CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and other members of the Detroit Pistons look onto the court from the bench during a game against the Toronto Raptors

Searching For Dignity In A Dumpster Fight Between The Pistons And The Wizards

<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>


Hamilton Nolan

UAW members attend a rally in support of the labor union strike at the UAW Local 551 hall on Chicago’s South Side. UAW president Shawn Fain joined members in solidarity with the ongoing strike on October 7, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Unions Can Fix What’s Broken

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

A cartoon of an outfield wall with an encroaching shadow over the player standing looking at it. It feels dark and desolate. The baseball stadium is empty.

The Life Of An International Minor League Baseball Player Has Never Been Simple


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Peter King pours a beer over Drew Magary’s head, in a still from a video from the old site.

10 Things I Think I Think On Peter King’s Retirement

Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool players including Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after winning the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024 in London, England.

Soccer

These Pool Boys Became Pool Men

<p>Aaron Gordon is a reporter covering transportation, infrastructure, and the environment. Most recently, he was a senior staff writer at Motherboard, VICE News’s tech and science website.</p>


Aaron Gordon

A general overall aerial view of Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Good, The Bad, And The Unreachable: A World Cup Transit Report Ranking

Barry Petchesky

Birdfector

Flaco Never Escaped

Lauren Theisen

The Rangers Have A Big Boy Who Fights

Tom Ley

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton reacts after a play during a celebrity flag football game at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How Many Angry Fellas Does It Take To Dislodge Cam Newton’s Hat?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Charlie Maier checks the tags on merchandise in the frozen foods area at Whole Foods

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 26: Shifting Priorities (Themeless)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 16: LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer yells while the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots free-throws during a NBA basketball game on January 16, 2024 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy/Icon Sportswire)

Steve Ballmer Hopes New Uniforms And Logos Can Change The Fundamental Clipperness Of The Whole Situation

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the referee against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center on November 04, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

If A Ninth-Place Team Complains About Officiating, Does It Make Any Sound At All?

Kelsey McKinney

Flaco, a brown and black Eurasian eagle owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo, roosts in a tree in New York's Central Park with a squirrel nearby.

Animals

Flaco Gave Us A Willingness To See The World

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts to a play while standing on the sidelines as guard Stephen Curry watches in the foreground during a game against the Chicago Bulls on January 12, 2024.

Golden State Secures Steve Kerr For The End Of The Curry Era

Justin Ellis

Wake Forest basketball fans packed together and celebrating after storming the court following their 83-79 upset victory over Duke.

College Basketball

Can Someone Please Tell Me If Storming The Court Is Ever OK?

CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 07: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws the ball against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on July 7, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Answer To MLB’s Pants Problem Is Vests

Patrick Redford

The Mavericks Are Huge, Healthy, And On A Roll

<p>A professional baseball player. This is not his real name.</p>


John Wholestaff

Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani (17) in action, pitching vs San Francisco Giants.

A Pitcher’s View On The Tommy John “Epidemic”

Giri Nathan

Two Mavericks fans interact with Kevin Durant

Savor The Discomfort Of Kevin Durant Confronting A Mavs Fan Who Called Him A “Bitch”

Science

Landing On The Moon Isn’t Getting Any Easier

<div id="1695913206.579009" class="c-virtual_list__item c-virtual_list__item--initial-activeitem" role="listitem" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1695913206.579009">
<div class="c-message_kit__background c-message_kit__background--hovered p-message_pane_message__message c-message_kit__message" role="presentation" data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false">
<div class="c-message_kit__hover c-message_kit__hover--hovered" role="document" data-qa-hover="true">
<div class="c-message_kit__actions c-message_kit__actions--above">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter c-message_kit__gutter--compact">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter__right" role="presentation" data-qa="message_content">
<div class="c-message_kit__indent">
<div class="c-message_kit__blocks c-message_kit__blocks--rich_text c-message_kit__blocks--inline">
<div class="c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text c-message__message_blocks--inline" data-qa="message-text">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer p-block_kit_renderer--inline" data-qa="block-kit-renderer">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first">
<div class="p-rich_text_block p-rich_text_block--inline" dir="auto">
<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>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1695913224.677889" class="c-virtual_list__item" role="listitem" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1695913224.677889">
<div class="c-message_kit__background p-message_pane_message__message c-message_kit__message" role="presentation" data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false">
<div class="c-message_kit__hover" role="document" data-qa-hover="true">
<div class="c-message_kit__actions c-message_kit__actions--above">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter c-message_kit__gutter--compact">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter__left" role="presentation"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Tom Scocca

In this photograph a group of townsfolk descend on a disciple after it was discovered that the ritual he participated in left a person dead during an Epoch Event in Toronto on August 6, 2011

Margin Of Error

Fantasy Convention

Jordan Poole #13 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks in the second half during an NBA In-Season Tournament game at Capital One Arena on November 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Jordan Poole Is Just Gonna Pass The Ball Right To—Oh No Fuck Me!

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


Chris Thompson

Journalismism

Vice’s Avaricious Stewards Finally Succeeded At Bleeding It Dry

David Roth

A man skiing fresh powder in Alta, Utah. You might assume from context that the man skiing is Drew Magary, but it is not.

Podcasts

A Bloody Footprint By The Toilet

Here are three players showing three different ways to rock the diaper.