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

Barry Petchesky

Kwakho Madikwain, associate of former gang member Nicholas Mnguni, fills out a spreadsheet of purchase orders in Khayelitsha on March 13, 2025. Former gang member Nicholas Mnguni, known as Zwe in his township, left the 20 Men gang in 2017 to start his own business, producing and selling perfumes, cleaning products, and insect repellent. His business, ML Scents, has enabled him to employ 4 seasonal workers, with the hope of keeping them off the streets, and away from gang recruitment. As a former gangster, Nicholas is exempt from paying the protection fee demanded by local gangs. “Luckily, they know me, so they leave me alone, plus, I don’t want to be aggressive anymore,” he says. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)

The Machines

It Took Many Years And Billions Of Dollars, But Microsoft Finally Invented A Calculator That Is Wrong Sometimes

<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

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers makes a catch before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Los Angeles Chargers

Albert Burneko

A pure black field. Nothing whatsoever is visible.

Arts And Culture

What’s ‘Mönch’ Thinking?

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


Israel Daramola

Death To The NCAA

Let’s See How Dumb We Can Make The College Football Playoff

Patrick Redford

Podcasts

The Defector Era Of ‘Nothing But Respect’ Is Here, With Maitreyi Anantharaman And David Roth

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Interviews

Giri Nathan DISHES On Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz In This EXCLUSIVE Interview

Owner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders stands on the sidelines prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, at SoFi Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Inglewood, California.

Funbag

What Makes A Failson?

John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards dribbles to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers

John Wall Was Too Fast

Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: A Big Bedroom, A Small Living Room, And A Dated Bathroom

Defector Staff

Announcements

Defector Is Celebrating Its Fifth Birthday By Giving You A Big Fat Discount


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a green fla-necked chameleon posing against a swirly yellow and green background

Creaturefector

Chameleons Endure Tiny Knock To Colorful Reputation

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers yells during warmups before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Pittsburgh Steelers

<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Casey Taylor is a writer living and working in Pittsburgh. He is currently writing a book for St. Martin&#8217;s Press about cannabis religions, Haile Selassie I, and the Cold War in the Caribbean. He also writes a free newsletter called <a href="https://weedchurch.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weedchurch.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709306863919000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mVH2xiID6S0zvlyj6yHco">Weed Church</a> covering foolish spiritual things that occur to him. His work has appeared in The New Republic, WIRED, New York Magazine, and a sports blog he can’t currently recall the name of. You can <a href="mailto:caseyt7@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> him if you’d like.</div>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>
</div>
<div></div>


Casey Taylor

Politics

Kim Jong Un, Girl Dad

Kelsey McKinney

Starving Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organization as Israel continue to block humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip on August 10, 2025.

The Free Press Reports Gaza’s Starving Children Have Pre-Existing Condition Of Being Bombed By Israel

Sonia Citron #22 and Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics interact during the first half of the game against the Golden State Valkyries at CareFirst Arena on July 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.

WNBA

The Mystics’ Rookies Have Made The Team Better Than Intended

Michael Porter Jr. Is The Incredibly Dumb Man For An Incredibly Dumb Moment

Kathryn Xu

Andruw Monasterio #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers doused with liquid after the game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Milwaukee Brewers Weird (Nerd Version)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Players, match officials and fans take part in a minute's silence as a fan mosaic depicting "DJ20" is displayed in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England

Soccer

Diogo Jota Will Never Walk Alone

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


Chris Thompson

Ice Cube makes an angry face while lost in an emptied WeWork.

Defector At The Movies

Twelve Minutes Of Ice Cube Stumbling Around An Empty Office In An Escalating Panic Almost Redeems The Rest Of ‘War Of The Worlds’

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Erika Learns To Sing

Lauren Theisen

Life Lessons

Seeking Closure At Planet Hollywood, Where My Life Once Exploded

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos shakes hands with Bo Nix #10 prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Denver Broncos

Ray Ratto

William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds first base after hitting a two run homer against the New York Mets at American Family Field on August 10, 2025 in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Brewers Are Baseball’s Weirdest Winners

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks up the pitcher's mound in the fourth inning during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at PNC Park on April 19, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 18: Musical Arrangement


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Corey Atad is a freelancer writer based in Toronto with an unhealthy Air Bud obsession.</p>


Corey Atad

Zohran Mamdani smiling with a megaphone in the park