Black Memorializing Palestinian Child

Lauren Theisen

the art is four players: Jason Robertson, Nick Suzuki, Ilya Sorokin, and Sidney Crosby, who look like they were doodled in a notebook

It’s The 2026–27 NHL Season Preview. What’s The Worst That Could Happen?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty defends against A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA

Breanna Stewart And A’ja Wilson Sit At The Grown-Ups Table

Patrick Redford

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 27: Gold medalist Brandon McNulty and Team United States (C) celebrates with teammates during the medal ceremony after the 99th UCI Road World Championships Montreal 2026 - Men Elite Road Race a 273.4km one day race from Brossard to Montreal on September 27, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

Team USA Won Brandon McNulty A World Championship With A Tactical Masterclass

Dave McKenna

Irish players bow their heads during the Israeli anthem

Soccer

Ireland Beats Israel 3-0 In Game Nobody Wanted

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
&nbsp;

Lucy Bloom

Ivy Cummings changing a tyre on a 1925 Singer 10/26, London, c1925. The car is jacked up; Ms Cummings uses a spanner to tighten the bolts on the new wheel. Ivy Cummings was a racing driver who also ran a garage in Putney Bridge Road, London. She carried out all the repairs herself as well as selling second-hand cars. The Duke of York congratulated her for her many motor racing wins.

Life Lessons

How Can You Not Be Romantic About An Old Rusty Truck Almost Ruining Your Life?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots looks on during second quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Everbank Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Drake Maye Looks Dazed And Confused Out There

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are seen arriving at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026 in New York City.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 28: You Gonna Remember Me (Themeless)

Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 27: in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 27, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

It Isn’t Over Until Max Scherzer Says It Is

Ray Ratto

Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after he hit a three-run home run against the Athletics during the fifth inning on September 26, 2026.

The Astros And White Sox Are The Playoff Matchup This Moment Deserves

an old-timey family sitting around the radio

Announcements

Programming Notes

Ballhalla Got The Playoff Christening It Deserved

Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Jahmyr Gibbs #0 against the New York Jets during the second quarter on September 27, 2026.

Sports

The Finings Will Continue Until Morale Worsens

Austin Romaine #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Sam Houston Bearkats at Galaxy Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.

College Football

Austin Romaine Will Always Have Saturday

Stephen Curry attends the Guangdong City Basketball League All-Star Game event on September 12, 2026 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China.

Stephen Curry Leaves $20 Million In His Work Clothes

Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs tips his hat to the crowd after stealing his 40th stolen base during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on September 24, 2026.

Pete Crow-Armstrong Has Answered Every Question

Even The Weather Hates Ed Sheeran

Dan Schindel

Interviews

Paula González-Nasser Gives Location Scouts Their Due

Staff Writer

Israel Daramola

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 19: Chance Robinson #82 of the NC State Wolfpack reacts after a last second loss against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Let’s Make These Games As Stupid As Possible

Manchester City chief-executive Ferran Soriano with Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City

Manchester City Found Guilty Of More Than 100 Financial Rule Breaches

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Taylor Swift in a strapless dress on a red carpet for the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the album art for The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore superimposed next to her.

Music

This Is A Cry For Help

Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries reacts to a play against the Washington Mystics during the second half of the game at CareFirst Arena on July 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.