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

Lauren Theisen

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates before playing against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Capital One Arena on November 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.

When Will Alex Ovechkin Stop Scoring?

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Only The Raiders Could Run A Play This Poorly

Billy Haisley

Ireland's forward #07 Troy Parrott celebrates his 2-3 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F European qualification football match betweem Hungary and Republic of Ireland at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on November 16, 2025.

Soccer

The World Cup Is The Best, Even When It’s Not The World Cup

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Split image. The lefthand side is Olivia Nuzzi attends the 2023 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. She's wearing a leopard longsleeve top and has long blonde hair and is smiling tightly at the camera. On the right side is an image of a purple blob of some sort.

Politics

Olivia Nuzzi Addresses The Worm

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Tom Ley

(L-R) Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, and musician Michael Bolton pose for a portrait during a party at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000.

Capital

Jeffrey Epstein’s Inbox Was A Place To Complain, Talk Shit, And Make Boomer-Grade Jokes

Dave McKenna

Conor Benn punches Chris Eubank Jr during their middleweight fight on the ‘Unfinished Business’ fight card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 15, 2025 in London, England.

Boxing

Conor Benn Avenges 35 Years Of Family Losses With Beatdown Of Chris Eubank Jr.

Patrick Redford

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 16: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors gets into a verbal altercation with a fan during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on November 16, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

A Brand-New Draymond Green Incident Cycle Has Arrived Right On Schedule

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: Jameson Williams #1 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Williams is hugging the goal post after scoring a touchdown. He's in his white and silver and blue Lions jersey and he's pretty high up on the goalpost, above the NFL "Salute to Service" logo and he's clearly very excited.

The NFL Needs To Cool It With The Celebration Penalties

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Podcasts

Zakiya Gibbons Goes Speed-Dating

Kathryn Xu

osh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after grounding out to end the first inning.

The Mariners Are Acting Like A Team That Wants To Win A World Series

Luis Paez-Pumar

Norway's team players ans staff celebrate their victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025.

Norway Is So Much More Than Just Erling Haaland

Ja'Marr Chase faces Jalen Ramsey after spitting on him.

Ja’Marr Chase Thought He Got Away With Spitting On Jalen Ramsey

Shea Patterson #7 of the Montreal Alouettes fumbles the ball at the goal line the 112th Grey Cup game between the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Grey Cup Was Decided On A Goal Line Fumble

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

J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during warmups before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

J.J. McCarthy Sucks

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns speaks with Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Nov. 17: The Struggle Is Real

Ray Ratto

Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles walk off the field after the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dan Campbell Kept Asking The Same Question, And The Eagles Kept Saying No

Israel Daramola

A bunch of Washington Commanders tackle a Miami Dolphin.

Say What You Want, Miami Just Won’t Quit

Albert Burneko

Chefector

The Key To Making A Bad Lasagna Is Being A Big Dumb Jerk

A bunch of South Carolina Gamecocks stand around looking dumb and confused as a Texas A&M guy celebrates a touchdown.

College Football

How Not To Football

Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Conor Benn during the weigh-in at York Hall, London. They are staring each other in the face while surrounded by cameras.

Like Fathers, Like Sons: Benn-Eubank Jr. Fight Fuels Family Feuds

Giri Nathan

Boston, MA - November 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla high fives guard Payton Pritchard in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on November 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Boston Sports Franchise Removes The Phrase “White Power” From Its Website

Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz discuss something.

Jeffrey Epstein Was The Unofficial Advice Columnist For The Elites

Defector Staff

The cast of Our Gang/The Little Rascals singing, circa 1930.

Staff Chat

The Time To Chat With The Defector Staff Is Once Again Upon Us

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson speaks at the press conference introducing head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey on January 27, 2025.