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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.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

LOGAN, UT - SEPTEMBER 14: Caleb Lohner #84 of the Utah Utes catches a touchdown pass over JD Drew #3 of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their game at Maverik Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Logan, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Utah v Utah State

College Football

Football Will Live Or Die With Its Rivalries

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Donald Trump makes a loony-eyed face while speaking at IAC.

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Margin Of Error

Where Racism Goes To Become Rhetoric

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Soraya Roberts

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Arts And Culture

‘Nightbitch’ Is About A Woman Clawing Back Her Time

<p>Libby Watson is a journalist who covers healthcare.</p>


Libby Watson

A sideboard-type piece of furniture with a spread of food including pork, rice, lettuce, cucumber salad, and kimchi, plus a pair of decorative plates and a lamp. Plus the Chefector logo.

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Perfectly Fine Dinner Party Club

An Undefeatable Dinner, For Rising From The Ashes

<p>Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.</p>


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Hamilton Nolan

JACKSONVILLE, FL - MAY 31: A Jacksonville Jaguars logo along the fence during the Jaguars OTA on May 31, 2018 at Dream Finders Homes Practice Complex in Jacksonville, Fl.(Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NFL: MAY 31 Jaguars OTA

Jaguars Junction: Week 2

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


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Nicholas Russell

26 March 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Rottweil: Cowslips grow in a wooded area near a stream near Rottweil. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa

Spring in Baden-Württemberg

Science

What Is The Human Composting Industry Trying To Grow?

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.</p>


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Owen Lewis

Canelo Alvarez poses at the press conference for the Berlanga fight

Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga hold press conference in Los Angeles

The Fights

Canelo Álvarez No Longer Cares About Showcasing His Greatness

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris debate on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Donald Trump Talked Honestly About Policy

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Abigail Segel

in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Round of 16 match at Commonwealth Stadium on June 22, 2015 in Edmonton, Canada.

United States v Colombia: Round of 16 – FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015

Soccer

Alex Morgan Knew How To Use The Spotlight

Aaron Pierre's character in Rebel Ridge, surrounded by police

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‘Rebel Ridge’ Is As Sharp As Revenge Thrillers Get

Adam Sandler: Love You. Adam Sandler at the Nocturne Theater in Glendale. Cr.

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Adam Sandler Lets Us Love Him

<p>Michael Rosen is a transportation planner and author of the <a href="https://pitchplots.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pitchplots.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1725119706246000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LfT9S-qtmoiPwAXtsicWT">&#8220;Pitch Plots&#8221;</a> Substack. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>


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Michael Rosen

An umpire mediates between two people networking

SABR

Looking For Friends Among Baseball’s Most Passionate Nerds

<p>Dayna Evans is a baker and writer who got really into surfing recently. She runs Downtime Bakery in Mt. Airy, Philadelphia.</p>


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Dayna Evans

The Great Outdoors

East Coast Surfing’s Rich, Overlooked Legacy Gets Its Due

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Dennis Young is the news editor at Front Office Sports.</span></p>


Dennis Young

David Roche sprays a bottle of champagne after winning the Leadville 100

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Interviews

How David Roche Nearly Ran His Dick Off And Maybe Changed Ultrarunning In The Process

<div dir="ltr">Victoria Zeller is a writer and reformed podcaster from Buffalo, New York. Her debut novel, <i>One of the Boys,</i> is forthcoming.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Highmark Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bears won 33-6.

Chicago Bears v Buffalo Bills

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Buffalo Bills

<p>John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and <em>Maclean’s</em>.</p>


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John Loeppky

Paris , France - 26 August 2024; A general view of the Agito logo on the Arc de Triomphe in advance of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – Previews

Parasports

Why Aren’t Paralympic Broadcasters Better?

<p>Alex Prewitt is a writer in Brooklyn. He shoots free throws the normal way.</p>


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Alex Prewitt

Timber Cleghorn stands shirtless in front of his shelter on the show 'Alone.'

timber-cleghorn-alone

Anxiety, Injury, And Constipation: An Executive Producer Discusses The Toll On ‘Alone’ Contestants


<p>Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.</p>


Richard Staff

An illustration of several baseball mitts trying to catch the same ball

mattie-lubchansky-minor-league-shrink

The Minor League Shrink And The Growing Gap Between Triple-A And The Bigs

<p>Brandy Jensen lives in New Orleans with her dogs.</p>


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Brandy Jensen

September 1958: An employee of the 'Housewives Help Service' hoovering the living room of a businesswoman while she relaxes. (Photo by Frank Martin/BIPs/Getty Images)

Mind Your Feet

Funbag

Which Chore Gets Forgotten The Most Often?

Donald Trump wears an ain't-I-a-stinker smirk while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks onstage at a campaign event at which the latter announced the end of his presidential campaign and endorsement of the former.

RFK Jr.

Stupid And Contagious

<p>Justin McHenry is an archivist and historian from West Virginia, and the author of <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/lemuria-the-true-story-of-a-fake-place/19663689">Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place</a> </i>and the upcoming book, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/raising-philadelphia-the-making-of-america-s-first-great-city-1750-1775-justin-mchenry/20390701?ean=9781955041201">Raising Philadelphia: The Making of America&#8217;s First Great City</a>.</i></p>


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Justin McHenry

MILL CREEK, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 6: Smoke shrouds Mt. Shasta as the Park Fire burns on August 6, 2024 in Mill Creek, California. (Photo by Ethan Swope/Getty Images)

Park Fire Grows In Size Sparking New Evacuation Orders

History

How AI Copyright Law Is Being Guided By Spirits From Atlantis

Democratic National Convention (DNC) 2024 – Day Three

Politics

Patriot Games

<p>Alex Shultz is a journalist based in Brooklyn.</p>


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Alex Shultz

The lobby of the Javits Center during Fanatics Fest

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Capital

Three Days At Fanatics Fest, Michael Rubin’s Hollow Monument To Sports And Culture

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 19: Delegates from Florida chant "Lock him up," as Hillary Clinton talks about former President Donald Trump's criminal convictions during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

2024 Democratic National Convention: Day 1

A Night With The Party Animals

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Sarah York

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks toward the sideline during the preseason game against the against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cincinnati Bengals on August 10, 2024, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

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