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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.

Defector

Ray Ratto

Coach John Beam, center bottom, and the Skyline High School football team pose together after beating Oakland High School 19-0 for the championship title at Laney College in Oakland, Calif. on Nov. 24, 1989.

College Football

Coach John Beam’s Legacy Is Everywhere

Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles walk off the field after the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dan Campbell Kept Asking The Same Question, And The Eagles Kept Saying No

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson speaks at the press conference introducing head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey on January 27, 2025.

Woody Johnson Is Sick Of Everyone Knowing What A Lousy Workplace He Oversees

Israel Daramola

We’re Nearing The Finish Line Now

Przemyslaw Adam Frankowski (29) of Galatasaray receives yellow card during Turkish Super Lig week 33 football match between ikas Eyupspor and Galatasaray at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 27, 2025.

Gambling

Turkish Soccer Is Eating America’s Lunch When It Comes To Gambling Suspensions

Louisiana State Tigers head coach Brian Kelly yells to an official during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Louisiana State Tigers, October 18, 2025.

There Is No One To Cheer For In The Case Of Brian Kelly v. LSU

Brian Daboll of the New York Giants stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 9, 2025. It's snowing and he looks kind of frustrated.

The New York Giants Finally Saw Enough From Brian Daboll

Chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta of the Cleveland Browns stands on the field prior to a game on December 17, 2017 against the Baltimore Ravens.

November Is When The Colorado Rockies Do Their Best Work

We Got Our First Peek At What The Playoff Committee Values

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos speaks to Bo Nix (10) after a failed third-down conversion during the third quarter of Denver's awful, awful game against the Raiders on November 6, 2025.

Bad Football! No!

Josh Allen stiff-arms Leo Chenal of the Chiefs during the Bills/Chiefs game on November 2, 2025.

Is There A Favorite Hiding Somewhere In The NFL’s Big Muddle?

Auburn University head football coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field surrounded by a police escort following the Tigers home loss to Kentucky on November 1, 2025

Auburn Gives Hugh Freeze The Hook

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is mobbed by teammates as they celebrate winning the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Will Not Be Denied

An LSU football player pointing in the distance.

Come On Down And Pick LSU’s Next Football Coach!

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The background of the fans in the seats is indistinct, but Ohtani is in focus.

Game 3 Is The Legend, But The Blue Jays Are For Real

Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the 18th inning during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

If You Went To Sleep, Sorry But You Are Not Forgiven

Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers walks off the field after a game against Texas A&M on October 25 in Baton Rouge. He kind of looks like someone who is about to get fired.

The Coaching Hot Seat Is Now An Ejector Seat

It Is Once Again All About ‘Bama

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks onstage at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 at The Plaza Hotel on September 24, 2025 in New York City.

Adam Silver’s Job Is About To Get So Much Harder

Albert Burneko

Giri Nathan

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Patrick Redford

Tom Ley

Male students playing basketball, Western High School, Washington, D.C., circa 1899

Harken Ye Unto The 2025–26 NBA Season Preview, Which Stands Before You

George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a three-run home run to take the lead in the seventh inning during Game Seven of the American League Championship Series. He's like 18 inches off the ground and everyone in the stands is freaking out.

More Of This, Please

Head coach Jonathan Gannon fist bumps Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals prior to a game against the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.

Which Trash Team Rules The NFL’s Dumpster?

Every Program Wants To Rule The World

Max Scherzer of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after striking out Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning during Game Four of the American League Championship Series. He is making "the Tim Robinson face."

Night Of The Old Guy

Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. He's been doing a lot of "looking on."