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Defector

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Pitching coach Carl Willis #51 of the Cleveland Guardians makes a mound visit in the second inning during Game 2 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 in New York, New York.

Crosswords

The Crossword, August 4: Big Finish

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<p>Mike Tanier has covered the NFL for 20 years for Football Outsiders, the New York Times, The Messenger, Bleacher Report, Sports on Earth, and other ancient empires. He&#8217;s a co-author of Aaron Schatz&#8217;s FTN Football Almanac and the author of the Y/A novel for grownups <i>Long Snapper&#8217;s Blues. </i>He lives off Exit 3 of the New Jersey Turnpike with his long-suffering wife, two sons and a 70-pound American Bully named Frank the Tank. <span style="font-weight: 400">His new Substack, <a href="https://miketanier.substack.com/">Too Deep Zone</a>, has officially launched.</span></p>
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Mike Tanier

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass while being tackled by Edgerrin Cooper #56 of the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on January 05, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Chicago Bears

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<p>Robert Rubsam writes fiction and nonfiction. His work has appeared in the NYT Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Baffler, and Liberties. He is a contributing writer for Commonweal Magazine.</p>
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Robert Rubsam

Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa poses for the photographer during the 81st Venice International Film Festival

Arts And Culture

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Visions Of Hell


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

A general view of Bristol Motor Speedway during the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic presented by BulidSubmarines.com between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, August 3, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee.

MLB’s Speedway Classic Featured Only A Mild Amount Of Mayhem! Mayhem! Mayhem!

Samer Kalaf

Blaze, the Connecticut Sun mascot, waves a flag during starting lineup introductions before a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at TD Garden

WNBA

A WNBA Team In Boston Seems Like A No-Brainer

Three images, stills from a baby race on a basketball court at a Las Vegas Aces WNBA game. The first one is the baby, clad in pink, crawling. The second is the baby taking her first steps! The third is the baby hugging her mom as she reaches the finish line walking. The crowd is going wild the whole time.

Baby Racer Stunts On Competitors By Standing Up And Walking

The Cowboys’ Annual Contract Stalemate Has A Fun New Twist

Kathryn Xu

Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners tips his cap during his first at bat back with the Mariners.

Jerry Dipoto Will Never Stop Doing Jerry Dipoto Things

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JULY 24: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs during a training camp practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New Orleans Saints

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) celebrates following the Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and Cleveland Guardians on July 18, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

The Emmanuel Clase Market Is Perhaps Understandably Bearish

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at The Kia Forum on July 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Music

No Journey With Lady Gaga Is Ever Wasted

Luis Paez-Pumar

Left half: A screenshot from Fall Guys, with the Beans running up a slipper slope. Right half: A screenshot from Among Us, with an impostor killing a crewmate.

The Backlog

‘Fall Guys’ And ‘Among Us’ Gave 2020 The Parties It Needed

Ray Ratto

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller looks on before Game Three of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on October 8, 2024.

The Padres And Twins Did The Absolute Most At The MLB Trade Deadline

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

The Minnesota Twins Are Finished

David Roth

Isabelle Harrison and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty making some fantastic What Can You Do faces on the bench during a July 25 game against the Phoenix Mercury.

Podcasts

A Huge W, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Tom Ley

Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers makes a call from the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Carolina Panthers

Rafael Devers of the San Francisco Giants looks on walking back to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the ninth.

Rafael Devers Is Living Proof That No One Knows Anything

Brandy Jensen

Defector Reads A Book: The Art of Fielding

Defector Reads A Book

The Art Of Reading

<p>Maggie Mertens is a freelance journalist in Seattle, and the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/better-faster-farther-how-running-changed-everything-we-know-about-women-maggie-mertens/20674936?ean=9781643753355" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/better-faster-farther-how-running-changed-everything-we-know-about-women-maggie-mertens/20674936?ean%3D9781643753355&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1754022936515000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1qsnDemLKZppvFS2kpVCTH">BETTER FASTER FARTHER: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women</a>. She also sometimes writes and sends the newsletters <a href="https://maggiemertens.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://maggiemertens.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1754022936515000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lAUeT18_qV95dy9jg9Sg0">My So-Called Feminist Life</a> and <a href="https://gilmorewomen.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gilmorewomen.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1754022936515000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hLBDLFWCAWpJsqvPzljRr">Gilmore Women</a>.</p>
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Maggie Mertens

High School Sports

Minnesota Softball Has A Title IX Problem

Barry Petchesky

BRONX, NY - JULY 30: New York Yankees Shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) fields a ground ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays Designated Hitter Yandy Diaz (2) (not pictured) during the eighth inning of a Major League Baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees on July 30, 2025, at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

The Anthony Volpe Experience Will Give You Whiplash

The front of the New York Times building on 8th Avenue during sunset

Journalismism

The New York Times Clarifies That A Starving Child In Gaza Also Needs Medical Care

Alanna Smith #8 of the Minnesota Lynx passes around Marine Johannes #23 of the New York Liberty during the first quarter at Target Center on July 30, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: 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.

It’s Time To Lock In On The Lynx And Liberty

Dave McKenna

Head coach Gilbert Arenas of the Enemies runs out during introductions against the Trilogy during BIG3 Week Six at Comerica Center on July 23, 2022 in Frisco, Texas.

Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Running Illegal And Depressing Poker Games

Luka Doncic dunks the ball as a member of the Dallas Mavericks

Men’s Health Article Hallucinates Luka Doncic With A 42-Inch Vertical

DETROIT, MI - JULY 29: Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (31) gets congratulated in the dugout following his two run homer in the fifth inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday July 29, 2025 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)