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

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

General manager Michael Lombardi talks with head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels prior to the game against the Richmond Spiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

College Football

Everybody Hates Mike Lombardi

A Seattle Mariners fan covering his face in a game against the Detroit Tigers.

The Season Of The Prayer Face Is Upon Us

Maitreyi Anantharaman

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

WNBA

The Aces Made Their Season From The Muck

Ray Ratto

Linebacker Brian Burns #0 of the New York Giants sacks quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles on 10/9/25.

Eagles Fans Can Go Ahead And Freak Out Now

Kelsey McKinney

nick castellanos is celebrated after hitting a walk off

What I’ll Remember About The Phillies

Patrick Redford

On September 14, 2025, in Madrid, Spain, the Vuelta a Espana comes to an unprecedented halt as the final stage is canceled with 56 km to go due to large-scale pro-Palestinian protests in the heart of the Spanish capital.

Cycling

The Protests Against Israel–Premier Tech Worked

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jackson Chourio of the Brewers looks bummed.

The Zippy Brewers Appear To Have Misplaced Their Magic

Albert Burneko

Country singer/songwriter Johnny Cash performs onstage with an acoustic guitar in Sun Records publicity shot in 1957.

Journalismism

Breaking: Some Guy Now Aware Of Most Revered Country Artist Who Ever Lived

Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: Windows And Floors

Barry Petchesky

This Is Not Ideal Goalie Positioning

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

A Florida Gator tackles a Texas Longhorn in a college football game.

Things Can Always Get Worse

Kathryn Xu

Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate as they run past relief pitcher Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Phillies Go Down Swinging And Missing, And Throwing And Missing

David Roth

People walk past an installation showcasing the Riyadh Comedy Festival at Boulevard City in the Hittin neighborhood of Riyadh on October 6, 2025. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Maxing Out The Candle Budget, With Eli Yudin

Lauren Theisen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Bad Bunny attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.

Politics

Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Bunny, And Why?

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after her made basket against the Phoenix Mercury with .1 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 08, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Who Can Stop A’ja Wilson?

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is seen on the field prior to the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 5, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Raised Middle Finger Is Implied

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: Gary Oldman and Jonathan Pryce attend the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Presents "Slow Horses" event at The Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists on June 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

Jamboroo

How ‘Slow Horses’ Explains The World

Billy Haisley

Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 league phase match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munchen Frauen at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 07, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

Barcelona Is On The Warpath

Giri Nathan

Jannik Sinner of Italy withdraws due to injury during the match against Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands in the Men's Singles 3rd round match on day 7 of the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 05, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Hu Chengwei/Getty Images)

Tennis

The Pro Tennis Calendar Is Built For Burnout

The Blue Jays celebrate their Game 4 victory.

The Blue Jays Have The Juice

Samer Kalaf

Arts And Culture

Bill Burr Keeps Cycling Through Excuses For Doing The Riyadh Comedy Festival

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Randy Arozarena #56 after hitting a two-run home run.

What Mariners Magic Looks Like Now

A finished white chocolate tart, from the show.

Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Loses Its Cool For Chocolate Week

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a game-tying three-run home run in the fourth inning of Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

October Is For Big Boys

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the first half of a game against the UCF Knights on September 20, 2025.