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

Laura Wagner

Elder Wisdom

Blow Off The Stink

Tom Ley

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 11, 2023 in London, England.

Soccer

Nobody Has Ever Wanted To Be Fired As Badly As Antonio Conte

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Karl Smesko gets doused by his team as he enters the locker room following the first round of the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Finneran Pavilion on March 18, 2023 in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

College Basketball

FGCU Is The Very Model Of A Modern Mid-Major

James Reimer #47 of the San Jose Sharks skates to the goal after a time out afl at SAP Center on November 03, 2022 in San Jose, California.

Pride Night Homophobe Tracker: San Jose Sharks Goalie James Reimer

DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 15: Ansley Almonor #5 and Jo'el Emanuel #13 of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights celebrate after defeating the Texas Southern Tigers in the First Four game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 15, 2023 in Dayton, Ohio.

The NCAA Men’s Tournament Just Keeps Getting Weirder

Albert Burneko

Chefector

How To Break Free Of Recipe Dependence

David Roth

A collage of uncanny images from the deeply uncanny promotional video released by LIV Golf before its March event in Tucson, Az.

Golf

Are You Ready To Party With LIV Golf?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Lonzo Ball Descends To An Even Lower Circle Of Knee Hell

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A Sumatran orangutan swings on a rope at the safari park and zoo in Jantho, Aceh province on October 10, 2021. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP) (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Creaturefector

Apes Spin On Vines To Get High Because They Haven’t Discovered Whippits

Ray Ratto

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 1: Michael Jordan attends the game between the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets on March 1, 2023 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Michael Jordan Is Getting Out Because The Getting’s Always Good

Golf’s Governing Bodies Propose A Dead-Ball Era

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 view of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on May 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. The building looks darks and the background behind it is cloudy.

Death To The NCAA

Ohio State To Supreme Court: Please Stop People From Suing Us Over Athletics Doctor’s Sexual Abuse

Patrick Redford

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 15: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings celebrates scoring a three point basket to win the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 15, 2023 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nobody Is As Clutch As De’Aaron Fox

Purdue center Zach Edey scowls at and squeezes a basketball during the Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State.

Podcasts

Season Of The Oaf, With Ken Pomeroy

Israel Daramola

Suddenly, Everybody’s Ready For Ja Morant To Get Back On The Court

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 15: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild attempts to get physical with Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues but is stopped by linesman Dan Kelly #98 at the Enterprise Center on March 15, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri.

They Should Have Let Marc-Andre Fleury Beat Up Jordan Binnington

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

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 19: Purdue students hold up a giant cutout of university president Mitch Daniels during the college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Purdue Boilermakers on November 19, 2022, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Media Meltdowns

Man Who Declares “There’s No ‘Us’ In ‘Me’” Has No Brain In Head

Ron DeSantis with his big gross mouth open like a nightmare baby bird.

This Is So Stupid

Which Three Fingers Did Ron DeSantis Use To Slurp Down Chocolate Pudding Like A Damn Raccoon?

Lauren Theisen

The Maryland Terrapins mascot, Testudo, peers into the camera

Everything You Need To Know About Maryland–West Virginia

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 15: A general view of Wells Fargo Arena during open practice ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First Round on March 15, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (

It’s March Freakin’ Madness. Here’s Your Open Thread

<div>Dave Madden is the author of two books, and his essays have appeared in The Guardian, Harper&#8217;s, Lithub, Zyzzyva, and elsewhere. He teaches nonfiction in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco, and publishes a newsletter named <a href="https://shennymag.substack.com/">Shenny</a>.</div>

Dave Madden

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski congratulates UNC forward Brady Manek after his Blue Devils lost in the 2022 Final Four.

The Family Queer Flies Home For March Madness

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors falls to the ground after scoring a basket during the second half against Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on March 15, 2023 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)

The Warriors’ Road Woes Could Earn Them A Rare And Unpleasant Trip To Beamtown

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Edwin Diaz #39 of Puerto Rico is helped off the field after being injured during the on-field celebration after defeating the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic Pool D at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

This Sucks So Bad For Edwin Díaz [Update]

Luis Paez-Pumar

Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his opening goal ,during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 15, 2023 in Naples, Italy.

Victor Osimhen Is Napoli’s Exclamation Point

Giri Nathan

Daniil Medvedev lies on the court during his fourth-round match at Indian Wells.