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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>A. Frog is a freelance writer living in Japan.</p>


A. Frog

A female green and gold bell frog eating the leg and holding the leg of a male frog

Creaturefector

I’ve Never Messed Up So Bad

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<p>Mike Tanier has covered the NFL for 20 years for Football Outsiders, the New York Times, The Messenger, Bleacher Report, Sports on Earth, and other ancient empires. He&#8217;s a co-author of Aaron Schatz&#8217;s FTN Football Almanac and the author of the Y/A novel for grownups <i>Long Snapper&#8217;s Blues. </i>He lives off Exit 3 of the New Jersey Turnpike with his long-suffering wife, two sons and a 70-pound American Bully named Frank the Tank. <span style="font-weight: 400">His newsletter, <a href="https://too-deep-zone.ghost.io/">Too Deep Zone</a>, has officially launched.</span></p>
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Mike Tanier

Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans signs autographs before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Nashville, Tennessee at Nissan Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Houston, Texas. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 28-20.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Tennessee Titans

Luis Paez-Pumar

Head coach of Canada Beverly Priestman gestures during Quarterfinals - 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup between Canada and Costa Rica at BMO Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Olympics

Canada Manager Did Not Realize Writing Emails About Her Drone Spying Plot Was A Bad Idea

Ray Ratto

Mike Baumann #53 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during the game against the Chicago White Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 12, 2024 in Seattle.

Mike Baumann Is The MLB Trade Deadline’s Holy Vagabond

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

Olga Kharlan of Ukraine celebrates as she wins bronze medal after competing against Choi Se-bin (not seen) of South Korea in the Fencing Women's Foil Individual on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais in Paris, France on July 29, 2024.

Olga Kharlan Came All The Way Back In Paris

Israel Daramola

Ryan Reynolds makes the smug face that is his only face.

Arts And Culture

Ryan Reynolds Is Cinema’s Antichrist

Kelsey McKinney

Peacock Made The Perfect Olympics Experience For Sickos Like Me

Giri Nathan

US' Coco Gauff speaks with an official after a call goes against her while playing Croatia's Donna Vekic during their women's singles third round tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on July 30, 2024.

Coco Gauff’s Olympic Singles Run Ends With An Umpire Argument And Tears


<p>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

Team USA pose for a photo during the women's gymnastics at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France on July 28, 2024.

Team USA Had To Find Its Steel In Order To Reclaim Its Gold

Patrick Redford

Japan's #08 Rui Hachimura leaves the court after being sent off for committing to successive unsporting fouls in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between Japan and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 30, 2024.

Cheating-Ass France Men’s Basketball Needed A Pair Of Miracles To Beat Japan

Alex Sedrick #8 of Team United States scores her team's second and winning try during the Women's Rugby Sevens Bronze medal match between Team United States and Team Australia on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France.

She Ran! Watch Her Run!

<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

Chef carving perfectly cooked prime rib roast beef

Funbag

This Is The Most Photogenic Food In The World

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

PARIS, FRANCE July 29, 2024-USA's Jagger Eaton falls on his last attempt to win a gold medal of the Men's street skateboard competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France Monday. Eaton won the silver medal. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Explain To Me Your Music Choices, Now

Defector Staff

A flyer displaying the Defector summer sale price

Announcements

The Defector Summer Sale Stands Against Greedflation

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 06: (L-R) Daniel Jones #8 and head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants during New York Giants OTA Offseason Workouts at NY Giants Quest Diagnostics Training Center on June 06, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: New York Giants

Lauren Theisen

Pro Wrestling

Flaws Can Make A Wrestler Feel Real

Gold medalist Yuto Horigome of Team Japan (C), Silver medalist Jagger Eaton of Team United States (L) and Bronze medalist Nyjah Huston of Team United States (R) pose on the podium uring the Men's Street Finals on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France.

In Street Skateboarding’s Second Olympics, Japan Cements Itself On Top

ELANCOURT, FRANCE - JULY 29: Thomas Pidcock of Team Great Britain competes during the Men's Cross-Country on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Elancourt Hill on July 29, 2024 in Elancourt, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Tom Pidcock Scandalizes Delicate French Fans By Being Too Good At Bike Racing

A surfer in a blue wetsuit carries a light blue surfboard with him as he walks into the ocean. He is holding a Palestinian flag in his right hand and wearing a keffiyeh around his head.

The Great Outdoors

Surfers Show Solidarity At A Paddle-Out For Palestine

PARIS, FRANCE: JULY 27: Stephen Nedoroscik of the United States prepares to perform his pommel horse routine during Artistic Gymnastics, Men's Qualification at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on July 27th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Stephen Nedoroscik Is The Bespectacled King Of The Pommel Horse

Albert Burneko

Nico Williams left winger of Spain and Athletic Club Bilbao celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Soccer

Barcelona’s Pursuit Of Nico Williams Is Yet Another Degrading Farce

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain, Novak Djokovic of Serbia competing in the Men's Singles Second Round during Day 3 of Tennis - Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal And Novak Djokovic Play One More For The Road

<div>Isle McElroy is the author of the novels <i>The Atmospherians </i>and<i> People Collide</i>, which was named a best book of 2023 by Vogue, NPR, Them, and the New York Times Critics.</div>
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Isle McElroy

Emma Stone in a scene from Kinds of Kindness

Defector At The Movies

‘Kinds Of Kindness’ Isn’t Supposed To Be Funny

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


Chris Thompson

Jayson Tatum not playing in the Olympics.

Steve Kerr Needs Some Better Excuses

Vanessa Gilles #14 of Team Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal during the Women's group A match between France and Canada during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on July 28, 2024 in Saint-Etienne, France.