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Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Sheel Tyle and Tom Dundon sit at the dais for a press conference.

Tom Dundon Isn’t Acting Alone

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer hands Kawhi Leonard his jersey as he and Paul George are introduced at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

NBA Crushes Clippers After Kawhi Leonard Investigation

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 21: Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos looks on during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field At Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Denver Broncos

Italy's Lorenzo Sonego returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during the men's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Interminable U.S. Open Night Sessions Are Bad For Everyone Except Me

Giri Nathan

France's Gael Monfils reacts after a point against Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo during the men's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Gael Monfils Can Make The Crowd Dance To A Swan Song

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 30: A TCU Horned Frogs helmet rests on the sidelines during Valero Alamo Bowl game featuring the TCU Horned Frogs and the USC Trojans on December 30, 2025 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

College Football

TCU Bans Hometown Newspaper After Locker Room Fight Report

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates defeating Mary Stoiana of the United States in the first round on Day 3 of the US Open

Alex Eala Is The Best Show In Town

TORONTO, ONTARIO - MAY 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors high fives rapper Drake during game four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on May 21, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Canada Vs. America, With Jake Bittle

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

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

Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.

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

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

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

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

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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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 Long Snapper&#8217;s Blues. 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. His newsletter, <a href="https://too-deep-zone.ghost.io/">Too Deep Zone</a>, has officially launched.
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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.

Sports