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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

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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebacker Lavonte David (54) eyes Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) and then David wraps up Lawrence for the sack during the regular season game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 24, 2023 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Jacksonville Jaguars

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

Fans look on during the eighth inning between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2022.

At Home With The Worst Team In Baseball

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Detail view of a DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement

Gambling

DraftKings Eats Shit, Reverses Course On Stupid Gaming Tax Surcharge

Soraya Roberts

Arts And Culture

Josh Hartnett Was Always Guaranteed To Jack You Up

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A yellowish lizard called the Jamaican giant galliwasp curled up in a jar of preservative

Creaturefector

How A 170-Year-Old Lizard Finally Came Home To Jamaica

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

Bronze medalist Jordan Chiles of Team United States celebrates after the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris, France.

Olympics

Gymnastics And IOC Leadership Found A Way To Screw Over Everyone

A man touches a mural by artist Bryan Peterson of the late Kobe Bryant depicted kissing his Academy Award on January 25, 2022 in Hollywood, California, a day before the two-year death anniversary of the former Los Angeles Lakers star. - Lakers star Kobe Bryant died with his daughter Gianna in a tragic helicopter crash which killed nine people on January 27, 2020. -

Funbag

Annoying Kobe Worship Is Here To Stay

Ray Ratto

Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals takes the field in the second inning during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, August 12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

An Only Moderately Disgusted Overview Of MLB’s Wild Card Races

Maitreyi Anantharaman

L.A. Sparks’ Dearica Hamby takes photos with her 8-week-old son Legend Scandrick during media day at El Camino College in Torrance on May 4, 2023.

WNBA

Dearica Hamby Sues The Aces And WNBA For Pregnancy Discrimination And Retaliation

Victor Robles blows a bubble gum bubble while swinging a bat.

The Mariners Found A Keeper In Washington’s Refuse

Luis Paez-Pumar

Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, and Kevin Hart as Roland in Borderlands.

Defector At The Movies

‘Borderlands’ Made Me Hate Video Games, Movies, And Even Cate Blanchett

Rohan Nadkarni

Head coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks watches a workout during Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on May 03, 2024 in Renton, Washington.

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Seattle Seahawks

Israel Daramola

Sagar Radia, Myha'la, Kit Harington, Marisa Abela and Ken Leung at HBO's "Industry" Season 3 Premiere held at The Metrograph Theater on August 5, 2024 in New York, New York.

Who’s Trending Up And Trending Down In The ‘Industry’ Season Premiere

Patrick Redford

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 25: Haason Reddick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 25, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Jets’ Quarterback Dysfunction Temporarily Overshadowed By Pass-Rusher Dysfunction

Kathryn Xu

Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox catches a fly ball during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies.

Nobody’s Waiting Around For Jarren Duran

Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks on during the NFL Preseason game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts on August 11, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Indianapolis Colts

Austin Dillon and Joey Logano drive side by side.

Racing

NASCAR Driver Goes Hungry Uncle Mode In Overtime To Steal A Controversial Victory

Patrick T. Dorsey is the writer of and a producer on the feature film FUTURE DATE, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Comedy Feature. You can hear him Thursdays on Defector Trivia, whenever Diana Moskovitz shouts, “Baaaaaaabe!”

Patrick T. Dorsey

Hailey van Lith #9 of Team United States attempts to fight past a screen by Gracia Alonso #44 of Team Spain while Sandra Ygueravide #13 of Team Spain drives past during a Women's 3x3 basketball semifinal game between the United States and Spain on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Esplanade Des Invalides on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France.

Who Is 3×3 Olympic Basketball For?

Victor Wembanyama of Team France in action during Men's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 12: Jumping Through Hoops

Defector Reads A Book

China Miéville Is Back

Giri Nathan

PARIS, FRANCE: AUGUST 11: A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket defended by Valeriane Ayayi #11 of Team France and Janelle Salaun #13 of Team France during the United States of America v France, Women's Basketball Gold Medal Game at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on August 11th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

The U.S. Women Win Gold In An Unfamiliar Nail-Biter

Lauren Theisen

Imane Khelif and three others pose with their medals at the Olympics

It Doesn’t Matter If The IBA Was Lying About Imane Khelif

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Lebron James #6 and Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States celebrate after their team's win against Team Serbia during a Men's basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Steph Curry Kept The U.S. On Top

Naomi Girma #4 of Team United States celebrates victory in the Women's Gold Medal match

The USWNT Is As Golden As Ever

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

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

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

circa 1955: Two elementary school students complete homework assignments together, the girl has a book, 'Living By God's Law,' next to her on the table.