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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

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


Nicholas Russell

Life's Rich Pageant

Everyone At The Christian Influencer Convention Was Trapped

Luis Paez-Pumar

The Premier League trophy after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Soccer

Title And Relegation: A Preview Of The 2023-24 Premier League Season

Ray Ratto

REGINA, CANADA - JULY 6: Tomas Jack-Kurdyla #64 of the Edmonton Elks on the sideline before the game between the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on July 6, 2023 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Brent Just/Getty Images)

Edmonton Elks Till I Die, Which Given Their Play Will Be Shortly

Barry Petchesky

Science

A Quick Update On A Thing 28 Billion Light Years Away

Maitreyi Anantharaman

A screenshot of Liz Cambage as she talks to Bleacher Report reporter Taylor Rooks.

WNBA

Australians, Nigerians, Americans Unite In Inspiring Global Effort To Debunk Liz Cambage


<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 smiling after she competes on the balance beam during the Core Hydration Classic at Now Arena on August 05, 2023 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Gymnastics

Simone Biles Is Using A Spotter For Her Vault, And That’s A Good Thing

Salma Paralluelo of Spain celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Spain and Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Salma Paralluelo Shook The Netherlands Out Of The World Cup

David Roth

Pete Alonso high-fives his teammates in the Mets dugout after hitting a two-run homer against the Cubs on August 9, 2023.

Podcasts

Pete Alonso Emo Chat, With Lindsey Adler

Kathryn Xu

A photo of Michael Lorenzen pointing to the sky after he pitched a no hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Michael Lorenzen Is The Best Kind Of Welcome-To-Philly Story

Billy Haisley

Leo Messi control ball in the first half time at Toyota Stadium on August 6, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

Lionel Messi Has Earned His American Victory Lap

Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON - MARCH 08: US Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Thomas and fellow Justice Anthony Kennedy spoke about concerns with the ongoing remodeling of the court building, the reduction of paperwork due to electronic media and the disparity of pay between federal judges and lawyers working in the private sector. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Clarence Thomas

Politics

Clarence Thomas Absolutely Loves Going On Vacations

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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

A July 17 photo of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA, during the 'Fearless' set.

Arts And Culture

You Must Understand That Taylor Swift Knows Me Better Than Anyone Else On Earth

<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

Aaron Rodgers attends the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 06, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: New York Jets

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


Sabrina Imbler

3D models of a parrotfish and trumpetfish are pulled on a line across a sandy reef.

Creaturefector

Trumpetfish Are Champions Of Hide And Sneak

UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 03: ROYAL ALBERT HALL Photo of BAND, L-R: Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm (playing guitar), Rick Danko, Richard Manuel (on drums), Garth Hudson - performing live onstage (Photo by Mick Gold/Redferns)

Music

The Last Of The Band

Albert Burneko

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, looking quite pissed off.

The San Francisco Giants And Cable TV Conspired To Prevent This Blog, But Failed

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 26: A Northwestern Wildcats helmet is seen at Big Ten football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

College Football

If It’s Northwestern Against The World, Lay The Points

FLUSHING, NY - AUGUST 08: Chicago Cubs First Baseman Jeimer Cajndelario (9) and Chicago Cubs Center Fielder Cody Bellinger (24) hi five to celebrate the victory after the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets on August 8, 2023, at Citi Field in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

The Cubs Have Been Good All Along

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during the Cleveland Browns OTAs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 31, 2023 in Berea, Ohio.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Cleveland Browns

Israel Daramola

New Documentary Makes It Clear Johnny Manziel Has Learned Nothing From His Glory Days

<p>Sean T. Collins has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Decider, Pitchfork, and many others. He lives with his family on Long Island.</p>


Sean T. Collins

Jon Moxley delivers a move to Anthony Bowens during the AEW Dynamite - Beach Break taping on January 26, 2022, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH.

Pro Wrestling

How Queer Pro Wrestlers Are Handling America’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Heel Turn

Lauren Theisen

The Orioles Have Big Dreams And A Small Man In Charge

Tom Ley

A view of the ESPN logo on a camera after the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 30, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Media Meltdowns

ESPN Is About To Get Much More Annoying

New York City Mayor Eric Adams sitting at a literal table with some restauranteurs at the Manhattan restaurant Ali Baba. This is not the same as the figurative "table of success" at which his haters are his waiters.

A Seat At The Table Of Success

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


Chris Thompson

Colin Cowherd blathers on about quarterbacks on his FS1 show.