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

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

Devin Haney punches Regis Prograis during their WBC World Super Lightweight Title fight at Chase Center on December 09, 2023 in San Francisco, California.

The Fights

Devin Haney Brought The Future To Regis Prograis

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Victoria Vivians #35 of the Indiana Fever tries to steal the ball from Candace Parker #3 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 24, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 11: Have A Ball

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

Dan McQuade

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys fans hold up a sign during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 10, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

My Newborn Son Is Already Getting The Eagles Fan Experience

Tom Ley

You Have To Stand In The Right Spot

David Roth

A photo of the cross-section of the samosa sandwich from Punjabi Junction in Manhattan. It has classic deli sandwich stuff on it but is most notable for containing smushed up samosas.

Food

Time For My Weird Sandwich

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

Godzilla standing and I guess yelling, as seen during the trailer to the film Godzilla Minus One.

Arts And Culture

Six Things You Are Not Allowed To Say To Me About ‘Godzilla Minus One’

Anthony Davis celebrates a basket during the Lakers' win over the Pacers in the final of the NBA's In-Season Tournament.

Can Anthony Davis Just Do That, Like, Every Game?

Army Black Knights defensive lineman Cody Winokur (93) screams after the win as Army takes on Navy at Gillette on December 9.

College Football

I Can’t Be The Only One Who Thinks If The Troops Wanted To They Could Put Together A Football Team And Fail To Execute A Proper Tush Push

Shohei Ohtani sits on the bench during a September Angels game in 2023.

Shohei Ohtani Just Got Super-Duper Paid

Soraya Roberts

Gary Oldman Is Gross And Loving It

Rafi Kohan is an Atlanta-based writer and editor. His first book, The Arena, 
was a finalist for the 2018 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. 
Previously, he has served as deputy editor at the New York Observer and as 
executive editorial director for the Atlantic’s creative studio, Re:think. His 
writing has appeared in numerous publications, including GQ, Men’s 
Journal, Rolling Stone, The Ringer, and the Wall Street Journal.

Rafi Kohan

Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics sneering disdainfully at Jerry Stackhouse, who is trying to guard him in 2002. The cover of Rafi Kohan's book "Trash Talk" is at upper left.

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

Gary Payton And The Art And Strategy Of “Talking Crazy”

Patrick Redford

13 August 2021, Brandenburg, Grünheide: Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, stands at a press event on the grounds of the Tesla Gigafactory. The first vehicles are to roll off the production line in Grünheide near Berlin from the end of 2021. The US company plans to build around 500,000 units of the compact Model 3 and Model Y series here each year. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Capital

Elon Musk Is Grimly Determined To Let You Know He Is Funny

Kathryn Xu

Hand taking food with chopsticks. Eating Hot Pot at restaurant

Chefector

Let’s Explore The Infinite Realm Of Hot Pot

Dave McKenna

A close up of Conor McGregor yelling during the filming of the TV show The Ultimate Fighter in March 2023

Conor McGregor And The Politics Of Mean

<a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein">Craig Goldstein</a> is the editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus and the co-host of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/">the Five &amp; Dive podcast</a>.

Craig Goldstein

Juan Soto, then of the San Diego Padres, high-fives a teammate during a road game against the Giants.

How Does Juan Soto Keep Getting Traded?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Sean McDermott looks confused or perhaps awed.

Sean McDermott Apologizes For Motivating His Team With The Inspiring Story Of The 9/11 Hijackers

A man wears a bootleg Bart Simpson t-shirt—black, with the words Ay Carumba (sic) in heavy metal font over an image of Bart displaying GUD and BAD finger tattoos—on the streets of Bangkok, in 2018.

Podcasts

Professor Frink Is Real, And Strong, And My Friend, With Matt Selman

Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de ville, wearing sunglasses and a jersey and carrying the team flag and American flag, leads the team onto the field against the Cleveland Browns in October 2008

Former Jags Employee Accused Of Stealing $22 Million, Used It On Cars, Gambling, And Crypto

Jamboroo

My Life As A GPS Dot

Luis Paez-Pumar

Santos experiences agony over first-ever relegation from Brazilian first division

Soccer

Santos Suffers Historic, Agonizing Relegation For First Time In 111 Years

Billy Haisley

Damaris Egurrola of the Netherlands celebrates with teammates after scoring her teams third goal Romee Leuchter of the Netherlands during the UEFA Womens Nations League - League A Group 1 match between Netherlands Women and Belgium Women at Koning Willem II Stadion on December 5, 2023 in Tilburg, Netherlands

The Wildest Soccer Match Of The Week Was Between Two Teams That Didn’t Even Play Each Other

Ray Ratto

Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards battles for control of the ball against Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on November 27, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. Washington won the game 126-107.

The In-Season Tournament For Even The Least Of Us

Ron DeSantis poses with a supporter, or anyway with a guy in a baseball hat, in Newton, Iowa in December of 2023. He is smiling in a very unsettling way.

Politics

What Puts A Smile On Ron DeSantis’s Face?

Luton Town's English midfielder #06 Ross Barkley celebrates after scoring his team third goal during the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Arsenal at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on December 5, 2023.