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

Soraya Roberts

The Patti Smith Group pose for portraits, (L-R) Lenny Kaye, Richard Sohl, Patti Smith, Ivan Kral and Jay Dee Daugherty, in May 1976 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Life Lessons

Make Space For The Artist

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Does It Matter If Adam Driver Is A Bad Actor?

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


Chris Thompson

Monty Williams watches his Pistons lose again.

The Pistons Are So Good At Losing

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

This Is So Stupid

The Jalen Williams-Jaylin Williams Power Rankings: A New Contender Rises

Defector Staff

Year In Review

The Best Things We Ate In 2023

Barry Petchesky

A Marcus Rashford kit that says "Rahford."

Capital

Fanatics Ruined Christmas

Photo of two pages of an Italian illustrated chess manual from the 15th century, located at the Gorizia, Fondazione Palazzo Coronini Cronberg

When Your Best Move Is Embracing Loser Mindset

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Victoria Zeller

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills visits on set of the Amazon Prime TNF postgame show after an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on October 26, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.

Jamboroo

It’s All Worth It For 17

Ray Ratto

Alexandar Georgiev Has Room For Improvement In The Art Of The Goalie Tantrum

Billy Haisley

Malo Gusto of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on December 27, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Soccer

Chelsea Is Neither Here Nor There

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 29: Denver Broncos Head coach Sean Payton, left, talks with Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High on October 29, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24 to 9 during week 8 of the NFL regular season. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Real Power Is Incinerating Your Boss’s Money

Presenting The 2023 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos passes during the 1st quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on December 24, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

The Broncos Seem Done With Russell Wilson

Packers Suspend Jaire Alexander For Must-Win Game Because He Fucked Up A Coin Toss

Luis Paez-Pumar

Canada - Montreal circa 1959, man grilling, BBQ with the family

Grilling Is Slowly, So Slowly, Teaching Me How To Be Patient

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - DECEMBER 21: Vinicius Junior attends the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the LA Clippers on December 21, 2023 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Vinicius Jr. Pays Visit To Best Cities In America, Also Los Angeles

America Has Pistons Fever, And It Is Terminal

Aaron Rodgers Sees A Vast “Medical Industrial Complex” Conspiracy Behind People Not Liking Him

Shoppers in Paris flock to buy the new edition of the grammar book 'Grammaire de l'Academie Francaise', 1932.

The Best Things We Read In 2023

Tom Ley

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 26: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Little Caesars Arena on December 26, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. 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.

The Pistons Are Pure Piss

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


Dan McQuade

American football player Chuck Bednarik (#60) of the Philadelphia Eagles eyes his opponants as Charlie Conerly (#42), quarterback for the New York Giants prepares to take the ball during a game, late 1950s or early 1960s.

Eagles Versus Giants And Other Football Concerns

Lauren Theisen

a woman climbing a gigantic mountain of paperwork with an Id at the top

What’s In A Name? A Lot Of Paperwork, Actually

House Concert at the Mozart family in Vienna, 19th century. Found in the collection of the Russian State Library, Moscow. (

The Best Things We Heard In 2023

Tetsuya Naito flying in with a knee on Keiji Muto

Some Wrestling Matches I Liked In 2023

Maitreyi Anantharaman

ESPN Announcers, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen report on Game Four of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on July 14, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.