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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

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

College Football

‘Saban’ Has Nothing To Say About Its Subject Or The World He Helped Create

Tom Ley

Soccer

What Kind Of Villain Will Manchester City Be?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs in to score after catching a 54-yard touchdown pass during a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 03, 2026, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, IA.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 12: Ripped From The Headlines

Ray Ratto

The Brewers Will Just Keep Doing This Until Someone Stops Them

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders reacts during the second quarter of the game against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Landover, Maryland.

Well, That’s The Dumbest Thing I’ve Seen In Some Time

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

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on October 4th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

Welcome The Philadelphia Eagles To Jaguars Junction

Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Heath Ozaeta #77 wears the Golden Hat and does Horns Down after winning the Allstate Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners on October 10, 2026, at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX.

OU-Texas Is The Last Truly Bonkers College Football Rivalry

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox looks on from the dugout during the seventh inning in game five of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. He looks frustrated.

The White Sox Lean Into The “Windy” In “Windy City”

Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins runs onto the field at halftime against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 29, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

New Details Emerge About 2019 Child Abuse Investigation Involving Tyreek Hill

Head Coach Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears looks on while his team warms up prior to playing the New York Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff game January 13, 1991.

Mike Ditka, Forever Chicago

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, believed to be the oldest reptile living on earth with and alleged age of 185 years, crawls through the lawn of the Plantation House, the United Kingdom Governor official residence on October 20, 2017

Creaturefector

The Secret To Living 194 Years Is Being A Turtle

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
&nbsp;

Lucy Bloom

What’s To Be Done With Jerry Dipoto?

Rafaela Bassili

The Great Outdoors

Another Mountaineering Documentary That Asks: What Is Wrong With These People?

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 19: Alabama Crimson Tide players pose with fans after beating the Florida State Seminoles 50-36 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

We Now Know For Sure That We Know Nothing For Certain

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 8: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&amp;T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.

Even Anonymous Stadium Workers Are Scoring On The Cowboys

Kelsey McKinney

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Iced gems on the show, with poofy multicolored pastel rosettes and perfect circles of shortbread.

Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Has A Gem Of A Time During Biscuit Week

Patrick Redford

Brazilian right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro holds a picture of his father, convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro, during a motorcade with supporters in Goiania, Brazil, on September 27, 2026. Brazil will hold presidential election on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Sergio Lima / AFP)

Politics

Brazil’s Presidential Election Is One Piece Of A Larger, More Depressing Story

Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream reacts during the second half of game two of the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs against the New York Liberty at State Farm Arena on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

WNBA

Motor Matters

Samer Kalaf

The Machines

Is This Guy Who Uses AI To Run His Fantasy Football Team The Biggest Loser In The World?

Meghan Racklin

Books

A Novel About California’s Pluckiest Virgin Is Getting A Second Chance

A view of the entrance to the grounds of the anti-plague institute in the city of Irkutsk on October 7, 2026. (Photo by TATYANA MAKEYEVA / AFP)

Science

Everything We Know And Don’t Know About The Possible Plague Death At The Anti-Plague Institute

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

Jamboroo

A Blue Wave Won’t Mean Shit If The Chumps Get Their Way

David Roth

The Oriole Bird, mascot of the Baltimore Orioles, runs onto the field before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 1, 2026.

What Process Are The Orioles Trusting?

Kathryn Xu

Victor Mesa Jr. #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays is unable to make a catch as fans interfere on a ball hit by Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees.

What Is Wrong With Yankees Fans?

Jay-Z and Rick Rubin, pretending to say something important