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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

Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sam Darnold?! Uh, Yeah. Sam Darnold.

Rachelle Hampton

Brazilian gymnast Flávia Saraiva kisses her medal.

Gymnastics

Flávia Saraiva Remains A Star

Donte DiVincenzo talks with Josh Hart of the New York Knicks. Both are standing on the court, looking at something to the left off camera.

The Trade Is The Cruelest Thing In Sports

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up prior to Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at Target Center on May 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Knicks And Wolves Made The Confusing Trade We Expect From Them

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) rushes the ball as Georgia Bulldogs defensive back KJ Bolden (4) defends during the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide on September 28, 2024, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL.

College Football

The Best College Football Game Of The Year Has Happened

Matt Thaiss of the Los Angeles Angels strikes out swinging during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox on September 26,2024. His helmet's all wonky on his head.

Woof, The Angels

Kathryn Xu

Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with a shoey.

Racing

No One Gets To Drive Off Into The Sunset In F1, Even Daniel Ricciardo

Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON - MAY 2: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with mascot Carlton the Bear after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

It’s Autumn And The Leafs Are Falling

<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

Andrew Benintendi gives a kind of grim looking thumbs-up in profile after completing a TV interview following his walk-off hit in the Chicago White Sox's win on September 24.

“We’re Trying To Focus On Losing”: A Night With The White Sox At The Edge Of History

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

an adult Taiwanese tree frog inside a bamboo chute

Creaturefector

Have You Considered Just Not Pooping?

Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: The Oakland Athletics mascot, Stomper, waves to the crowd after the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California. Today will be the final Athletics game played at the Coliseum. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The A’s Are Oakland’s No More

Tom Ley

Phil Banks refusing to answer questions about Eric Adams's indictment.

Defector Up All Night

Embattled Deputy Mayor Does Not Know Ball

Giri Nathan

Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx looks to shoot against Sophie Cunningham #9 of the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter in Game Two

WNBA

Napheesa Collier Keeps The Lynx Cool

David Roth

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants warms up for the game with the Arizona Cardinals on November 23, 2008. It looks like he's looking at the Distraction logo at upper right of the frame.

Podcasts

The Plaxico Continuum

Jon Lovett sits on stage in a chair, cross-legged. He holds his hands apart and looks at the audience with a sort of chagrined expression.

‘Survivor’ Should Bring Back Jon Lovett Just So He Can Bomb Again

Lauren Theisen

Wide view of Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd during AEW Dynamite

Pro Wrestling

AEW Can Be Too Much

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

Father cooking on barbecue with wife and daughters

Jamboroo

I Have Given My Sons The Gift Of Fire

New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks to the press outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City, on September 26, 2024, after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. US federal agents raided the official residence of Mayor Adams early September 26 ahead of the expected announcement of criminal charges against the former city cop once touted as a rising Democratic Party star. The search at the residence known as Gracie Mansion began before dawn, and is the latest shock twist in a graft investigation against the Adams administration. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / POOL / AFP)

Politics

The Most Unbelievable Bits From NYC Mayor Eric Adams’s Indictment

a red fish called a sea robin, which has big fins and six stick-like "legs" that it uses to walk on the seafloor

This Fish Has A Leg Up On The Competition

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka (3) scrambles with the ball past Kansas defensive end Dylan Wudke (95) during the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the UNLV Rebels on Friday September 13, 2024 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Matthew Sluka Debacle Exposes The NIL System For What It Is

A general view of the Oakland Athletics playing against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Never Forget What Killed The Oakland A’s

Journalismism

The Truth Is An Inconvenience For Jake Tapper And Dana Bash

A screencap of some unhappy Detroit Bridgerton Themed Ball attendees

Life's Rich Pageant

‘Bridgerton’ Fans Paid Hundreds To Attend Sham Ball Organized By Uncle-Niece Duo

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Dream in Game Two of Round One of the WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on September 24, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Liberty won 91-82.

The Liberty Need This Do-It-All Version Of Sabrina Ionescu

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping