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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

A CVS pharmacy store on February 28, 2025 in San Diego, California

CVS Pharmacy In San Diego

Science

How Are You Supposed To Get The COVID Vaccine Now? An Explainer

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Ray Ratto

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers attends a press conference at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Center Gymnasium during his 2025 Asia Tour on August 23, 2025.

NBA Star Kawhi Leonard 2025 Asia Tour In China’s Sichuan Province

Kawhi Leonard And Los Angeles Clippers Implicated In Low-Effort Tree-Planting Scheme


<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

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22.

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Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Kansas City Chiefs

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Lauren Theisen

Gamers sample an assortment of pinball machines

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Video Games

Pinball Is Getting Too Fancy

Dan McQuade sits in a blue chair, which is big and fake leather-ish, and has big arms on it. He has his head resting on his left arm, which is on the left arm of the chair. He has long light brown hair, a beard cropped to his face, and I dunno I'd say he's pretty handsome, but I am biased as I am the subject of the photo. Dan is wearing a red shirt with a grey and white tabby cat's face on it, with a rose under (and patially covering) the cat. Under that it says DEFECTOR with the 4 degrees slant logo. He has on blue shorts or pants (they're shorts, I know they're shorts), they're not jeans but they're not sweats, like a sort of inbetween situation. There's a hospital admit bracelet on his left arm. His right arm is on the other arm of the couch.

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Stories

My Life With An Uncommon Cancer

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Barry Petchesky

fantasy football draft

Show Us Your Fantasy Football Team

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Tom Ley

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

New York Yankees v Houston Astros

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

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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)

2025 US Open – Day 9

Tennis

Naomi Osaka Is On To Her Second Act

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Israel Daramola

Alabama v Florida State

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>


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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.

Apple Holds Event To Showcase New Release Of iPhones, Watches and AirPods

Funbag

AirPods Have Broken The Social Contract

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Kathryn Xu

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

F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands

Racing

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

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David Roth

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Announcements

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

Texas v Ohio State

It’s Time To Overreact To Arch Manning

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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)

Washington Wizards v Boston Celtics

Podcasts

The Most Evil NBA Jersey Sponsors, Ranked

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.

TCU v North Carolina

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.

AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills v Kansas City Chiefs

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Buffalo Bills

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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

NTT IndyCar Series 109th Indianapolis 500

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.

TeixMessage

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

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Rachelle Hampton

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

Young woman feeling sick

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.

2025 US Open – Day 5

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.

President Trump Announces 2027 NFL Draft To Be Held On The National Mall

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Washington Commanders

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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.

Grimsby Town v Manchester United – Carabao Cup Second Round

Soccer

Everyone Wins When Manchester United Loses

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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

CrusaderKings3

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.

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies

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.

troops in union station

Margin Of Error

Well, He Sent In The Troops

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