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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

Defector's 5th Birthday Party is on September 10 in Brooklyn

5th birthday party

Birthday party 2025

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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.

Chicago Bears v Green Bay Packers

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

Kiyoshi Kurosawa Portrait Session – The 81st Venice International Film Festival

Arts And Culture

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Visions Of Hell


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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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.

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

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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

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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.

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Baby Racer Stunts On Competitors By Standing Up And Walking

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The Cowboys’ Annual Contract Stalemate Has A Fun New Twist

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Kathryn Xu

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

Texas Rangers v Seattle 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>


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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)

New Orleans Saints Training Camp

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New Orleans Saints

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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.

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The Emmanuel Clase Market Is Perhaps Understandably Bearish

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


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Nicholas Russell

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

Lady Gaga – The MAYHEM Ball Tour – Los Angeles

Music

No Journey With Lady Gaga Is Ever Wasted

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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.

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The Backlog

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

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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.

Division Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres – Game 3

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

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


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Chris Thompson

Royce Lewis

The Minnesota Twins Are Finished

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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.

Phoenix Mercury v New York Liberty

Podcasts

A Huge W, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

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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.

Dallas Cowboys v Carolina Panthers

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.

Pittsburgh Pirates v San Francisco Giants

Rafael Devers Is Living Proof That No One Knows Anything

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Brandy Jensen

Defector Reads A Book: The Art of Fielding

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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

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High School Sports

Minnesota Softball Has A Title IX Problem

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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)

MLB: JUL 30 Rays at Yankees

The Anthony Volpe Experience Will Give You Whiplash

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

New York City Exteriors And Landmarks

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.

New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx

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.

BIG3 – Week Six

Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Running Illegal And Depressing Poker Games

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

Phoenix Suns v Dallas Mavericks – Game Six

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)

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