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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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Ray Ratto

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Journalismism

Gwen Knapp Paid Attention To The Things That Matter

SALERNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 16: Davide Nicola US Salernitana's new coach and Danilo Iervolino US Salernitana president during a press conference on February 16, 2022 in Salerno, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

US Salernitana Unveil New Coach Davide Nicola

Soccer

You’re Fired, And Just To Show I’m Serious, You’re Rehired

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 1: George Kittle #85, Brock Purdy #13 and Josh Johnson #17 of the San Francisco 49ers in the locker room before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 49ers defeated the Raiders 37-34. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** George Kittle;Brock Purdy;Josh Johnson

San Francisco 49ers v Las Vegas Raiders

A Prayer For Josh Johnson

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the third quarter of the College Football Playoff Semifinal Fiesta Bowl football game against the TCU Horned Frogs at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The TCU Horned Frogs won 51-45. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Vrbo Fiesta Bowl – Michigan v TCU

Bidding Is Now Open On Jim Harbaugh

Inglewood, CA - January 09: Quarterback Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs lights a cigar with teammate wide receiver Luke Bennett #29 of the Georgia Bulldogs after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 65-7 to win the CFP National Championship Football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Monday, January 9, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Georgia Bulldogs defeated the TCU Horned Frogs 65-7 to win the CFP National Championship Football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

College Football

Sometimes The Statement Matters The Most

Jordan Akins catches a ball for a two-point conversion

NFL: JAN 08 Texans at Colts

The Miracle Texans Screw Themselves Out Of The No. 1 Pick

Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman celebrate a Bruins win

Boston Bruins v San Jose Sharks

The Bruins Are Kicking Ass In The Preseason

NFL: JAN 07 Titans at Jaguars

The Titans Are Now Available To Host The AFC Title Game

INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 16: Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts football team on July 16, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Cityscapes And City Views

All AFC Roads Lead To Indianapolis, God Help Us

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 09: Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders warms up as Taylor Heinicke #4 looks on before the game against the Tennessee Titans at FedExField on October 9, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Tennessee Titans v Washington Commanders

If Sam Howell Is The Answer, Maybe The Question Is Wrong

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees on September 8, 2022 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)

Minnesota Twins v New York Yankees

So Uh What’s Going On With Carlos Correa?

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 2: A Paycor Stadium video board reads that the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals is suspended due to an injury sustained by Bills safety Damar Hamlin #3 during the first quarter of an NFL football game on January 2, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Buffalo Bills v Cincinnati Bengals

Football Games Aren’t Mandatory

Pele’s 1000th Goal

To Think Of Soccer Is To Think Of Pelé

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during the game against the Utah Jazz on December 28, 2022 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images)

Utah Jazz v Golden State Warriors

Can Golden State Stop Being Road Worriers?

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 8: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders yells to teammates while stretching prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 8, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders v Los Angeles Rams

The Raiders Are Sending Derek Carr To A Farm Upstate

Washington Commanders v San Francisco 49ers

The Commanders’ Playoff Hopes Now Rest With Carson Wentz

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 18: General Manager George Paton of the Denver Broncos walks on the sidelines prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Empower Field At Mile High on September 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. ( (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Houston Texans v Denver Broncos

GM George Paton: The Broncos Have A Me Problem

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 25: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to the sidelines before a play during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Green Bay Packers v Miami Dolphins

Who’s Going To Protect Tua Tagovailoa?

Bars of gold in the vault of the Bank of New York. (Photo by michael norcia/Sygma via Getty Images)

Bank of New York

This Is So Stupid

All This Spending Is Destroying The Sport

Pittsburgh Steelers' running back Franco Harris is mobed by fans at Three Rivers Stadium after scoring the winning touchdown, nicknamed the "Immaculate Reception," during the American Football Conference (AFC) semi-final game against Oakland. Harris made the touchdown, one of the most famous single plays in the history of professional American football, on a tipped pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw to Frenchy Fuqua to Harris for the score in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh.

Fans Mob Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers

They Don’t Make Fame Like Franco Harris’s Anymore

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 05: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 05, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Minnesota Twins v Chicago White Sox

Carlos Correa Eloped With The Mets

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks

Brock Purdy Is Probably Not The Second Coming

Lions OT Penei Sewell flying fairly gracefully through the air after making a reception against the Vikings in a Detroit win.

Minnesota Vikings v Detroit Lions

Dan Campbell Is Absolutely Going For It

Sacramento State RB Marcus Fulcher treats himself to some beer after scoring a TD early in Sacramento State's loss in the Division I-AA quarterfinals.

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Sacramento State’s Post-TD Beer Wasn’t The Wildest Part Of The Year’s Best College Football Game

Jawad El Yamiq kisses the head of Portugal defender Pepe after he missed a header in the waning minutes of Morocco's World Cup quarterfinal win.

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Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye