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


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

A general view of an Alabama Crimson Tide baseball cap during the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Alabama Crimson Tide on May 23, 2023 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

College Baseball

Sports Gambling Can Give Us So Many Dumb Guys Doing Schemes

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 04: Manager David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs argues with home plate umpire Erich Baccus #12 after a call in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David Ross Was Very Calmly Mad As Heck

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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.

The Sixers Enter Another Summer Of Angst

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 21: NFL Quarterback Aaron Rodgers participates in a talk with author Aubrey Marcus as part of Psychedelic Science 2023 in the Bellcor Theatre of the Colorado Convention Center on June 21, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

People Paid Money To Go To A Psychedelics Conference And Listen To Aaron Rodgers Say, “Words Are So Interesting”

Bill Russell in a USF jersey holding a basketball. He's number 6.

College Basketball

College Basketball Players Can Wear Digits Above ‘5’ Again

Several photos of Eagles fans overlaid with a note to the Eagles owner, and under that is a screenshot of a newspaper

In 1984, These Two Men Told The Eagles Owner: “Go Birds”

Tik Tok screenshots of "Livvy Rizzed Baby Gronk"

This Is So Stupid

Livvy Rizzing Up Baby Gronk, Explained

Breaking: A-Rod Has Gum Disease

Eight basketball players looking at the Last Supper but it's a basketball backboard

My Pointless Quest To Double The Number Of Apostles At The Last Supper

Triptych of Tajama Abraham, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Yinka Dare while playing with George Washington Colonials. Abraham is grabbing a rebound, Mensah-Bonsu is celebrating, Dare is dunking.

Death To The NCAA

George Washington Settles On Revolutionaries For Nickname

Yankee fans react SHOCKED to a squirrel on the outfield wall. Four guys, three really shocked the other kind of just looking at his phone.

Squirrel Terrifies Yankees Fans

A car rides on a Roomba as bears scurry away

Video Games

My Car Has Legs And Bears Are Cheering For Me

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 18: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership meeting on November 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting comes on the heels of former President Donald Trump becoming the first candidate to declare his intention to seek the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Reports: Mets Owner To Do Something Stupid

David Roth

Split image: Dan McQuade (left) wearing an American Dream EST. 2019 hoodie standing next to a cardboard cutout of Shrek at the DreamWorks Water Park inside a mall. David Roth (right) pointing up at the "WINNERS CIRCLE" entrance at the old Meadowlands Arena.

Life's Rich Pageant

Dan And Dave Explore The American Dream (Mall)

Ted Silary.com, with a very 1990s design.

High School Sports

Ted Silary Gave A Voice To High School Athletes

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 13: Starting pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gestures at home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus #18 during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on May 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Birdfector

Zac Gallen Is Now An Enemy Of The Birds

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Sixers Had Another Nightmare Finish Against Boston

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 11: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference semi-finals on May 11, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jayson Tatum Hit The Shots When It Mattered

Thurston Howell III / Clayton Thorson split image

This Mike Florio Paragraph Has Been Bouncing Around My Brain For 4 Years Now

BOSTON, MA - MAY 9: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media after the game against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Semi Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Joel Embiid Is Showing Up His Biggest Critic: Joel Embiid

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics in overtime of game four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 07, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

James Harden Knows

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 05: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers falls to the court after colliding with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game three of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 05, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Celtics Own The Sixers

BOSTON, MA - MAY 1: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during Round Two Game One of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

James Harden Outshot The Celtics, Somehow

A wide shot of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field

Track And Field

At Penn Relays, It’s About The Vibe

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 25: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks scores the game winning shot during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.