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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

Barry Petchesky

Show Us Your Fantasy Football Team

Tom Ley

The New York Yankees against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 2, 2025 in Houston, TX.

Catching A Pissed-Off Framber Valdez Should Come With Hazard Pay

Giri Nathan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates after defeating Coco Gauff of the United States during their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Tennis

Naomi Osaka Is On To Her Second Act

Israel Daramola

Death To The NCAA

Alabama Football, Welcome To Mediocrity

<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

The new Apple AirPods Max are displayed during an Apple special event at Apple headquarters on September 09, 2024 in Cupertino, California. Apple held an event to showcase the new iPhone 16, Airpods and Apple Watch models.

Funbag

AirPods Have Broken The Social Contract

Kathryn Xu

Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari sits out after a crash.

Racing

Let’s Appreciate Some Photos Of A Dejected Charles Leclerc Retreating To The Grassy Wild

David Roth

Announcements

Defector And Immaculate Grid Present: The Guys Of The 21st Century

It’s Time To Overreact To Arch Manning

Patrick Redford

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 9: The Nike, Robinhood jersey of Tyus Jones #5 of the Washington Wizards is seen during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 9, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Podcasts

The Most Evil NBA Jersey Sponsors, Ranked

Ray Ratto

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on prior to the game against the TCU Horned Frogs. He's sort of grimacing but maybe also smiling by his standards? Hard to say. Looks bad.

College Football

Bill Belichick Gets Ass Handed To Him In College Football Debut

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<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is unable to cross the goal line during a two-point conversion attempt during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Buffalo Bills

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Álex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing) celebrates winning the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 1: Flushing Out

A screengrab from Mark Teixeira's website for his congressional run. He's holding out a baseball and grinning and wearing a tight red golf shirt. It looks like an ad for a real estate agency.

Mark Teixeira Is Ready To Do Whatever It Is Congress Guys Have To Do

Rachelle Hampton

A young woman at home, feeling sick. She is, appropriately, holding her lower back.

Life Lessons

I Hurt My Back

Fans celebrate after Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil defeated Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Five of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Defector Up All Night

Have A Chill Time In The Labor Day Weekend Open Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the NFL Draft in the Oval Office of the White House on May 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. Joined by, (L-R) Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Trump announced that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held on the National Mall.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Washington Commanders

Billy Haisley

Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United reacts during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England.

Soccer

Everyone Wins When Manchester United Loses

Luis Paez-Pumar

Loading screen from Crusader Kings 3, showing a group of four people crowded around a chess board.

The Backlog

Embrace ‘Crusader Kings III’ And It Will Take Over Your Life

2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kyle Schwarber Had A Real Shot At Home Run History

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Armed members of the National Guard patrol Union Station on August 27, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Margin Of Error

Well, He Sent In The Troops

It’s Time To See What Arch Manning Can Do

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 11: Jerry Jones attends the Premiere of Netflix's "America's Team: The Gambler And His Cowboys" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on August 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

What’s In Jerry Jones’s Head?

Kelsey McKinney

Food

I Apologize For The Behavior Of Barry “The Popcorn Moron” Petchesky

Justin Jefferson wearing sunglasses and looking up and to the left, smiling widely. He's not in uniform. I put the little Defector logo up there so it looks like he's smiling at it.

Jerry Jones Promises He’ll Be Normal, With Kalyn Kahler

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