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>Eva Holland is a freelance writer and editor based in Whitehorse, Yukon. She&#8217;s a correspondent for Outside magazine and the author of the books <i>Nerve </i>and <i><a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/no-sleep-til-fairbanks#/">No Sleep &#8216;Til Fairbanks</a>.</i></p>


Eva Holland

The Great Outdoors

What’s The Yukon Quest Without The Yukon River?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Kathryn Xu

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


Sabrina Imbler

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


Chris Thompson

Ray Ratto

An abstract work of art featuring some line-drawn faces.

Defector Reads A Book

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 6: Are We Feeling Abundant?

Lauren Theisen

Interior of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, showing orchestra in foreground and audience in back

Arts And Culture

Silence Brings Us Together

<p>Lindsey Adler is a writer based in Brooklyn. She exclusively covered sports for a decade but has other interests, too.</p>


Lindsey Adler

A woman stands in front of the Yoko Ono, »Cut Piece«, 1965, during a press preview at the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Duesseldorf, western Germany on September 26, 2024. In cooperation with the Tate Modern, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen is presenting the influential work of artist and activist Yoko Ono in a comprehensive solo exhibition taking place from September 28, 2024 to March 6, 2025.

My Weekend With Yoko

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Luka Doncic #77 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Crypto.com Arena on February 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)

LeBron And Luka Will Have To Make A Weird, Compromised Roster Work

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the New York Mets in Game Two of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Stand Down: Phillies Toilet Crisis Abates As Bryce Harper Returns To Spring Training

<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

ANKARA, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 09: A Stanley thermos is seen in Ankara, Turkiye on February 9, 2025.

Funbag

Is It OK For Me To Drink Out Of A Cup I Once Pissed In?

<p><a href="http://www.ddavisla.com"><span style="font-weight: 400">David Davis </span></a>is the author of <i>Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans From World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation</i> and <i>Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku</i>. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>
<div></div>


David Davis

Photo of Gidget running through the Malibu Pier. Fifty years after Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, aka Gidget, learned to surf in Malibu, the surfing world has accepted her as surfing's early pioneers, mascots and avid promoters. April 27, 2006, (Photo by Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Gidget The Survivor

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team USA and Brandon Hagel #38 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off on February 15, 2025.

The 4 Nations Face-Off Really Might Be The Solution For All-Star Malaise

Barry Petchesky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 17: Connor McDavid #97 of Team Canada carries the puck against Juuse Saros #74 of Team Finland during the second period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at TD Garden on February 17, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

This Is What We Came For

Giri Nathan

Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates victory over Australia's Alex De Minaur after their men's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) /

Tennis

WADA’s Doping Ban Settlement With Jannik Sinner Creates More Questions Than Answers

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Daryl Watts #9 of the Toronto Sceptres celebrates after scoring the equalizer against the Ottawa Charge during the PWHL Takeover Tour match at Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on February 16, 2025.

PWHL

The Sceptres Have All The Help They Need

Luis Paez-Pumar

Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025 in London, England.

Soccer

No One Can Save Manchester United From Itself

Dallas Mavericks fans lift a cutout of general manager Nico Harrison with a clown nose during a protest of the trade of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic outside the American Airlines Center.

Nico Harrison’s Reasons Are Not Getting Any Better


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

David Roth

Ricky Jay, with his hair balding halfway up his head but black and tall, and a large black beard, in a black suit with a black tie and a dark purple shirt, looking at the camera holding a cut-in-half watermelon with two playing cards into the inside.

Someone Has To Save The Film And TV That Studios Won’t

Tom Ley

Abysmal Kevin Hart Special Interrupted By Sporadic Basketball

<p>Grace Byron is a critic, reporter, and novelist based in Queens. Her writing has appeared in <em>The New Yorker</em>, <em>Granta</em>, <em>Bookforum</em>, and elsewhere. Her debut novel <em>Herculine</em> is out now.</p>


Grace Byron

Bill Gates speaks at the Global Solutions Summit

What’s The Point Of Bill Gates?

Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the third period at Xcel Energy Center on January 09, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 6-1.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 17: In The Ballpark

<div id="1695913206.579009" class="c-virtual_list__item c-virtual_list__item--initial-activeitem" role="listitem" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1695913206.579009">
<div class="c-message_kit__background c-message_kit__background--hovered p-message_pane_message__message c-message_kit__message" role="presentation" data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false">
<div class="c-message_kit__hover c-message_kit__hover--hovered" role="document" data-qa-hover="true">
<div class="c-message_kit__actions c-message_kit__actions--above">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter c-message_kit__gutter--compact">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter__right" role="presentation" data-qa="message_content">
<div class="c-message_kit__indent">
<div class="c-message_kit__blocks c-message_kit__blocks--rich_text c-message_kit__blocks--inline">
<div class="c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text c-message__message_blocks--inline" data-qa="message-text">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer p-block_kit_renderer--inline" data-qa="block-kit-renderer">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first">
<div class="p-rich_text_block p-rich_text_block--inline" dir="auto">
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1695913224.677889" class="c-virtual_list__item" role="listitem" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1695913224.677889">
<div class="c-message_kit__background p-message_pane_message__message c-message_kit__message" role="presentation" data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false">
<div class="c-message_kit__hover" role="document" data-qa-hover="true">
<div class="c-message_kit__actions c-message_kit__actions--above">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter c-message_kit__gutter--compact">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter__left" role="presentation"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Tom Scocca

NYPD officers prepare to make arrests during a rally and a march in Manhattan to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recent raids and crackdown on migrants in New York. New York City, U.S., February 13, 2025.

Margin Of Error

The Country That Was Here Is Gone

Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens sits on the bench in the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

Seven More Massage Therapists Have Accused Justin Tucker Of Sexual Misconduct

an image of a fly larva (maggot) that has the face of a termite

Creaturefector

Hell Yeah: This Maggot Has A Face On Its Butt

Hell Yeah: Shohei Ohtani Throws Baseball 14 Times

a baby loggerhead turtle does a happy turtle dance inside a bucket of water

Are You Entranced By The Turtle Dance?

J.T. Miller #10 of Team USA and Colton Parayko #55 of Team Canada fight

Canada Still Alive In 4 Nations Despite Pugnacious Defeat In Montreal

JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans celebrates a 71-60 win against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at Galen Center on February 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.