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

Israel Daramola

NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell discusses the state of the union and its direction for the upcoming year before fielding questions from the media on February 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bills Week

Bills Players Among Many In Need Of New Union Head

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


Chris Thompson

Just What You Wanted: A Bill Belichick TV Show

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Bill Veeck holds up a sign to the crowd so they can manage the baseball game

Bill Veeck’s Goofy, Gag-Filled Baseball Book Was Ahead Of Its Time

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jennifer Falk #12 of Sweden missed a decisive 11m goal against goalkeeper Hannah Hampton #1 of England in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Womens EURO 2025 Quarter-Final match between Sweden and England at Stadion Letzigrund on July 17, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Soccer

Atrocious England-Sweden Penalty Shootout Has Wild Bill Hickok Turning Over In His Grave

Kathryn Xu

An illustration of Wild Bill Hickock shooting a guy with the last name Williams in the Old West.

Life's Rich Pageant

Will A Will Ever Become A Bill?

<p>Former Defector intern, now freelancer.</p>
<p>For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lucy Bloom

Bill Nye Isn’t Fun Anymore

Patrick Redford

Fans throng a rider on the way up the Hautacam during Stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France.

Cycling

Feral Belgians, Superfan Gendarmes, And Tattered Cyclists At The Tour de France’s First Summit Finish

David Roth

of the Milwaukee Brewers slides into second base against the New York Mets on April 17, 2009.

Bill Hall Put It Together

Tom Ley

What Are The Epstein Files, And How Much Should You Care About Them?

Giri Nathan

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 11: Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half of the NBA game at PHX Arena on April 11, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Aimless Suns Settle Bradley Beal’s Bill

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates jokes with Oneil Cruz #15 during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees in 2024.

Podcasts

The Hazards Of Bob Nutting Mindset, With Justin Halpern

Barry Petchesky

Calvin And Hobbes’s Gruesome Snowmen Were A World All Their Own

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


Sabrina Imbler

a trio of chilean flamingos, with the Bills Week logo

Why Do Flamingos Eat So Weird?

Lauren Theisen

General Manager Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild smiles during rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at TRIA Rink on July 24, 2021 in St. Paul, Minnesota

The Wild’s Offseason Has Been Pretty Tame

How ‘Kill Bill’ Changed The Action Blockbuster

<p><a href="http://pjmaciak.substack.com">Phillip Maciak</a> is the TV critic at <em>The New Republic</em> and the author of <em>Avidly Reads Screen Time</em>. He&#8217;s working on a book about dad culture.</p>


Phillip Maciak

Cultural Capitulation

Dave McKenna

Singer and pianist Billy Joel rests on an airline flight between Austin and Dallas during a tour promoting his "57th Street" album. | Location: Above Texas, USA.

You Should Never Argue With A Crazy M-M-Music Club

Billy Haisley

Bill Rosimar Amancio of Chiangmai United celebrates scoring his side's goal during the Thai League 1 match between Chiangmai United and Samut Prakan City at 700th Anniversary Stadium on February 6, 2022 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Inspiring Soccer Odyssey Of The Man They Call Bill

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Victoria Zeller

Let’s Remember Some Bills

Defector Staff

Announcements

We Won A Grant

Stage winner Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility and Mauro Schmid of Switzerland and Team Jayco AlUla sprint at finish line during the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 11 a 156.8km stage from Toulouse to Toulouse

What It’s Like To Lose From The Winning Move

Albert Burneko

The actor David Soul holding a wooden cross and yelling "Bill!"

Bill!

Ray Ratto

of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting three home runs in three swings to win the Inaugural All-Star Game Swingoff. The Bills Week logo is at lower left.

The All-Star Game’s Confusing Ending Fit The Bill For A Confused League

In Paradigm-Shifting Business Maneuver, Defector Acquires Basketball Podcast

<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

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.