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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

Justin Ellis

A man carries his child sideways in his arms as he walks up a road

Minor Dilemmas

Is It Even Possible To Discipline A Two-Year-Old?

Ray Ratto

Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

Kyle Shanahan And The 49ers Are Not Entitled To Anyone’s Trust

Luis Paez-Pumar

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) and United States of America President Donald Trump (R) look on following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, United States.

Soccer

Gianni Infantino Is Putting The World Cup Up For Sale

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

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 26: Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: New York Giants

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Kyle Kuzma does an interview in Monte Carlo.

The Mind Of Kyle Kuzma Is Expanding At An Alarming Rate

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

A young couple sitting at the Fontana della Barcaccia in Italy, the woman is attempting to take a selfie and the man is looking down at his phone

Podcasts

Live, Laugh, Like And Subscribe

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a yellow giant frogfish, Antennarius commerson, perched on coral

Creaturefector

There’s Big News In Necks

Iain Treloar

A man dressed as a devil stands in front of the caravan

Cycling

I Rode The Tour de France Cauliflower

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

If The Podcaster Desires To Defeat The Aggregator, He Must Look Inward

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors sits on the bench during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game on April 17, 2026.

In A Summer Of Superstar Movement, Steph Curry Is Conspicuously At Home

Funbag

Will People Ever Stop Attending Sporting Events?

Andrea Pirlo of UC Sampdoria looks during the Serie B match between US Salernitana and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Arechi on August 27, 2024 in Salerno, Italy.

Italian National Team Plans, Then Cancels Its Andrea Pirlo Party

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 detail of a Title IX logo on a basketball is seen before the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 22, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.