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

<div dir="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/nkulw">Noah Kulwin</a> is a writer and co-host of the podcast <a href="https://blowback.show/">Blowback</a>. He lives in New Jersey.</div>

Noah Kulwin

A photo of Lee Harvey Oswald being taken away by officials. In the corner is the join or die cartoon with the words THE AMERICAN FRIEND on it

Politics

Decades Later, The JFK Assassination Still Keeps Some Secrets

Luis Paez-Pumar

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on January 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

LeBron James Makes History, Looks Miserable Doing It

Patrick Redford

Hawaiian surfer Mark Healy rides a wave during The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing contest on January 22, 2023, at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Brian Bielmann / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by BRIAN BIELMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Great Outdoors

Local Lifeguard Wins Big-Wave Surfing’s Most Prestigious Competition

Dave McKenna

Policing

Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Cop Who Killed Peyton Ham

Maitreyi Anantharaman

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 31: Las Vegas Aces forward Dearica Hamby (5) looks to the sidelines during the Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces WNBA game on July 31, 2022 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.

WNBA

Dearica Hamby Found Out Who The WNBA Puts First

Samer Kalaf

Collin Delia #60 of the Vancouver Canucks skates up ice during their NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena January 18, 2023 in Vancouver.

This Is So Stupid

Vancouver Canucks Goalie Says There Was No Fart, Just Skate

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Player of Brazil Dani Alves signs the national anthem before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 group G match between Brazil and Cameroon at Lusail Stadium on December 2, 2022 in Lusail, Qatar.

Soccer

Dani Alves Jailed In Sexual Assault Case

Laura Wagner

Tennis

Azerbaijan Tennis Officials Demand Punishment Over Karen Khachanov’s “Heartfelt Words”

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

In Tidy Role Reversal, The Lakers Profit From The Wizards’ Dysfunction

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

Dan McQuade

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 26: Sophomore Paige James, center, touches a hippo statue for luck as she leads admitted George Washington University students and their parents on a tour of the campus before deciding on whether or not to enroll on April, 26, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Death To The NCAA

Official George Washington University Statement: Hippos Are Not Free To Be Bold

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

Pop Culture Is Good For Your Children

Ray Ratto

The NBA Is Good When It’s Goofy

Lauren Theisen

The Flames Sure Could Use A Player Like Johnny Gaudreau

Israel Daramola

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 26: ead coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

College Football

Alabama’s NIL Hub Is The Future Of Silly College Football Spending

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi's Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

How, Indeed, ‘Bout Them Cowboys?

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 14: Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno answers questions during a press conference to introduce Anthony Rendon at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on December 14, 2019 in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Arte Moreno To Continue Disappointing Angels Fans

Giri Nathan

Andrey Rublev Beat His Foe Instead Of Himself

Barry Petchesky

Albert Burneko

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the second half of the game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi's Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Which Of These Was The Worst Trick Play Of All Time?

George Kittle Wasn’t Even Supposed To Be There

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 22, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal Is Halfway Home

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Mike McCarthy On Hilarious Final Play: That Wasn’t What We Meant To Do

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 22: Damian Dunn #1 of the Temple Owls is fouled by Terrance Arceneaux #23 of the Houston Cougars as he drives to the basket during the first halfat Fertitta Center on January 22, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

College Basketball

Temple Out-Uglies Houston, Upsets No. 1 Cougars

ELMONT, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: &lt;&gt; at UBS Arena on January 21, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sebastian Aho Definitively Won The Battle Of Sebastians Aho

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs during the NFC Divisional playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants on January 21, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.