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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

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A Timema douglasi stick insect on a Douglas fir

Creaturefector

Asexual Insect Accused Of Having Sex!

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Inglewood, California.

The Eagles Must Run The Tush Push More

A 2020 photo of giraffes being fed at The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa.

This Is So Stupid

Let The Woman Whose Box Of Giraffe Feces Was Seized By Customs Make Her Necklace, Damn It!

Tom Ley

Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after hitting a double in the seventh inning during Game 2 of the Division Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

The Twins Unleashed Their Dudes

Justin Ellis

Quarterback Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants is helped off the field after an injury against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Giants Are In The Junkyard And Running Out Of Options

Three photos depicting fossil human footprints at White Sands National Park, one showing a person photographing them, one shot of several footprints, one shot of a single footprint

Science

Kick Back And Read About This Ancient Feet Controversy

Christian Leary #6 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Malik Rutherford #8, and Dominick Blaylock #12 celebrate a touchdown in the endzone against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

College Football

Miami Fucked With One Of The Basic Rules Of Football And Paid The Price

Jorge Polanco of the Minnesota Twins at home hits a home run as the catcher and umpire observe during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros during Game One of the Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 07, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Everything And Nothing Changed For The Twins In Just One Inning

David Roth

An old lady scampering around on the ceiling of a mental hospital directly above an unaware George C. Scott, in 1990's Exorcist III: Legion.

Defector At The Movies

All This Bleeding

Kathryn Xu

Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team looks on in the FIA garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar.

Racing

Lance Stroll Is The Weakest Part Of His Father’s Team

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event at the Los Angeles Harbor Grain Terminal on September 29, 2023 in Long Beach, California. DeSantis is scheduled to speak at the California Republican Party Fall Convention in Anaheim, California later today.

Politics

Is Ron DeSantis Wearing Hidden Platform Heels Inside His Stupid Ugly Boots? An Investigation

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

Diana Moskovitz

A photo of former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker on the left and former Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald on the right.

The Football Coach Always Gets Paid

A still of a swimming colony of worms that resembles a jellyfish moving around a glass beaker

Mysterious Jellyfish Actually 1,020 Worms Who Want To Be Poop

Maitreyi Anantharaman

DeMarcus Walker #95 of the Chicago Bears sacks Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 05, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.

Sam Howell Gets Hit Different

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 20: General manager Billy Eppler of the New York Mets talks during a press conference to introduce pitcher Justin Verlander at Citi Field on December 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Billy Eppler’s Resignation Was Strange And Sudden

Ray Ratto

Sportscaster Jim Gray, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis watch players warm up during halftime of a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Aces

Tom Brady’s Minority Ownership Deal Could Use Some Competition

Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Two of the Wild Card Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The NL’s Underdogs Can Make A Big Mess Of These Playoffs

Kelsey McKinney

Luis Paez-Pumar

Bryson Stott, wearing the white pin-striped Phillies uniform, crosses home plate with an elated look. The Marlins catcher looks miserably at him.

Point/Counterpoint: Was The Phillies-Marlins Wild Card Series Good?

Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates by splashing to beers around after Arizona completed their two-game Wild Card sweep of the Brewers in October of 2023.

Podcasts

Wild Cards And Animal Spirits In October

Israel Daramola

NYFF programmer Rachel Rosen moderates a press conference with director Todd Haynes, writer/executive producer Samy Burch, producers Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Jessica Elbaum and for "May December" during the 61st New York Film Festival at Walter Reade Theater on September 29, 2023 in New York City.

Arts And Culture

Four Days At The Flooded New York Film Festival

Albert Burneko

(KO) LATEWEATHER_KSO_1_20_09031 - East High School women soccer players take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to kick the ball around in a pre-season practice on the school field in Dever. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post

Jamboroo

High School Sports Are Out Of Frickin’ Control

Evan Neal #73 of the New York Giants looks on following an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants at State Farm Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.

Lion Cowed By Sheep

Defector Staff

A photo of THE CATCH with Dwight Clark colorized and Ray Ratto colorized as well (he's in the background). On the other side it says "WIN DINNER WITH RAY RATTO - ENTER TODAY!"

Announcements

We Will Further Secure Our Financial Independence By Subjecting Ray Ratto To Your Presence

John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on prior to Game One of the Wild Card Series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on October 03, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.