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

Luis Paez-Pumar

Signage for Electronic Arts on the outside of an office building on January 31, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. EA Sports is the creator of Madden NFL 25 and College Football 25.

Video Games

BioWare Becomes First Major Casualty Of Saudi Arabia’s EA Takeover

Barry Petchesky

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 13: Jordan Elliott #95 of the Tennessee Titans walks to the locker room after a preseason NFL game on August 13, 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Robert Saleh Says Jordan Elliott Needs Help, Not Condemnation

Osita Nwanevu

Arts And Culture

‘Digger’ Is Smug, Cynical, And Perfectly Timed

Ray Ratto

Young boys playing flag football react after fumbling the ball during a game.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Stop My Kid From Crashing Out Over Trying New Activities?

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Podcasts

A Review Of All The Stuff That Happened Last NBA Season

The four Flame Lords and Eshmel in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

How Much Fire Emblem Is Too Much Fire Emblem?

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

How The Rams Being 2-4 Relates To The Troy Aikman Saga

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Journalismism

Nobody Wants To Talk About Why The Ringer Is Pivoting To Substack

<div>Corban Goble is a writer based in New Orleans. He writes the Kansas Jayhawks basketball newsletter <a href="https://buttondown.com/streaktalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://buttondown.com/streaktalk&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1792591500521000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZZVLbxl-W6fPpdIGBSM2H">Streak Talk</a>.</div>

Corban Goble

The Pelicans Broke How I Understand Pro Basketball

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Members of the Cleveland Guardians look on from the dugout during Game Six of the American League Championship Series.

The Guardians Were And Are A Drag

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Mana Shim Walked Away From Soccer, Then She Rebuilt Her Life

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 19: Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream reacts after making a 3-pointer against the Golden State Valkyries during the fourth quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on October 19, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

WNBA

Angel Reese Crafted Her Masterpiece

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

In this photo illustration, a Polymarket logo is seen displayed on a smartphone on the top of a laptop.

Gambling

Polymarket Was Allowing Bets On  Sexual Assault Cases Until People Started Asking Questions

Lauren Theisen

Il sogno (The Dream) painting by Federico Zandomeneghi

Funbag

What’s Your Lamest Daydream?

Mike Evans of the San Francisco 49ers sits on the ground after an injury against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on October 19, 2026.

Some Wins Feel More Like Losses

Sohini Desai

‘Barbara Forever’ Won’t Let You Forget

Science

I Love The Colorful Stars

Kathryn Xu

Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series

Rays Clinch Ultimate Thrifter World Series

Former Indianapolis Colts player Peyton Manning looks on prior to the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts during the game on September 7, 2026. He kind of looks like Tom Wambsgans.

Sometimes A Team Just Wants To Hire A Famous Guy

CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 18: Devin Cooley #1 of the Calgary Flames warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 18, 2026 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Terence Leung/NHLI via Getty Images)

World’s Most Normal Goalie: “The Past Is Dead, There’s Nothing For You There”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 07: Fox anchors Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade interview Save Our Allies Founder, Tim Kennedy outside the Fox News Channel Studios on June 07, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

Politics

How Did A Famous, Lying UFC Vet Get Shot Conducting Shadowy Paramilitary Operations In The Congo?

Giri Nathan

Ben Simmons #25 of the Sacramento Kings poses for a picture during the Kings Media Day at Sacramento Kings Practice Facility on September 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

Tiny Flame Of Joy Extinguished In Sacramento

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

Miami Hurricanes defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald (3) intercepts a FSU pass to the end zone in overtime to end the game during a college football game between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles on October 17, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

College Football

It Took A Lot Of Underachieving To Get Miami At No. 1

Jalen Hurts of Philadelphia Eagles looks on during the NFL match between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.

Jalen Hurts Is Out For The Season, And The Eagles Have A Lot Of Questions To Answer [Update]

charismatic megafauna (they/them)