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Defector

Ray Ratto

Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks whoots enthusiastically following an NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

Sam Darnold Is An Exorcist

Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga L competes during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season basketball game between Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2026.

The Jonathan Kuminga Saga Swings Towards Tragicomedy

Fans of Manchester United protest against the club's owners outside the stadium, as a fan wears a sticker reading "Love United Hate Glazer" on his head.

Soccer

Manchester United Wants To Get Into The Docuseries Business

Buster Posey, President of Baseball Operations of the San Francisco Giants prepares for a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 15, 2025.

Major League Baseball Is Determined To Rain On Its Own Parade

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on from the sideline during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

There’s No Such Thing As A Secure NFL Coaching Job

Head Coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on after the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&amp;T on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.

College Football

It Will Never Get Better Than This

Jonathan Kuminga, at left, of the Golden State Warriors sit with fans before their game against the New York Knicks at Chase Center on January 15, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

Jonathan Kuminga Is In Basketball Purgatory

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates during the third period of an NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens on January 15, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images)

Nobody Loves An Ex-Loser Like Buffalo

Will Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans forces Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers to fumble the ball and Sheldon Rankins #90 of the Houston Texans returns it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL wild card playoff game on January 12, 2026.

The Houston Texans Ushered Aaron Rodgers Into Oblivion

Bill Kennedy explaining, to the NBC cameras, that a play was called correctly. He is making "the Bill Kennedy face."

Everybody Loves Bill Kennedy

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks the field prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 4, 2026. He was fired two days after the Ravens lost.

John Harbaugh Is The Shiniest Pony On The NFL Coaching Carousel

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 04: Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sidelines during the week 18 NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday January 4, 2026 at the Mercedes-Banz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Falcons Couldn’t Even Wait For Black Monday

Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal in the Sugar Bowl.

Ole Miss And Georgia Made A Classic Out Of Chaos

Israel Daramola

You Can Finally Start Paying Attention To The College Football Playoff

San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy celebrates his 2nd quarter rushing touchdown against Chicago Bears on December 28, 2025. He's doing the cupped-ear "let me hear it" gesture into a TV camera's lens.

Brock Purdy Refuses To Remain Anonymous

VANCOUVER, CANADA - DECEMBER 27: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks gestures to a teammate prior to a face-off during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on December 27, 2025 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

Macklin Celebrini Is All Promise

The Detroit Lions Can Ruin Any Holiday If You Let Them

Draymond Green (23) argues an out of bounds call with referee Marc Davis (8) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Orlando Magic on December 22, 2025.

Draymond Green Is Still Innovating In The Meltdown Space


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Sabrina Imbler

Kelsey McKinney

a hand holds a framed photo of Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, and a terrier mix played by Gus the Dog. Everyone is in christmas attire

Arts And Culture

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘Merv’

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 21: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid rubs his head after a failed third down play during a game between the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs, December 21, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When The Window Closes, It Slams Shut

Death To The NCAA

It’s The First Round Of The College Football Playoff, Charlie Brown

Philip Rivers of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates his touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on December 14, 2025. That's like five years after his last NFL game.

Philip Rivers Is Like A 44-Year-Old Kid Out There

Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies in South Bend.

Notre Dame’s Ongoing Diaper Blowout Is Bringing College Football Together

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 19: Portrait of (L-R) Second Baseman Jeff Kent #21 and Left Fielder Barry Bonds #25 both of the San Francisco Giants during game one of the World Series against the Anaheim Angels on October 19, 2002 at Edison Field in Anaheim, California. The Giants defeated the Angels 4-3. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

The Hall Of Fame Welcomes Jeff Kent And Not That Other Guy

Head Coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leads his team into the stadium to start the second half of a college football game against the Stanford Cardinal on November 29, 2025 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California.