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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

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Blue Jays Make The Dodgers Look Fake And Silly

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a spider with yellow stripes perched on a web decorated with stabilimenta

Creaturefector

Why Do Some Spiders Make Web Art?

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

Jordon Hudson attends the game between the Richmond Spiders and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

College Football

The Rise Of Jordon Hudson, Small Business Owner

Lauren Theisen

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after the final out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Is A Canadian Hero

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Good Thing Nobody In Charge Of A Newspaper Wanted To Make Olivia Reingold A Video Star

Kelsey McKinney

Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Rages Against Dessert Week

Patrick Redford

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 25: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Rookie Class Is Getting Straight To Work

Kathryn Xu

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They Can’t All Be The Most Memorable World Series Game Ever

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greet trick-or-treaters during a Halloween event at the White House on October 30, 2024 in Washington, DC. The President and First Lady are hosting children from local neighborhoods, public schools and military families for the annual trick-or-treating event.

Funbag

What’s The Weirdest Thing You Ever Received While Trick-Or-Treating?

a photo of a brown basilisk lizard missing a forelimb sitting on a reed

Fat AND Sassy? A Three-Legged Lizard Really Can Have It All

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after popping out to end the twelfth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Every Dodgers Almost-Homer In Extra Innings, Ranked

FBI Director Kash Patel leads news conference to announce arrests tied to illegal sports betting and poker game schemes, in New York City on October 23, 2025. NBA coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Thursday for alleged involvement in illegal gambling. Billups, a former Detroit Pistons star and member of the NBA Hall of Fame, was arrested in connection with rigged illegal poker games tied to the Mafia, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Rozier and a former NBA player, Damon Jones, were arrested in a sports betting case, Patel said at a press conference in New York. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Podcasts

Everything Is Gambling Now, With Liz Franczak

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

YONKERS, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: A view of autumn foliage at the Untermyer Park and Gardens over the Hudson Valley on November 11, 2021 near New York City.

Interviews

Erin Somers On The State Of Literary Fiction, Hudson Valley Life, And Reviving The Infidelity Novel

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates his win over Francisco Comesana of Argentina during day two of the Rolex Paris Masters 2025 on October 28, 2025 in Nanterre, France.

Tennis

Felix Auger-Aliassime Is Once Again Threatening To Turn The Corner

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting an RBI double

The Blue Jays Won’t Let Shohei Ohtani Do That Again

Ray Ratto

Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the 18th inning during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

If You Went To Sleep, Sorry But You Are Not Forgiven

Israel Daramola

Death To The NCAA

Be Careful, Indiana, You’re The Hottest Team In Football

David Roth

Terry Bradshaw (left) and Howie Long (right) on the set of the Fox NFL Sunday broadcast. Cleatus the Robot is in the background. Bradshaw is telling a story about texting someone he thought was Andy Reid and getting offered a chance to buy some pigs.

Terry Bradshaw: A Man I Believed To Be Andy Reid Recently Tried To Sell Me Pigs

A detailed view of a hand holding a Fanduel Sports Network–branded microphone during an interview after the Detroit Pistons defeated the Boston Celtics on February 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Gambling

The NBA Media Is Not Built To Cover A Gambling Scandal

Giri Nathan

A circle around the mark Jaylen Brown left on OG Anunoby's jersey during a game

Jaylen Brown’s Really Leaving His Mark On Opponents

Luis Paez-Pumar

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks on alongside teammates during the Premier League match between Brentford and Liverpool at Gtech Community Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Brentford, England.

Soccer

Alright, What The Damn Hell Is Going On With Liverpool?

Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Racing

The Championship Lead Seizes Lando Norris

Vikram Murthi

Arts And Culture

Jafar Panahi Returns With The Masterful Revenge Drama ‘It Was Just An Accident’

Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers walks off the field after a game against Texas A&M on October 25 in Baton Rouge. He kind of looks like someone who is about to get fired.

The Coaching Hot Seat Is Now An Ejector Seat

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) scrambles to avoid pressure in the second quarter during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.