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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

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Who’s Trending Up And Trending Down In The ‘Industry’ Season 3 Finale

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Sisters Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen pose for photos at the CFDA Fashion Awards, at the Brooklyn Museum in 2019

When Quiet Luxury Gets Loud

Luis Paez-Pumar

Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund celebrates the teams second on advertising band during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 1, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.

Soccer

Borussia Dortmund’s Newest Star Is Born

Barry Petchesky

UNITED STATES - 2013/08/27: Brown bear (Ursus arctos) or grizzly in Brooks River near Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Great Outdoors

Fat Bear Week Delayed By Bear Killing Bear

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jorge Soler of the Braves smokes a cigar after his team clinched a playoff berth.

The Shambling, Half-Dead Braves Have Gone Far Enough

Giri Nathan

Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks celebrates scoring against the Toronto Raptors during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2023 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images)

Julius Randle’s Knicks Tenure Was Exhilarating And Infuriating

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

one male yellow desert locust sitting on top of a brown female desert locust

Creaturefector

Get Yourself A Mate Who Will Be Your Sex Umbrella

Defector Staff

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after winning the NL West Division against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Everything We’re Looking Forward To In The 2024 MLB Playoffs

Kathryn Xu

Boston Red Sox 2B Vaughn Grissom slides to home plate past the tag by Tampa Bay Rays C Logan Driscoll in the third inning.

The 81-81 Red Sox Weren’t The Most Mediocre Team Of The Season

Ray Ratto

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Pete Rose, All-American

David Roth

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

The Mets And Braves Played All Summer In A Day

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.

WNBA

Alyssa Thomas Knows Only One Way To Hit A Dagger

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)

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

‘Megalopolis’ Is Both Ingeniously Stupid And Stupidly Genius

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.

Pro Wrestling

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

Lauren Theisen

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.

Crosswords

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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.