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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

Patrick Wyman

Arts And Culture

Warhammer 40K Is Cool

Albert Burneko

1947: An altar boy kneeling at the altar of a cathedral in post-war Vienna.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Talk To My Kid About Religion?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Atletico de Madrid and Manchester United at Estadio Metropolitano on October 13, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.

Soccer

Manchester United Is Eating Itself Alive

Giri Nathan

New York Knicks owner James Dolan is interviewed by Ernie Johnson Jr. after his team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Punch Bowl Now More Turd Than Punch

Ray Ratto

Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after committing an error that scored Victor Mesa Jr. #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning in game two of the American League Championship Series on October 13, 2026. He does not look happy.

Good Baseball Isn’t Necessarily Beautiful

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

Podcasts

The Verdict Is In: Bo Nix Stinks

Tom Ley

Brian Flores’s Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Reveals Racist Recruiting Memo

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

Diana Moskovitz

Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the New York Jets during the third quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Tyreek Hill Found Liable For Two Counts Of Battery

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Birdfector

I Met The Twee Bird That Ruffled Kelly Clarkson’s Feathers

Maitreyi Anantharaman

The Atlanta Dream celebrate a 101-98 win over the New York Liberty during overtime of game two of the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs at State Farm Arena on October 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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.

WNBA

WNBA Capably Solves Logistical Problem

Kathryn Xu

Director Matt Reeves speaks with the logo from his movie "The Batman" in the background during the “The State of the Industry” and Neon Studio presentation.

This Is So Stupid

It’s Normal To Have Watched ‘The Batman’ Roughly Eight Times

Funbag

My Darkest Confession: Stone Temple Pilots Was A Great Band

Patrick Redford

What The Steve Ballmer Scandal Says About Sports Media

Samer Kalaf

Christine Brennan during an interview with Katie Couric

Journalismism

Christine Brennan Has Not Fully Lost It, According To Christine Brennan In Two Baffling Phone Calls

Jade Gu

Books

‘Fallow’ Explores A World Where Big Tech Has Disrupted Pregnancy

Barry Petchesky

The telescopes at Maunakea sit calmly beneath a sky filled with extraordinary light. Amongst these telescopes is Gemini North, the northern member of the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. Gemini North sits at an altitude of around 4200 meters (13,800 feet). Not only does this altitude facilitate world-class astronomical observations, but Gemini North’s nighttime Cloudcams were able to capture the extraordinary light phenomena seen on the right side of the image. The column of blue and red lights surrounded by a bright blaze of white light appears so otherworldly that it looks like it must be a special effect. This breathtaking image, however, is entirely real. It features the lightning phenomena named a red sprite. Red sprites are distinctive because of their color, and also the direction in which they strike. The red and blue lights are shooting down from 50-90 kilometers toward the top of the cloud deck. It is extremely rare to capture these phenomena on camera and even more so from this unique perspective. This image was taken on 24 July 2017.

Science

There Is Some Mighty Weird Stuff Going On Up There

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

William Contreras tosses his bat after drawing a walk.

The Brewers Are Walking Down Their Wounded Prey

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

College Football

‘Saban’ Has Nothing To Say About Its Subject Or The World He Helped Create

What Kind Of Villain Will Manchester City Be?

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs in to score after catching a 54-yard touchdown pass during a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 03, 2026, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, IA.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 12: Ripped From The Headlines

The Brewers Will Just Keep Doing This Until Someone Stops Them

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders reacts during the second quarter of the game against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Landover, Maryland.

Well, That’s The Dumbest Thing I’ve Seen In Some Time

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on October 4th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

Welcome The Philadelphia Eagles To Jaguars Junction

Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Heath Ozaeta #77 wears the Golden Hat and does Horns Down after winning the Allstate Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners on October 10, 2026, at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX.

OU-Texas Is The Last Truly Bonkers College Football Rivalry

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox looks on from the dugout during the seventh inning in game five of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. He looks frustrated.