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Defector

Kathryn Xu

Pedro Grifol scuffles with Guardians coaches

Losing Has Revealed The Rot At The Heart Of The White Sox

Albert Burneko

Ousmane Dembélé in a Barcelona hoodie, smiling.

Soccer

What The Hell Is Going On With Ousmane Dembélé?

<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

Will Levis waits to be drafted in the green room backstage during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Tennessee Titans

Israel Daramola

William Friedkin attends the La Lecon De Cinema photocall during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2016 in Cannes, France.

Arts And Culture

In An Era Of Gnarly Filmmakers, William Friedkin Aimed To Be The Gnarliest

Alex Sujong Laughlin

WASHINGTON, DC - April 7: The fossilized 36 million-year-old skeleton of a tree squirrel known as Douglassciurus jeffersoni is on display as part of the "Objects of Wonder" exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Paleontologist Gene Hunt, pictured, said it's one of the most complete prehistoric squirrel skeletons ever discovered. (By John Kelly/The Washington Post)

Funbag

Where Are All The Squirrel Skeletons?

Billy Haisley

Leicy Santos of Colombia controls the ball during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Colombia and Jamaica at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 8, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

Colombia Knocked Out Jamaica And Can Now Return To Normal


<p>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</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Simone Biles celebrates with her coach Laurent Landi after competing on the vault at the Core Hydration Classic at Now Arena on August 05, 2023 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Gymnastics

Simone Biles Is Having Fun Again

Lauren Theisen

Aaron Boone Is Helpless

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


Chris Thompson

Orioles TV and radio play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown, from a 2019 MASN segment.

Media Meltdowns

Orioles Eat Mountains Of Shit After Suspending Broadcaster For Congratulating Improved Team

Luis Paez-Pumar

Kenza Dali (3rd R) of France celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between France and Morocco at Hindmarsh Stadium on August 08, 2023 in Adelaide / Tarntanya, Australia.

France Is Taking Care Of Business

Tom Ley

Randal Grichuk #15 of the Los Angeles Angels fails to deny a two-run double by Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 7, 2023 in Anaheim, California.

That’s What The Angels Get For Trying

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Couples take to the floor in the 'Crossword Puzzle' dance at East Ham Palais de Dance.

Crosswords

Introducing The Defector Crossword

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


Sabrina Imbler

A reconstruction of the ancient enormous whale Perucetus colossus

Creaturefector

Why He Look Like That?

Patrick Redford

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 06: Gold medal winner Mathieu Van Der Poel of The Netherlands reacts after the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023, Men Elite Road Race a 271.1km one day race from Edinburgh to Glasgow / #UCIWT / on August 06, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

No Amount Of Pain Could Keep Mathieu van der Poel From His Masterpiece

Lauren James of England stamps on Michelle Alozie of Nigeria which later leads to a red card being shown following a Video Assistant Referee review during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between England and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on August 07, 2023 in Brisbane / Meaanjin, Australia.

Nigeria Played Great And Made England Butt-Stomping Mad

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: USA players react as Sophia Smith of USA misses her team's fifth penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Sunrise Is Way Too Early To Be Crying For The USWNT

A laser's view of the interior of a hohlraum, the capsule at the ignition point of the fusion reaction.

Science

Researchers Have Once Again Kicked Fusion’s Ass With Bitchin’ Lasers

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><span id=":g4.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> </i>and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/"><i>Infinite Inning </i>podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF"><i>Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</i></a>.</span></div>
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Steven Goldman

Domingo German of the New York Yankees leaves the mound during a home game against the Chicago Cubs in July of 2023.

Underneath The Bottle

Ray Ratto

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 25: Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks speaks with the media at the 2023 NHL Awards player availability at the Bridgestone Arena on June 25, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Erik Karlsson Had To Go

Caitlin Foord of Australia celebrates after scoring her team's first goal with teammates during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Root, Root, Root For The Host Team

Heather Carr, Brooklyn Carr, Dallas Carr, Derek Carr of the New Orleans Saints, are seen after Carr signed a four-year contract with the Saints at New Orleans Saints Indoor Practice Facility on March 11, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: New Orleans Saints

WNBA

Sabrina Ionescu Is An Avalanche

David Roth

Orioles infielder Ramon Urias slides in under the tag of Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez in an Orioles win on August 4, 2023.

The Mets Have Unlocked The Basement

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson next to each other in season two of HBO's series "Winning Time."

‘Winning Time’ Is Back And Still Ridiculous

Jordan Travis of Florida State celebrates a touchdown against Florida at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee in 2022.