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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

Ostia Antica. Latrine at the Domus of Triclini, headquarters of the guild of builders. 2nd century AD. Near Rome.

Funbag

What We Talk About When We Talk About Our Toilet Apps

Lauren Theisen

Mark Vientos rounds first base after hitting a grand slam

Mark Vientos Blew The Dodgers Away

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Conkers in boxes at the annual World Conker Championships at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, Peterborough. Picture date: Sunday October 13, 2024.

Life's Rich Pageant

Criminy! King Conker Charged With Cheeky Cheating At Conkers Contest

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on after their 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on October 13, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nick Sirianni Has Had It Up To Here With The Fans Of The Team He Coaches

Tom Ley

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets reacts after a play during the second half of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on October 14, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Jets Remain Allergic To Competence

Barry Petchesky

Screengrab of TBS showing a bad score bug that makes it look like there's always a runner on second.

TBS’s Score Bug Is Dreadful

Science

Let’s Go See What’s Swimming Around On Europa

Justin Ellis

A look inside the offices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a sign for FEMA sits in the foreground as we see the silhouettes of people against large monitors in the background.

Politics

It’s Not The Weather Machine That Is Making Life Shittier

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Trinity Rodman #2 of Washington Spirit in action against the OL Reign during the second half of the NWSL game at Audi Field on May 1, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 14: Flower Arrangement

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton #44 of the New York Liberty reacts during the second quarter of Game Two of the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays Center on October 13, 2024 in New York City.

WNBA

The Liberty Too-Smalled The Lynx

Emily Bice is a Brooklyn-based writer. Her work centers on explorations of how we navigate love and life in the 21st century. These investigations have taken her to a fishmonger, inspired meditations on dating, and even led to rollerblading a marathon. You can find more on her Substack, <a href="https://129waysto.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://129waysto.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728739707762000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1SlDWyDATtJJ90_yxFN0B1">129 Ways to Get a Life</a>.

Emily Bice

Emily skates in the final stretch of the marathon

The Great Outdoors

The View From The Way, Way Back Of The Berlin Inline Skating Marathon

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 yells at his coach, Doug Pederson during a game against the Houston Texans.

The Jaguars Are On The Cusp Of The Slope

Leland Smith #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers secures an onside kick late in the second half as Collin Dixon #17 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Champaign, Illinois.

College Football

How To Recover An Onside Kick

Lane Thomas #8 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a grand slam during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Five of the Division Series at Progressive Field on October 12, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lane Thomas Put Detroit’s Ace In A Hole 

Courtney Williams #10 and Bridget Carleton #6 of the Minnesota Lynx react after being fouled during the second half against the New York Liberty during Game One of the WNBA Finals at the Barclays Center on October 10, 2024 in New York City.

Was That The Greatest WNBA Finals Game Ever?

Rachelle Hampton

Northern lights are seen across a night sky; in the foreground, there's a telephone tower

It’s Totally Cool That I Didn’t Get To See The Northern Lights. Seriously! I Promise!!

The Mark Jackson 1990-91 NBA Hoops card with the Menendez Brothers courtside in the background

Why I Own An Unremarkable 1990 Mark Jackson Basketball Card

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A woman stands in front of a Sol LeWitt wall drawing at the Venice Biennale in 1976.

Arts And Culture

Who Owns An Idea?

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

The new Alchem-E Gold Ex drum set, made by Zildjian.

Life Lessons

Tom-Tom C’est Moi

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A screenshot of Thursday's game on TNT, showing the action pushed over to the left side of the screen.

MLB’s Television Product Is Getting Shittier In Exciting New Ways

David Roth

circa 1955: Studio image of a father flexing his bicep for his young freckle-faced son to feel, 1950s. (Photo by Harold M. Lambert/Lambert/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Let’s Remember Some Dad

A dirty empty plate, fork and knife on a wooden table. Used cutlery, symbolizing the end of lunch or dinner.

Jamboroo

I Got My Fill

Ray Ratto

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryan Brasier (57) hands the ball to manager Dave Roberts as he is taken out of the game one of the National League Division Series game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 5, 2024.

It Takes A Village To Pitch A Shutout

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a small shelled cephalopod known as a paper nautilus or an argonaut drifting in the dark ocean on a little yellow piece of litter

Creaturefector

The Argonaut Octopus Has Mastered The Free Ride

A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field which has been torn open due to Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024. At least four people were confirmed killed as a result of two tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton on the east coast of the US state of Florida, local authorities said Thursday. (Photo by Bryan R. SMITH / AFP)