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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.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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David Roth

Members of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Monday, September 30, 2024.

New York Mets v. Atlanta Braves

The Mets And Braves Played All Summer In A Day

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun celebrates her basket against the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter of Game One of the Semi-Finals during the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 29, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Sun defeated the Lynx 73-70.

Connecticut Sun v Minnesota Lynx – Game One

WNBA

Alyssa Thomas Knows Only One Way To Hit A Dagger

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Patrick Redford

Steve Ballmer speaks onstage at the Intuit Dome opening night event held at Intuit Dome on August 15, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Intuit Dome Opening Night – Press Conference

Clippers Fans, And Only Clippers Fans, Can Now Buy Alcohol At 3:17 In The Morning In California

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Israel Daramola

megalopolis-poster.avif

Arts And Culture

‘Megalopolis’ Is Both Ingeniously Stupid And Stupidly Genius

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Chairman Vince McMahon is introduced during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas &amp; Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WWE Monday Night Raw In Las Vegas

Pro Wrestling

‘Mr. McMahon’ Is An Incomplete Portrait Of Wrestling’s Reprehensible Kingpin

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Lauren Theisen

Denver Broncos v New York Jets

The Jets Feel Forever One Poke Away From Collapse

Chris Paul #3 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to referee Scott Foster #48 during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on November 22, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Golden State Warriors v Phoenix Suns

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 30: Who Do You Think You Are? We Am (Themeless)

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Barry Petchesky

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 23: A sign depicting Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf hangs from the upper deck during the ninth inning of a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Baltimore defeated Chicago 8-6. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Baltimore Orioles v Chicago White Sox

South Side Stand Up: Your Owner’s Open Letter Wasn’t The League’s Worst

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Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.

ohtani5050baseball

Shohei Ohtani Ends His Season Dismantling The Entire Concept Of The Decimal System

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

Then-head coach Rory Dames of Chicago Red Stars looks on against Washington Spirit during the NWSL Championship held at Lynn Family Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (

Rory Dames

Soccer

Rory Dames Disappeared From The SafeSport Database And SafeSport Isn’t Saying Why

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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

Sam Darnold?! Uh, Yeah. Sam Darnold.

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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.

Karl-Anthony Towns

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.

Ryan Williams Bama Football

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.

MLB: SEP 26 Angels at White Sox

Woof, The Angels

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

F1 Grand Prix of China

Racing

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

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)

Boston Bruins v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Six

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.

Los Angeles Angels v. Chicago White Sox

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

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

an adult Taiwanese tree frog inside a bamboo chute

K.eiffingeri adult Photo by Bun Ito

Creaturefector

Have You Considered Just Not Pooping?

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)

Texas Rangers v Oakland Athletics

The A’s Are Oakland’s No More

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Tom Ley

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

Screenshot 2024-09-26 at 4.36.37 PM

Defector Up All Night

Embattled Deputy Mayor Does Not Know Ball

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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

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Napheesa Collier Keeps The Lynx Cool

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.

New York Giants v Arizona Cardinals

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.

Kara Swisher In Conversation With Crooked Media Founders – 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals

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

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