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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

Defector's 2025 Tip Jar Sweepstakes: Join Chris and Kelsey in the Great Blogger Bake Shop

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Tip jar sweepstakes

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Ray Ratto

Head coach Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars adjusts his headset prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills. He looks pretty goofy, and the JAMBORAY badge is imposed over the Jags logo on his shirt.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Buffalo Bills

Jamboroo

A Bet You’ll Always Lose

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs

Pete Rose, All-American

Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold?! Uh, Yeah. Sam Darnold.

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up prior to Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at Target Center on May 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks And Wolves Made The Confusing Trade We Expect From Them

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) rushes the ball as Georgia Bulldogs defensive back KJ Bolden (4) defends during the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide on September 28, 2024, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Ryan Williams Bama Football

College Football

The Best College Football Game Of The Year Has Happened

Matt Thaiss of the Los Angeles Angels strikes out swinging during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox on September 26,2024. His helmet's all wonky on his head.

MLB: SEP 26 Angels at White Sox

Woof, The Angels

A general view of the Oakland Athletics playing against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Texas Rangers v Oakland Athletics

Never Forget What Killed The Oakland A’s

Randy Arozarena celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 26, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Tampa Bay Rays v Seattle Mariners

The Chaos Option Is Alive In MLB’s Wild Card Races

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce walks on the sidelines during the NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL: SEP 15 Raiders at Ravens

Antonio Pierce Abruptly Realizes He Is Coaching The Raiders

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) does an interview with FOX Sports Tom Rinaldi after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.

NFL: SEP 15 Saints at Cowboys

Derek Carr Is Officially Too Racy For The NFL

Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field against the Atlanta Falcons at the end of the first half in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 16, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Atlanta Falcons v Philadelphia Eagles

Nick Sirianni Put Himself On The List

Pablo Sandoval smiling, with the shadow of his hat casting an Oakley Blade-shaped shadow across his eyes, before a San Francisco Giants game in 2019.

COLORADO ROCKIES VS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, MLB

Here’s To The Pitching Panda Of Staten Island

Derek Carr #4 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&amp;T Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

New Orleans Saints v Dallas Cowboys

Hey, Look! It’s Points!

Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 12, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Tua Tagovailoa

Squeamish Is The New Game Face

Buster the Boise State Broncos mascot cheers against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium

Boise State v Oregon

The Pac-12’s Raid On The Mountain West Is Only The Beginning

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick adjusts the microphones at his post-game press conference after the Patriots beat the Jets in January of 2024. He looks like he has a tummyache.

New York Jets (17) Vs. New England Patriots (3) At Gillette Stadium

Bill Belichick, America’s Sweetheart

Chris Boswell #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicks a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.

Pittsburgh Steelers v Atlanta Falcons

It’s A Field Goal League Now

Dante Rossi of San Marino and Ferhat Saglam of Liechtenstein compete for the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 League D match

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Soccer

The World’s Worst Soccer Team Is Finally Something Else

Isaiah Likely of the Baltimore Ravens stretches for a pass he can't quite catch near the end of the fourth quarter of the 2024 NFL season opener in Kansas City.

Baltimore Ravens v Kansas City Chiefs

Who’ll Stop The Reign?

T.J. McFarland #48 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the top of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Coliseum.

Seattle Mariners v Oakland Athletics

What Defector Saw At “The Janson Junk Game”

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a three run home run in the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers v Los Angeles Angels

The Angels Walked Shohei Ohtani To Face Mookie Betts. What Happened Next Will Shock You.

An aerial view of Sutter Health Park on January 24, 2021 in West Sacramento, Calif. The stadium is the home of the Sacramento River Cats.

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento Just Needs To Let The A’s Come To Them

Bocce is played near the ferry building, Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in San Francisco, Calif.

Life's Rich Pageant

A Bocce Loser’s Guide To Losing At Bocce

Making MLB history as the first player to play for both teams in the same game, Danny Jansen #28 of the Boston Red Sox takes the field for game one of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 26, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox – Game One

August Is For Weird Baseball

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 07: Former Philadelphia Phillies player Pete Rose acknowledges the crowd prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on August 7, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 13-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)