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

David Roth

Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles reacts to a play during the first half of a game against the Boston College Eagles at Doak Campbell Stadium. You can tell from the reaction that the Noles would go on to lose.

Podcasts

How Not To Make It In College Football, With Israel Daramola

<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

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is tackled by Damone Clark #18 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jamboroo

End This Farce

Giri Nathan

A view of the crowd milling around the U.S. Open

Tennis

The U.S. Open Crowd Has Become Too Much Of A Good Thing

<p>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.</p>


Owen Lewis

Canelo Alvarez poses at the press conference for the Berlanga fight

The Fights

Canelo Álvarez No Longer Cares About Showcasing His Greatness

<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

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

Margin Of Error

Donald Trump Talked Honestly About Policy

Ray Ratto

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick adjusts the microphones at his post-game press conference after the Patriots beat the Jets in January of 2024. He looks like he has a tummyache.

Bill Belichick, America’s Sweetheart

<div id="message-list_1773066846.655809">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<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>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Abigail Segel

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

Soccer

Alex Morgan Knew How To Use The Spotlight

Kathryn Xu

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies gives a thumbs up after hitting his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Kyle Schwarber Jacks Taters

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (52) celebrates after robbing a home run to end the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 10, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

It’s A Bad Day To Be A Fly Ball When Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Around

After Beating The Case, Jannik Sinner Beat The Field

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A person stops to watch a TV screen at a bar in Washington D.C. showing the U.S. presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Politics

Who Won The Debate? The Swirling Existential Void That Will Consume Us All

Albert Burneko

A wide view of the desolate Martian landscape, captured by the Perseverance rover.

Science

Neither Elon Musk Nor Anybody Else Will Ever Colonize Mars

Israel Daramola

Journalismism

Beyoncé Comes Off As Very Real And Human In Email Interview With GQ

Chess

Hans Niemann’s Return To The Big Stage Didn’t Go So Hot

Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers greets teammates on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

The Cavalry Arrives Too Late To Save The Rangers

Kelsey McKinney

Nigerian powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo waves to the crowd after a record breaking 166kg bench press at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.

Parasports

I’m Obsessed With The Paralympic Bench Pressers

Clorox disinfecting wipes are seen displayed for sale at a Walmart Supercenter on September 18, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Clorox has warned of a drop in quarterly earnings and product shortages after a recent cyberattack on the company's information technology infrastructure has disrupted operations and product availability.

Funbag

Help! My Friend Wipes His Ass With Bleach!

Lauren Theisen

Dodgers Announcers Enjoy “Tipsy”

Samer Kalaf

A Miami-Dade police officer grabs Tyreek Hill from behind during his detainment

Body Cam Footage Shows Miami-Dade Police Unnecessarily Escalating Tyreek Hill’s Traffic Stop

Chris Boswell #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicks a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.

It’s A Field Goal League Now

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 08: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Browns 33-17. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

New Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Deshaun Watson

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 08, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Bo Nix Achieves First Career “Oh No” In NFL Debut

LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 16: Fans check in at the ESPN Bet members lounge to receive Callaway golf balls on the 13th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images)