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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

Kathryn Xu

Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks walks into the dugout before the MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on August 31.

Ketel Marte’s Bridge-Burning Hat Raises, Leaves Unanswered Several Questions

Luis Paez-Pumar

Folarin Balogun #20 of United States looks on during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match against Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States.

Folarin Balogun Had Every Right To Blow Up The Transfer Deadline

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

LIV Golf signage as seen during the first round of LIV Golf Indianapolis

LIV Golf Hopes Screwing Its Own Players In Bankruptcy Will Secure Its Future

Ray Ratto

Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Arte Moreno sold a controlling interest in the Angel franchise to Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

After Imprisoning The Angels In The Toilet For Decades, Arte Moreno Is Cashing Out

<p>Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.</p>


Matt Ufford

Head coach Sean McVay celebrates after a third quarter touchdown from Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Los Angeles Rams

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs takes the field prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 30, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Chicago Cubs Would Like Your Attention

Giri Nathan

An Interview With A Biographer Of Renée Richards, An Actual Trans Pro Athlete

The peloton passes the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the Women's Philadelphia Cycling Classic.

Philly Is The Star Of The Philadelphia Cycling Classic

Barry Petchesky

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 31: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates robs Jake McCarthy of the Colorado Rockies of a home run in the ninth inning that would have won the game at Coors Field on August 31, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Baltimore Orioles won the game 2-1. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Holy God Damn, Colton Cowser


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A detail view of the NFL logo painted on the field prior to a preseason NFL football game on August 13, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.

NFL Puts Three Players On Paid Leave

Dave McKenna

Moses Itauma takes a punch from Filip Hrgovic

The Future Face Of The Heavyweight Division Gets Disfigured

Patrick Redford

Kalshi's logo appears on a smartphone placed on a reflective surface, with a blurry betting curve projected in the background in Creteil, France, on March 9, 2026, during a major scandal and $54 million lawsuit concerning bets related to recent strikes in Iran. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Kalshi Lawsuit Pits States Against Trump Family’s Corruption Machine

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during a changeover against Mariano Navone

Novak Djokovic Pukes And Crumbles  At The U.S. Open

Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with Morgan Rogers, Jorrel Hato and Pep Chavarria during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on August 30, 2026 in London, England.

Chelsea Contains Thrilling Multitudes

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<p>Mike Tanier has covered the NFL for 20 years for Football Outsiders, the New York Times, The Messenger, Bleacher Report, Sports on Earth, and other ancient empires. He&#8217;s a co-author of Aaron Schatz&#8217;s FTN Football Almanac and the author of the Y/A novel for grownups <i>Long Snapper&#8217;s Blues. </i>He lives off Exit 3 of the New Jersey Turnpike with his long-suffering wife, two sons and a 70-pound American Bully named Frank the Tank. <span style="font-weight: 400">His newsletter, <a href="https://too-deep-zone.ghost.io/">Too Deep Zone</a>, has officially launched.</span></p>
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Mike Tanier

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Houston Texans

Tom Ley

Life's Rich Pageant

Daejon Love Will Go Down As A Scammer For The Ages

David Roth

Aristides Aquino of the Cincinnati Reds looks on from the dugout in the eighth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 28, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Reds Week

Aristides Aquino Thumped While The Thumping Was Good

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: San Francisco 49ers

Israel Daramola

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 30: The UNLV Rebels celebrate on the field after the team's 38-14 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack at Allegiant Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

College Football

We Caught These Teams Playing Imaginary Football Redhanded

Lauren Theisen

Storm clouds blanket the sky over Great American Ball Park as Starlin Castro #13 of the Chicago Cubs fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds as on July 7, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 9-3.

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<p>Amy Schneider is a software engineer, cat owner, and Jeopardy champion who posts about her experiences on Twitter @Jeopardamy. She used to have a podcast, and odds are she will again some day.</p>


Amy Schneider

13 Short Blogs About The Cincinnati Reds

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

The NWSL’s Golden Boot Race Is Red Hot

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Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds hugs teammate Elly de la Cruz #44 after hitting a grand slam home run in the ninth inning during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Historic Cincinnati Comeback Offers A Stirring Testament To The Power Of Reds Week

Pat McAfee reacts in the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Indianapolis Colts

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