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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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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Patrick Redford

Busio sips on an espresso after joining Venezia.

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Soccer

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Gianluca Busio

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Players of FC Sheriff celebrate after victory in the UEFA Champions League group D match between Real Madrid and FC Sheriff at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 28, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Real Madrid v FC Sheriff: Group D – UEFA Champions League

There’s A New Sheriff In Town, And That Sheriff’s Name Is FC Sheriff

during a game at Marlins Park on July 27, 2017 in Miami, Florida.

Cincinnati Reds v Miami Marlins

Joe West, Protagonist Of Baseball, Celebrates Looming Retirement By Ruining Game

Dane Sealy while training with Bayern Munich last year.

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What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Dante Sealy

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates their Super Bowl LV victory during a boat parade through the city on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Victory Parade

Avowed Film-Avoider Rob Gronkowski Backtracks, Says He Eats Hella Tape

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 06: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers directs teammates during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks during Game One of the Eastern Conference second round series at Wells Fargo Center on June 06, 2021 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Atlanta Hakws v Philadelphia 76ers – Game One

Ben Simmons Is Holding Out

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets looks on during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on September 19, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New England Patriots v New York Jets

Zach Wilson Denies Seeing Ghosts, Focuses On Swag And Mojo

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a campaign event with US President Joe Biden at Long Beach City Collage in Long Beach, California on September 13, 2021. - US President Joe Biden kicked off a visit to scorched western states Monday to hammer home his case on climate change and big public investments, as well as to campaign in California's recall election. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

Politics

Well That Was A Big Waste Of Time

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - MAY 22: Brenden Aaronson of FC Red Bull Salzburg controls the ball during the tipico Bundesliga match between RB Salzburg and WSG Tirol at Red Bull Arena on May 22, 2021 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Andreas Schaad/Getty Images)

RB Salzburg v WSG Tirol – tipico Bundesliga

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Brenden Aaronson

Illsutration shows Applegath's Vertical Machine, a newspaper printing press, in operation, from an advertisement in the Printers' Register Supplement, 1870s. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

Old Style Printing Press

Stories

What Defector Staffers Learned From One Year Of Being Small Business Owners

US Ricardo Pepi celebrates after scoring a goal during their Qatar 2022 FIFA Word Cup Concacaf qualifier match against Honduras at Olimpico Metropolitano stadium, in San Pedro Sula, on September 8, 2021. - (Photo by Orlando SIERRA / AFP) (Photo by ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)

FBL-WC-2022-CONCACAF-QUALIFIERS-HON-USA

Ricardo Pepi’s Stunning Debut Put The USMNT Back On Track

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 05: Christian Pulisic #10 of United States protests a call against him during the second half of their World Cup qualifying match against Canada at Nissan Stadium on September 5, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. United States ties tied Canada 1-1. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Christian Pulisic

Canada v United States: 2022 World Cup Qualifying

It Is Not Yet Time To Panic

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Wilmer Difo #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates commits an error in the 11th inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 02, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs won 6-5 in 11 innings. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Pirates v Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates, Comedy Geniuses, Continue To Perfect Art Of Losing

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 25: Ricardo Pepi #24 of the MLS All-Stars scores in the shootout win against the Liga MX All-Stars during the 2021 MLS All-Star game at Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2021 MLS All-Star Game

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Ricardo Pepi

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Defector Up All Night

ESPN’s Jeff Passan Interacts With Jacob Wohl’s Dad

Team Jumbo's Slovenian rider Primoz Roglic celebrates as he wins the 17th stage of the 2021 La Vuelta cycling tour of Spain, a 185.8 km race from Unquera to Lagos de Covadonga on September 1, 2021. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING-ESP-VUELTA

Cycling

Primoz Roglic Refuses To Ride Scared

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Antonee Robinson of Fulham runs with the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Fulham at The Den on August 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)

Millwall v Fulham – Sky Bet Championship

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Antonee Robinson

People play in an open round of Europe's biggest single venue bridge competition at the Metropole Hotel August 19, 2005 in Brighton, England. The game of Bridge is believed to share the same mental ability that is used to trade shares and is played regularly by over a million people. (Photo by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

Europes Biggest Single Venue Bridge Competition

Life's Rich Pageant

European Bridge League In Turmoil Over Presence Of Cheating Italian Duo

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Cop Flops

at American Airlines Center on February 25, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

New Orleans Pelicans v Dallas Mavericks

Nerlens Noel’s Lawsuit Against Rich Paul Pulls Back The Curtain

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Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is: Balloon

SWANSEA, WALES - NOVEMBER 12: USA player Konrad de la Fuente in action during the international friendly match between Wales and the USA at Liberty Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Swansea, Wales. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Wales v USA – International Friendly

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Konrad de la Fuente

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One Fan In This Conversation Is Much More Thrilled About It Than The Other

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 15: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 CarParts.com Ford, Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Unibet Ford, avoid Ross Chastain, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, spin during the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

Racing

Disintegrating Curb Repeatedly Throws NASCAR Race Into Chaos

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Rams And Chargers Fans Celebrate First Game In New Stadium With A Big Ugly Fight