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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

Lauren Theisen

Grant Taylor #31 of the Chicago White Sox pitches during Game One of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas

You Won’t Beat The White Sox Without Beating Grant Taylor

Sophie Abromowitz

Defector At The Movies

Accept The Expanding Ball Of Infected Corpses You Cannot Change

Luis Paez-Pumar

The Manchester City owner Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan applauds his team onto the pitch before the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on June 10th 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey

Soccer

Manchester City’s Financial Breaches Totaled Over £900 Million Over Nine Seasons

Ray Ratto

Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates at home plate after scoring in the seventh inning during Game One of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

These Are The Times That Try Managers’ Souls

Tom Ley

WNBA

The Fever Are Good Enough To Get Under Your Skin

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)

Rice Guy’s Twinnish Blasts

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.

Drew Magary

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 2: Daily Show correspondents sing a song to open live Election Night coverage of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart November 2, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Funbag

Let’s Remember Some ‘Daily Show’ Correspondents

Patrick Redford

A bookshelf set up on the streets of Manosque, France, with uneven shelves that bend and curve, overflowing with books.

Podcasts

Why The Book Thief Risked It All To Scam The Publishing World

Sarah Hagi

Arts And Culture

Finally, A Shitty Movie Where Muslims Are The Bad Guys

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

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.

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

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

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?

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)

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

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.