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Defector

Ray Ratto

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.

Squeamish Is The New Game Face

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

College Football

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

The Last Word On Pete Rose Is Deeply Unpleasant

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds acknowledges the crowd before his first at-bat during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 24, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Joey Votto Just Got It

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Solider Field on August 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Caleb Williams Has More Than Defenses And Doubters To Worry About

Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann (12) tags out San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (5) during an MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics on August 18, 2024, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

Bay Area Rivalry Nobody Cared About Reaches Suitable End

Luis Paez-Pumar

Albert Burneko

Billy Haisley

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Patrick Redford

Tom Ley

The Premier League trophy during a pre-season friendly match between Manchester City and Celtic at Kenan Stadium, on July 23, 2024, in North Carolina, USA.

And Now, A Timely And Exhaustive Preview Of The 2024-25 Premier League Season

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of World XI acknowledges the fans prior to Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024 at Stamford Bridge.

With Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Aims High And Scores For Once

Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals takes the field in the second inning during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, August 12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

An Only Moderately Disgusted Overview Of MLB’s Wild Card Races

Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before his team play against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Las Vegas Raiders

Manager Pedro Grifol of the Chicago White Sox walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians on July 4, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Pedro Grifol Paid The Price For Winning That One Game

Andrew Vaughn and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox exchange a fist-bump during the team's win on August 6, 2024. It was the White Sox's second win since July 10.

Why This Team Sucks: The August 7 Chicago White Sox

Nicky Lopez of the White Sox looks exhausted and sad during a loss to the Minnesota Twins on August 4, 2024.

Why This Team Sucks: The August 6 Chicago White Sox

Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on August 04, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the White Sox 13-7.

20 Straight Losses Is Where The Real Blight Sox Begin

Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman argues with umpire Laz Diaz from the dugout, while manager John Schneider stands in front of him.

Please Rise And Remove Your Caps For Kevin Gausman’s Argument With The Umpire

Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet throws a pitch against the Twins.