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

Ray Ratto

Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs tips his hat to the crowd after stealing his 40th stolen base during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on September 24, 2026.

Pete Crow-Armstrong Has Answered Every Question

Samer Kalaf

Arts And Culture

Even The Weather Hates Ed Sheeran

Dan Schindel

Interviews

Paula González-Nasser Gives Location Scouts Their Due


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Culture Writer</p>


Israel Daramola

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 19: Chance Robinson #82 of the NC State Wolfpack reacts after a last second loss against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

College Football

Let’s Make These Games As Stupid As Possible

Tom Ley

Manchester City chief-executive Ferran Soriano with Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City

Soccer

Manchester City Found Guilty Of More Than 100 Financial Rule Breaches

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Taylor Swift in a strapless dress on a red carpet for the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the album art for The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore superimposed next to her.

Music

This Is A Cry For Help

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries reacts to a play against the Washington Mystics during the second half of the game at CareFirst Arena on July 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.

WNBA

Eight Teams, Eight Qualms: A Guide To The 2026 WNBA Playoffs

The Packers Are All Fucked Up

Dave McKenna

A horse is covered in dirt after an undercard race ahead of the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, 2026 in Laurel, Maryland. For the first and only time, Laurel Park is hosting the Preakness Stakes which is the second race of the Triple Crown jewel due to the traditional home of the race of the Pimlico Race Course undergoing complete renovations.

Horse Racing

Racehorse Owner Told To Rename His Hitleresque Steed


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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

Josh Jacobs #8 of the Green Bay Packers participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers mandatory minicamp at Don Hutson Center on June 09, 2026 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.

Judge Declines To Seal Josh Jacobs Video,  But Cautions Against It Becoming Public

It Sucks To Be Alex Bregman Right Now

Revisiting Weezer’s Cringe Masterpiece At 30

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


Chris Thompson

Sean Payton and Mike Macdonald talk on the field in 2024

Sean Payton, After Wrongly Accusing Mike Macdonald Of Cheating, Is Somehow The Only One Not Groveling

<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

Jamboroo

Blitzing All The Time Is Analytics

<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

The NWSL’s Struggling Teams Are Falling Behind

Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros reacts after he is hit by a pitch during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 22, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

No One Should Win The AL West

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


Jae Towle Vieira

A woman sits alone in her office in the evening surrounded on all sides by plants, obscuring her view out the window.

Podcasts

The Secret Life And Crimes Of The American Office Plant

Life's Rich Pageant

Ryen Russillo Hawks Troughs Of Sodium In Grim Video

Giri Nathan

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Get My Kid To Be A Sports Sicko Without Turning Myself Into A Vile Sports Parent?

One Game Is Not Enough To Deem Anyone A Fraud … But Two Games Is

The Protect College Sports Act Reveals The Dark Heart Of Management

Dublin , Ireland - 18 September 2026; Bohemians supporters display a banner, protesting the upcoming Republic of Ireland matches against Israel, during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Bohemians and Drogheda United at Dalymount Park in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland Going Ahead With Israel Matches Against Everybody’s Wishes

The sun setting behind a view of the boat's starboard helm, which is unoccupied.

The Great Outdoors

I Spent Three Sweltering Days Shredding The High Seas At Jogging Pace, And It Ruled

David Roth

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. He is making a very pouty face.

Maybe The WBC Cursed The Red Asses Of Team USA

Luis Paez-Pumar

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, during the La Liga EA Sports 2025/26 ''El Clasico'' match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium in May 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.