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

<div>Adam Charles Hart is an author, curator, and archivist who lives in Pittsburgh. His second book, &#8216;<i>Raising the Dead: The Work of George A. Romero, </i>will be out in early 2024 from Oxford University Press.</div>
<div></div>


Adam Charles Hart

An evil zombie poking its head up from behind a black wall, and at the bottom it says DIRECTED BY GEORGE A. ROMERO. And zombie has baseball stitches on his head. And then above there are comic word bubbles that say things like "OJ SIMPSON" and "BRUNO SAMMARTINO" and "REGGIE JACKSON" and "FRANCO HARRIS"

Defector At The Movies

Remembering “The Winners,” George Romero’s Forgotten Sports Documentary Series

Luis Paez-Pumar

Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on April 30, 2023 in Paris, France.

Soccer

Lionel Messi’s PSG Vacation Has Fallen Apart

Giri Nathan

Tennis

Zhizhen Zhang Is In New Territory

Ray Ratto

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 02: Oliver Bjorkstrand #22 of the Seattle Kraken celebrates after Yanni Gourde #37 of the Seattle Kraken scored the game-winning goal against Jake Oettinger #29 of the Dallas Stars in the first overtime period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Kraken 5, Joe Pavelski 4

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks a shot by Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game one of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 02, 2023 in San Francisco, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Jordan Poole, Off The Deep End


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

What If I Told You Sperm Could Be Balls?

Patrick Redford

DENVER, CO - MAY 1: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nikola Jokic Is A Big Strong Guy

Samer Kalaf

The Grizzlies Are Done With Dillon Brooks

<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

KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 28: A Washington Commanders fan during the second day of the NFL Draft on April 28, 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

Funbag

Just Keep The Name Commanders And Be Done With It

RJ Barrett Needs To Be More Up Than Down

Tom Ley

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Everton captain Seamus Coleman encourages the Everton supporters as he is carried from the field on a stretcher during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton FC at The King Power Stadium on May 1, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

Seamus Coleman Never Stopped

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


Dan McQuade

BOSTON, MA - MAY 1: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during Round Two Game One of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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

James Harden Outshot The Celtics, Somehow

Dave McKenna

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 21: A Colorado Buffaloes helmet on the field during the college football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona State Sun Devils on September 21, 2019 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

College Football

He Was A Colorado Recruit. Then Dozens Of Women Came Forward

Lauren Theisen

Michael McLeod and the Devils celebrate after a goal

The Devils Make Their Own Fun

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 30: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings embraces Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors after Round One Game Seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

It’s Over For The Sacramento Kings, Who Are Just Getting Started

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23, Manny Machado #13, and Juan Soto #22 congratulate Nelson Cruz #32 of the San Diego Padres after his solo homerun during the third inning of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series against the San Francisco Giants at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico.

What An Atmosphere For Baseball!

Ben Tippett

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN - APRIL 29: Grandmaster Ding Liren (L) of China shakes hands with grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia during the 2023 World Chess Championship at the St Regis Astana Hotel on April 29, 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan. (

Chess

Ding Liren Made A Legendary Move To Become World Chess Champion

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - APRIL 10: Eetu Luostarinen #27 of the Florida Panthers tangles with Mark Giordano #55 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the FLA Live Arena on April 10, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

No Canadians Allowed In Sunrise

Kelsey McKinney

The Bluesky app can be seen on a smartphone. The service of the Twitter alternative Bluesky can only be used with invitations so far, so that the infrastructure is not overloaded in one go.

Arts And Culture

The Internet Isn’t Meant To Be So Small

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


Chris Thompson

Eating Some Shit Might Be Just What The Grizzlies Need

Israel Daramola

The ‘Succession’ Misery Index: Big, Big Shoes

When Greatness Isn’t Good Enough

DENVER, CO - APRIL 30: Jamie Oleksiak (24) of the Seattle Kraken celebrates with Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) after defeating Mikko Rantanen and the Colorado Avalanche winning the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. The Avalanche lost 2-1. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

The Kraken Made The Avs Look Like Old News


<p>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</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Monica Aldama attends the Build Series to discuss "Cheer" at Build Studio on January 29, 2020 in New York City. She is sitting down, wearing all black.

Lawsuit: ‘Cheer’ Coach, Navarro College Tried To Cover Up A Cheerleader’s Sexual Assault

Albert Burneko

Steph Curry with the Sacramento crowd behind him