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

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


Sabrina Imbler

A statue representing an iceman named Oetzi, discovered on 1991 in the Italian Schnal Valley glacier, is displayed at the Archaeological Museu of Bolzano on February 28, 2011 during an official presentation of the reconstruction.

Science

They’re Making Ötzi The Iceman Show Feet

Lauren Theisen

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 8: OG Anunoby (8) of the New York Knicks and De'Aaron Fox (4) of San Antonio Spurs in action during the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the Madison Square Garden in New York, United States on June 8, 2026. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

De’Aaron Fox, What Were You Thinking?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Bosnian players lift their coach, Sergej Barbarez, in celebration after they qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

Soccer

The World Cup’s Most Interesting Newbie Is Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Poker-Playing Manager

Ray Ratto

The French national team smiles after scoring a goal

France Is Great. What Else Is New?

<p>Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.</p>


Matt Ufford

A split image: On the left, a beatific Manuel Neuer with his fists raised in triumph; on the right, a feral roaring Gianluigi Buffon with his fists low, also in triumph.

Which Type Of Big Weird Guy Is Your Goalkeeper?

Luis Paez-Pumar

An aerial view of football players during a match on a soccer field built on the top of a 5-story building in Adana, Turkiye on August 20, 2025.

How To Watch The World Cup

Tom Ley

OG Aununoby slides out of bounds after his tip-in

The Hand Of God Is In New York

<div id="message-list_1773066846.655809">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Abigail Segel

Sophia Wilson of United States fights for the ball with Isadora Haas of Brazil during the international friendly match between Brazil and United States on June 06, 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The USWNT And Brazil Stretched The Definition Of “Friendly”

A view inside the Texas Division of Emergency Management State Operations Center as they respond to the New World Screwworm threat on June 5, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Creaturefector

Welcome, Screwworms! Make Yourself At Home

King Charles III , with his son, Prince William, and grandsons George and Louis, standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Minor Dilemmas

What Is A Grandparent Actually Good For?

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


Chris Thompson

We’ve Arrived At The “Nitpicking The Officiating” Portion Of The Finals

Billy Haisley

People celebrate after the announcement of Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. during an event to announce Brazil's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Museum of Tomorrow, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil Couldn’t Kill Its Idol, So It Brought Him Along To The World Cup

Patrick Redford

US President Donald Trump sits next to Knicks owner James Dolan as they attend Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Podcasts

Conducting A Mid-Finals Vibe Assay, With Devon Walker And Will Menaker

The Chicago White Sox celebrate a walk-off, two-run home run by Braden Montgomery

Call Them The Chicago Delight Sox

a still from an AI video showing four killer whales moving under the ice

AI Animal Videos Are Ruining One Of The Internet’s Last Good Things

Sohini Desai

drawing: a person with a clothespin on their nose holds a bottle of wine to their face

Life Lessons

Why Is NA Wine So Far Behind NA Beer?

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 5: FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 official draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The State Of Sportswashing

Barry Petchesky

Jordan Staal Has Frozen Blood


<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

An image of Broncos player Jonthon Cooper on the left and Rams player Alaric Jackson on the right.

Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper, Rams’ Alaric Jackson Arrested For Domestic Violence

Somali World Cup Referee Denied Entry Into U.S.

Sarah Borus

Members of the U.S. Secret Service patrol outside at Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3

Policing

Security Theater Looks The Same Every Time

England’s Happy To Keep Its Head Down For Now

Jonah Heim of the Athletics celebrates a home run in the 10th inning during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark on Monday, June 8, 2026.

The A’s And Brewers Got Stupid In Las Vegas

<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

Funbag

’60 Minutes’ Was A Good Show

Lionel Messi of Argentina shows off the FIFA World Cup Trophy to fans while he is carried around the pitch on the shoulders of former teammate Sergio Aguero after the team's victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.