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

Tom Ley

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

No Weapon Formed Against Nikola Jokic Shall Prosper

Luis Paez-Pumar

Stefan Ortega of Manchester City saves from Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur with the score a 0-1 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 14, 2024 in London, England.

Soccer

A Backup Goalkeeper Might Have Ended The Premier League Title Race

Samer Kalaf

Harrison Butker delivers commencement speech at Benedictine College

Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s Inspirational Message To Graduating Catholics: Be Worse

Patrick Redford

DALLAS, TX - MAY 13: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Round 2 Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 13, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And The Thunder Passed Their First Real Test

Albert Burneko

"Motoman" robots from Japan's largest industrial robot maker Yasukawa Electric, beats a drum during a demonstration at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, 29 November 2007.

The Machines

If Kevin Roose Was ChatGPT With A Spray-On Beard, Could Anyone Tell?

Defector Staff

Golf

Golfers, Stop Addressing The Ball And Start Addressing Your Spouse’s Concerns

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

John Mulaney Made A Perfect Late-Night Show For Just One Week

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

Funbag

Help, Help! I Think Tiny Desk Concerts Are Fucking Stupid!

Lauren Theisen

Where Is Wyatt Johnston’s Off Switch?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Caitlin Clark #22, Erica Wheeler #17, and Assistant Coach Jessie Miller of the Indiana Fever look on before the game against the Dallas Wings

WNBA

A 2024 WNBA Season Preview For Casuals And Gatekeepers Alike

Giri Nathan

Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the New York Knicks &amp; Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks help Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks up during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Knicks Are Decaying Rapidly

Dave McKenna

Hundreds of hopefuls try out for the Albany Empires Arena Football League team at Sportsplex Saturday Jan. 27, 2018 in Halfmoon, NY. (Photo by John Carl D'Annibale /Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

Arena Football

Update: Yes, The Newest Arena Football League Is Already Collapsing

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Sucky Cardinals Are Headed Into Unfamiliar But Well-Charted Waters

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans looks on in the second half of a quarterfinal game against the Arizona Wildcats during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats defeated the Trojans 70-49. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Bronny James Can’t Be Much Worse Than The Rest Of These Guys

Nick Zarzycki is a Toronto-based writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Deadspin and Toronto Life.

Nick Zarzycki

A wizard dressed in a suit looks upon a fortress on a hill as lightning bolts and dollar bills dot the sky

Games

The Creator Of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Knows Exactly Where It All Went Wrong

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings during the WNBA Preseason Game on May 3, 2024 at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 13: Tossed Salad And Scrambled Eggs

Barry Petchesky

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 12: Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save in the second period of game five of the Western Conference Second Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Vancouver Canucks on May 12, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Oilers Have Two Goalie Problems

The Timberwolves Had A Very Bad 20 Seconds

I Am Begging For A Goalie Fight In Panthers-Bruins

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Pro-Palestinian protesters opposing Israel's participation in the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) demonstrate in Malmo, Sweden, on May 11, 2024, with a poster saying : NEJ TILL FOLKMORD, Welcome to the Genocide Song Contest

The Myth Of An Apolitical Eurovision

PWHL

Montreal Skates Into The Abyss

Maybe Paul Skenes Can Pitch In Relief Too?

Defector Up All Night

NFL Rookies Decide Against Risking $10,000 On Daniel Jones And Washington’s Offensive Line

Gregory Gerami poses with an oversized check demonstrating his nine-figure donation to Florida A&M University at the FAMU graduation.

Journalismism

Why Don’t People Trust The Man That Gave FAMU $237 Million?

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 9: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Two of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)