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

Lauren Theisen

Sabres Complete Phase One Of “Operation: Stay Alive”

Barry Petchesky

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders leaves the ice after obtaining an injury during a game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 10, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Islanders Came Up Small

Tom Ley

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres looks out at the field in the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 10, 2023 in New York City.

Small Ball Returned To Torture Yu Darvish

Patrick Redford

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 09: (L-R) Race winner Mathieu van der Poel of The Netherlands, Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck and John Degenkolb of Germany and Team DSM (injured after being involved in a crash) during the 120th Paris-Roubaix 2023, Men's Elite a 256.6km one day race from Compiègne to Roubaix on / #UCIWT / April 09, 2023 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Frank Faugère - Pool/Getty Images)

Cycling

John Degenkolb’s Day In Hell Was Worth It

Israel Daramola

The ‘Succession’ Misery Index: Strategic Refocus

Giri Nathan

The NBA Doesn’t Like The Way The Mavericks Tanked

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka walk over a footbridge on the course.

Golf

A Masters Where Both Sides Lose Is One Where Everyone Else Wins

Oneil Cruz, Pirates Suffer Devastating Injury

Laura Wagner

Protesters face off with a line of police officers during a rally against the fatal police assault of Tyre Nichols outside the LAPD headquarters, in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2023. - The US city of Memphis released January 27, 2023 graphic video footage depicting the fatal police assault of a 29-year-old Black man, as cities nationwide braced for a night of protests against police brutality. Five Memphis officers, also all Black, were charged with second-degree murder in the beating of Tyre Nichols, who died in hospital on January 10 three days after being stopped on suspicion of reckless driving. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

Policing

Journalist Ben Camacho On Facing Petty LAPD-Driven Lawsuit: “It’s The Biggest Gaslight Of My Life”

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 08: Shuichiro Yoshino of Japan and Shakur Stevenson of the United States exchange punches during their WBC Lightweight Final Eliminator match at Prudential Center on April 08, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.

The Fights

Shakur Stevenson Punches Where It Hurts

Luis Paez-Pumar

Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is held back by Alisson Becker as they argue with Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool who is held back by Ibrahima Konate during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on April 09, 2023 in Liverpool, England.

Soccer

The Winner Of Liverpool-Arsenal Was Manchester City

Samer Kalaf

Rudy Gobert swings at Kyle Anderson in a team huddle.

The Timberwolves Are Throwing Punches At The Worst Possible Time

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a photo of a coprolite (fossil poop) with bite marks taken out of it

Creaturefector

Behold An Ancient Fish’s Moment Of Sheer Regret

Tage Thompson pounds gloves with his teammates on the bench

The Sabres Still Have Their Dream

Associate US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas poses for the official photo at the Supreme Court, dressed in black robes.

Politics

Clarence Thomas’s Billionaire Sponsor Owns Some Weird Nazi Stuff

The Rays Have Chewed Up The Worst Teams In Baseball And Spat Them In The Garbage

Kelsey McKinney

Zillowing Out

A £700,000 House Worthy Of A Song

Maitreyi Anantharaman

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 02: First lady Jill Biden talks with guests during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

College Basketball

Angel Reese And Jill Biden Achieve Detente

David Roth

Former President Donald Trump arrives for his arraignment at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023.

It Only Seems Unprecedented

two gloved hands holding a mummified brown squirrel in the shape of a perfect sphere

What’s Inside The Fur Sphere?

Shaquille O'Neal wears a hat and becomes practically invisible.

Shaquille O’Neal Is On The Run From FTX Lawsuit Process Servers

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 18: Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans speaks during media availability as part of 2023 NBA All Star Weekend on February 18, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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.

Another Zion Williamson Season Ends In The Toilet

Carlsen cries out in anguish after the misclick

Chess

Magnus Carlsen Crashes Out Of Final Tournament As World Champion With Hilarious Blunder

Ben Tippett

MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 5: Russian Grandmaster competing under the FIDE flag Ian Nepomniachtchi receives the award as the winner of the competition (2nd from L) with Ding Liren of China, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaiyán and Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland during the 2022 FIDE Chess Candidates Tournament closing ceremony on July 5, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (