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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.

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Patrick Redford

GUADARRAMA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate crop) (L-R) Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, Sepp Kuss of The United States - Red Leader Jersey final overall winner and Primoz Roglic of Slovenia and Team Jumbo-Visma cross the finish line during the 78th Tour of Spain 2023, Stage 20 a 207.8km stage from Manzanares El Real to Guadarrama / #UCIWT / on September 16, 2023 in Guadarrama, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

78th Tour of Spain 2023 – Stage 20

Cycling

It Doesn’t Get More Satisfying Than Sepp Kuss’s Shocking, Absurd Vuelta Win

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - SEPTEMBER 08: Jalen Brunson #11 of the United States drives to the basket against Maodo Lo #4 of Germany during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Semi Final game between USA and Germany at Mall of Asia Arena on September 08, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

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Maybe They Should Consider Assembling A Real Team USA Sometime Soon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Madison Keys of the United States celebrates defeating Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the quarter-final on Day 10 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2023 in New York City (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

2023 US Open – Day 10

Tennis

Madison Keys Makes The Most Of Low Expectations

UNSPECIFIED, SPAIN - AUGUST 31: &lt;&gt; ahead of the 78th Tour of Spain 2023 on August 31, 2023 in UNSPECIFIED, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

78th Tour of Spain 2023 – Stage 6

Sepp Kuss Is Riding Into The Unknown

Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during the US Open tennis tournament men's singles round of 16 match against Germany's Alexander Zverev at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, early morning on September 5, 2023. (Photo by COREY SIPKIN / AFP) (Photo by COREY SIPKIN/AFP via Getty Images)

TENNIS-USA-OPEN

Jannik Sinner Is Once Again The Victim Of Thrilling Heartbreak

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA - MARCH 30: USA head coach Gregg Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna #11 arrive at the stadium before a FIFA World Cup qualifier game between Costa Rica and USMNT at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica on March 30, 2022 in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Costa Rica v United States – Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Soccer

Gregg Berhalter Knows He Needs Gio Reyna, Even If They Still Haven’t Spoken

Referee Eric Lewis #42 looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Semi Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

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NBA Referee Eric Lewis Abruptly Retires Before Twitter Burner Drama Can Be Resolved

US international grandmaster Hans Niemann waits his turn to move during a second-round chess game against Jeffery Xiong on the second day of the Saint Louis Chess Club Fall Chess Classic in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 6, 2022. - Niemann said on October 5 that he "won't back down," after the chess platform chess.com reported he has "probably cheated more than 100 times" in online games. (Photo by Tim Vizer / AFP) (Photo by TIM VIZER/AFP via Getty Images)

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Chess

Hans Niemann And Magnus Carlsen Announce A Reluctant Ceasefire

Team Bora ride during the first stage of the 2023 La Vuelta cycling tour of Spain, a 14,8 km team time-trial in Barcelona, on August 26, 2023. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING-ESP-VUELTA

The Opening Stages Of The Vuelta a España Have Been A Big Mess

The table with the chess board appears ready for the game between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi on the first day of competition at the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament on June 17, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Miguel Pereira/Getty Images)

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The International Chess Federation’s Argument For Banning Trans Women Gives The Game Away