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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

Jonny DeLuca of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a double as Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during the second inning in game two of the American League Division Series.

The Yankees Look Meek And Flubby

Barry Petchesky

A residential area on a quiet, atmospheric evening with street lights outside the houses on the street. The cover of the book 'Incidents Around The House.'

Defector Reads A Book

Defector Reads A Book Is Spooked By Some ‘Incidents Around The House’

Lauren Theisen

A general view of the Arizona State Sun Devils logo

College Hockey

Will Matthew Mayich’s Collapse Change Anything?

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Newly discovered branching worm, Ramisyllis kingghidorahi, named after Godzilla's nemesis. Its head is at the left

Creaturefector

This Worm Has No Ifs And Many Butts

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

LeBron James dressed in Philly gear at a preseason NBA game.

LeBron James Is Commuting In A Fanatics Helicopter

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrate with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the Bob Cousy Trophy during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Knicks And Nets Give Me High Fives, With Hell Gate

Kathryn Xu

Sean Burke #59 of the Chicago White Sox looks on during Game Two of the American League Division Series.

White Sox Touched By God, Or Perhaps Merely Joyful Exuberance

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Angel Reese #5 defends as DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Atlanta Dream steals the ball from Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty during the fourth quarter of game one of the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs at State Farm Arena on October 04, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

WNBA

The Atlanta Dream Can Poke And Prod You To Death

Kelsey McKinney

dark painting of the moon shining through some clouds

Arts And Culture

Phoebe Bridgers Showed Us How To See In The Dark

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on October 4, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Patience Is Paying Off For Bryce Young

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Korean students study in an auditorium in Seoul's Songshin Women's University.

Books

The Case Against Exceptionalism

Didier Fuentes of the Atlanta Braves reacts to a play during Game Two of the National League Division Series. Positively, at that. He's in profile, pumping his fist.

Atlanta’s Least Heralded Relievers Did The Most

Lucy Yu stands in front of her bookstore, Yu & Me Books

How Lucy Yu Learned To Ask For Help

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

Jaguars Junction: Week 4

Cari Spears #23 spikes the ball during the third set of a match against the USC Trojans at Gregory Gymnasium on September 2, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 5: Overheard In New York

Kaitlyn Chen (2) blocks a shot by Mai Yamamoto (18) in the second half as the Golden State Valkyries played the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA playoffs semifinals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.

The Valkyries Are Fighting Firepower With Frenzy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: A distraught Eagles fan is shown in fourth quarter during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on October 4th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Eagles Fans Demonstrate How To Get Humbled By Opposing Coaches

Tom Ley

Jackson Chourio Was Nails

Drew Rasmussen throws a pitch in front of packed stands.

They Packed The Trop And Were Treated To A Gem

Ty France gestures at the ceiling after his fly ball is caught.

Ty France And The Padres Thwarted By Good Old Reality

A screenshot of the finished cake, from the show.

Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Lurches Unsteadily Into Cake Week

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 19:  Running back Jadan Baugh #13 of the Florida Gators celebrates with team after a win over the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare stadium on September 19, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama.

College Football

It’s Time To Separate The Real Teams From The Clowns

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Cheryl Reeve of the New York Liberty reacts in the first quarter against the Minnesota Lynx during game two of the WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on September 29, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

The Too-Small Lynx Will Have To Answer Some Big Questions

David Roth

Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) (L) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) display a sign accusing former Special Counsel Jack Smith of meeting with Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on September 29, 2026. Everyone looks pretty pleased with themselves.

Politics

Jack Smith Did Not Conspire Against Donald Trump While Watching Steph Curry Score 60 Points In An Overtime Loss To The Hawks

A wagon of the suspended railway Schwebebahn is pictured in Wuppertal, Germany.