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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

Lauren Theisen

Music

The Dream Of The 1980s Is Alive And Unwell On Atlantic City Playlists

Tom Ley

Journalismism

Jeff Bezos Made Someone Else’s Business Decision

David Roth

Politics

They’re Saying It

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a giant red-eyed tree frog sculpture at the rainforest cafe

Life's Rich Pageant

Who Lives At The Rainforest Cafe?

Kathryn Xu

Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees at home plate.

If This World Series Ends In A Sweep, I Will Launch The Yankees Into The Sun

Samer Kalaf

Nick Bosa appears on the Sunday Night Football postgame interview in a Make America Great Again hat

Nick Bosa Wants The Attention Without The Culpability

Luis Paez-Pumar

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL38 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 27, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico

Racing

Max Verstappen Finally Punished For Driving Like Max Verstappen

Albert Burneko

Erik Ten Hag walks through some soap bubbles on his way to the pitch for what turned out to be his final match as Manchester United manager.

English Premier League

More Like Erik Done Hag

Patrick Redford

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 27: Jameis Winston #5 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after his team's 29-24 win against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field on October 27, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Browns Win Because Of, Despite Jameis Winston

Ray Ratto

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy speaks to media at a press conference after the game against the Detroit Lions on October 13, 2024. He is wearing a plaid Cowboys hat and looks exhausted.

Mike McCarthy Is Still Sitting In The Hottest Seat In Sports

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Hoang&#8211;Kim Vu is the co-editor of the Defector Crossword. His puzzles have appeared in multiple venues, including the New York Times, L.A. Times, and USA Today.

Hoang-Kim Vu

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after Enrique Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a triple in the fifth inning during Game One of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 28: A Cryptic!

Barry Petchesky

The Commanders Pulled Off The Perfect Hail Mary

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets walks off the field after the game against the New England Patriots

The Jets Are All Out Of Scapegoats And Need A Quarterback

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers asks for the crowd to quiet down as Anthony Davis #3 shots free throws against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter

These Lakers Already Feel Different

LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates against the Houston Rocketsduring the second half at Toyota Center on October 23, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

The Hornets Are Under Construction, But LaMelo Ball Is Still Really Fun To Watch

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sustains a shoulder injury while trying to seal second base during the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 4-2 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series

Ah Shit, Shohei Ohtani Messed Up His Shoulder

Freddie Freeman points his bat at the sky in the foreground while various Dodgers fans watch his game-winning grand slam home run and freak out in the background. This was from Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, at Dodgers Stadium.

That’s How You Start A World Series

A family plays the board game Risk at home

Risk Week

In A Game Of Risk, The Frustration Is The Point

Soraya Roberts

In Communion With MJ Lenderman

David Gardner is a writer based in New York. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, The Ringer, and other outlets.

David Gardner

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

Taylor Swift performs onstage for night one of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 07, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Capital

How Public Stadiums Keep Some Profits Private

A screenshot of two blonde women looking at each other, one playing the slots, in a 60s-era casino

If You Don’t Play, You Can’t Win

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Defector At The Movies

‘Rap World’ Remembers The Truth About Suburban Malaise

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, illuminated by somewhat spooky crimson light during the pregame ceremonies ahead of Thursday night's road game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Victor Wembanyama’s Hands Missed Opening Night

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Everything I Expect From Atlantic City, Based On The ‘Rugrats’ Vacation Episode

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

Voiture 4x4 de marque Jeep Cherokee à Tignes, France.