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

Defector Staff

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 28: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 5-0.

These Are Some Baseball Players We Like

Lauren Theisen

Matt Boldy smiles and hugs Filip Gustavsson

The Wild Are Getting Lucky At The Perfect Time

Giri Nathan

Paul Pierce looks at his phone during a Celtics game

Life's Rich Pageant

The Very Divorced Paul Pierce Has Dating Questions

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mapi Leon of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg match between FC Barcelona and AS Roma at Spotify Camp Nou on March 29, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

Barcelona Femeni Opened The Floodgates

<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

1970s SENIOR COUPLE SITTING ON PORCH ROCKING CHAIRS MAN READING NEWSPAPER WOMAN SHOUTING AT HIM (Photo by D. Corson/ClassicStock/Getty Images)

Elder Wisdom

A Lesson In Marital Free Association

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


Chris Thompson

Gordon McRae as Curly McLain in Oklahoma!

This Is So Stupid

Baseball!

Patrick Redford

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 20: De'Aaron Fox #5 and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings celebrate after a three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center on November 20, 2022 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Kings Fans Have Waited So Long For This

<p>Rob Mains is a writer at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Rob Mains

Cincinnati Reds CEO Bob Castellini and disgraced Reds legend Pete Rose yuk it up at an event honoring Rose's hit record, in 2010.

What The 2023 Forbes Data Tell Us About The Business Of Baseball

Tom Ley

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 15: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres attempts a wrap around goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period of the game at Capital One Arena on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Tage Thompson Missed His True Calling

<div class="r43lxo-0 gqfcxx js_post-content">
<p class="sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY">Vince Guerrieri is an award-winning journalist and author in the Cleveland area. He likes Lake Erie perch sandwiches, Jim Traficant and long walks on the field at League Park. His website is <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://vinceguerrieri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://vinceguerrieri.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">vinceguerrieri.com</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">@vinceguerrieri</a>.</p>
</div>
<div class="sc-18b1b2r-5 eTUqHn">
<div></div>
</div>


Vince Guerrieri

(Original Caption) Cardinals Clinch NL pennant. St. Louis, Missouri: Redbird coach Wares (right) shakes hands with winning pitcher Max Lanier, after the first game of a double header with the Cubs when the Cardinals clinched the National League pennant again this year. (Left to right seated) Chuck Klein; Lanier; Stan Musial; (left to right standing) George Munger; Ernie White; manager Billy Southworth; Danny Litwhiler; owner Sam Breadon, and Wares.

How The Cardinals Nearly Lost The War For St. Louis

Tyler Bertuzzi leaps to avoid a shot on Juuse Saros

Juuse Saros Holds The Keys To The Last Playoff Spot Out West

A four-square of Brian Windhorst talking, with a little Windy in the middle as well

Media Meltdowns

Brian Windhorst’s ESPN Article Wipes Detail About Stephen Silas Weeping After A Game

Ray Ratto

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 21: The Green Monster is painted ahead of 2023 MLB Opening Day on March 21, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Baseball Is A Buffet

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Keanu Reeves as John Wick, holding a handgun, with the text "Check Out the JW Collection" and a "shop now" button

Arts And Culture

The Gunplay Of ‘John Wick’ Is A Bit Too Real For Comfort

A photo with added illustration of Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, with his tongue sticking waaaaay out to the side. As in, it almost reaches his jacket collar.

What Comes After Dan Snyder?

Lisbon , Portugal - 1 November 2022; Changpeng Zhao, Co-founder &amp; CEO, Binance at Centre Stage during the opening night of Web Summit 2022 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images)

Capital

Binance Crackdown Reveals How Rigged The Crypto Game Is

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


Sabrina Imbler

A series of holes in the mud of the deep seafloor

Creaturefector

One Creator Of Mysterious Seafloor Holes Is Revealed, But Other Remains At Large

This Luka Doncic Dime Emits The Stench Of Life

Lamar Jackson Is Stuck Because The NFL Is Stuck

Fans of the Michigan State Spartans write ''state'' on their chests during a game against the Southern California Trojans at the Rose in Pasadena, California. Michigan State won the game 20-17.

Funbag

Can I Stop Caring About My College Team?

Felix Kent

Shoppers Looking at Records at Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard (Photo by nik wheeler/Corbis via Getty Images)

Music

The Lost Art Of Being Stuck With An Album

Barry Petchesky

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 27: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up before he NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on March 27, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Witness Connor McDavid

Tennis

Just Like That, Bianca Andreescu Is Out Again

Relief pitcher Sergio Romo #54 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after getting out of the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the MLB game at Chase Field on April 8, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sergio Romo’s Sendoff Was Almost Perfect

Close up of the face of a white male Beluga whale in aquarium.