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

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

Orson Welles And Paola Mori Having Lunch At Table

Funbag

The Only Spaghetti Eating Lesson You’ll Ever Need

Lauren Theisen

Very Stupid Goals Help Slow Red Wings’ Spiral

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

On a gradient background going from tan-ish to pink-ish, the front cover of the book Trauma Plot by Jamie Hood. The book is black with a statue of a woman with wings in the center. It also identifies Hood as the author of How to Be A Good Girl.

Interviews

“Rape Is Political”: Jamie Hood On Trauma Narratives, Writing The Self, And Ethical Obligation

Tom Ley

Lauren James #10 of Chelsea F.C. women crosses the ball during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on March 23, 2025.

Soccer

Chelsea And Manchester City Are Delivering The Goods

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Lakers Are Puking And Shitting At An Inopportune Moment

Dave McKenna

Muhammad Ali smashes a right to the head of George Foreman.

The Fights

George Foreman Got As Good As He Gave

Maitreyi Anantharaman

JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans is attended to by team staff after being injured against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Galen Center on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

College Basketball

JuJu Watkins’s Season Ends With A Torn ACL

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A photo of Sara Hugentobler, a USFWS fish biologist, in the lab extracting DNA

An Interview With A Fired USFWS Fish Biologist

Kirsten Simms #27 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after scoring a goal off a penalty shot during the third period of the Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes held at Ridder Arena on March 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

College Hockey

Kirsten Simms Put Her Hand Up And Led Wisconsin To A Title

Ray Ratto

Dan Hurley making a skeptical face with his glasses pushed up onto his forehead during UConn's loss to Florida in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Dan Hurley Is The Last Angry Man

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

Dan McQuade

Photo of a white marble room with three archways in the middle. In the middle archway is a giant gold pipe organ, with two more archways on the other side of the room. A huge crowd fills the bottom of the photo, listening to the organ.

Dadfector

One Last Trip To Philadelphia’s Department Store Of Dreams

A special blend of holiday Butter Beer is served up in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Friday, November 26, 2021. Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the season with the return of holiday favorites including the Christmas Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas and a park loaded with holiday lights, treats and special events through January 9, 2022.

Food

Butterbeer Flavoring Has Broken Contain

Barry Petchesky

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 12, 2024: Max Muncy #72 of the Oakland Athletics throws to first base during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Hohokam Stadium on March 12, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Max Muncy

A Second Max Muncy Has Hit MLB

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the dugout in the third inning during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at BayCare Ballpark on March 2, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida.

Life's Rich Pageant

Bob, That’s The Wrong Bryce!

Allyson Felix of the United States competes in the Women's 400m final on Day 10 of the 2016 Olympic Games.

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 24: Skipping Town

Derik Queen #25 of the Maryland Terrapins makes a shot against Ethan Morton #25 of the Colorado State Rams to win the game 72-71 in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 23, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

One Good Shot Deserves A Great One

Albert Burneko

Chefector

I Have Been Defeated And Humbled By A Shortage Of Ketchup

Kathryn Xu

Vintage engraving of Army officers playing a game of Kriegsspiel, 1870s, 19th century. Kriegsspiel is a genre of wargaming developed by the Prussian army in the 19th century to teach battlefield tactics to officers.

‘Pandemic Legacy’ Has Destroyed My Life

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari walks on track during the F1 Grand Prix of China.

Racing

Ferrari Pioneers New Modes Of Disaster At The Chinese Grand Prix

Arts And Culture

KiiiKiii And The Dawn Of K-Pop’s Process Era

The McNeese Cowboys celebrate their win over the Clemson University Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Amica Mutual Pavillion on March 20, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Defector Up All Night

Have A Ball In The March Madness Open Thread

Samer Kalaf

Journalismism

Local Man Has Far More Opinions On Fast Casual Dining Chains Than You’d Think Possible

Israel Daramola

Music

What Is An Industry Plant Anyway?

AI Anthony Davis points a gun at his head

The Mavericks Don’t Want To Talk About Their Creepy AI Video In Which Anthony Davis Points A Gun At His Head

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND - MARCH 20: The McNeese Cowboys celebrate their win over the Clemson University Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Amica Mutual Pavillion on March 20, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island. A player is sticking his tongue out while being mobbed by teammates.