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

Boxing

The Tale Of The Early-Round KO Of Muhammad Ali’s Champburger

David Roth

Ricky Jay, with his hair balding halfway up his head but black and tall, and a large black beard, in a black suit with a black tie and a dark purple shirt, looking at the camera holding a cut-in-half watermelon with two playing cards into the inside.

Arts And Culture

Someone Has To Save The Film And TV That Studios Won’t

Two manet paintings with a Pop Art painting crashing over them

Eagles Win Loan Of Manet Painting In Super Bowl Bet, Which Is What This Thing Was About All Along

Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt in front of a green screen that looks like a deserted alleyway.

I Want To Go To The Wet, Empty Alley Where Kevin Burkhardt And Tom Brady Called Last Night’s Game

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09:Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) catches a pass during Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9, 2025 at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

The Eagles Were Just So Cool

The Philadelphia Eagles singing Buddy's Watchin' You

In 1988, Buddy Ryan Was Watchin’ The Eagles Rap

Groundhog handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early Spring during the 138th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Friday February 2, 2024 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. Over 40,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Dereume is wearing a top hat and has a grey beard and he's in a black coat.

Animals

Here’s A Supercut Of Groundhog Day In Punxsutawney

College Basketball

Entertaining VCU-Saint Louis Game Leads To—Fine, Let’s Talk About This Huge Fan Brawl

PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 26: A Philadelphia Eagles fan in a mask at Xfinity Live during the NFL NFC Championship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on January 26, 2025. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders to advance to the Super Bowl.

Eagles Fans Are Happiest At The Brink Of Agony

Ray Ratto

Jason Kelce with his past and future selves in a bit from the first episode of his late night show. This skit was pretty good!

Jason Kelce, Who Was Already Everywhere, Is Now In Late Night

A white piece of paper with the Packers, NFL Wild Card, and Eagles logos at the top. Written below in pen are drive charts for each team.

These Are The Items Your Dedicated Eagles Sicko Needs For A Game

An Eagles fan yells at Packers fans at the game

A Thorough Analysis Of This Latest Philly Sports Fan Bullshit

Washington Crossing the Delaware but it's Joe Paterno

College Football

Becoming A Penn State Fan Again Means Remembering How To Hate Notre Dame

During an interview with sportscaster Greg Gumbel (right), American disc jockey (from WLUP radio, 'The Loop') Steve Dahl breaks a disco record over his head prior to hosting an anti-disco promotion at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 1979. The event, held between games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, allowed fans to attend the games for 98 cents along with an unwanted record and, following the detonation of those records, eventually resulted in the White Sox forfeiture of the second game due to unsafe playing conditions when fans stormed the field causing serious damage to the venue and playing surface.

Greg Gumbel Kept It All In Perspective

Magnus Carlsen at Day 2 of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship on December 27, 2024 in New York City.

Chess

Magnus Carlsen Quits Chess Tournament Over Jeans Violation

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Xavier Legette #17 of the Carolina Panthers drops a pass while being guarded by C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gambling

Sports Gambling Thrives On Clicks, Not Community

UConn And UMass Created And Abandoned College Football’s Goofiest Rivalry Trophy

Trent Green, in a number 10 red Chiefs jersey, watches as a man in an overcoat with black short hair and a black beard holds a football, ready to throw it

They Put Trent Green In This Hallmark Christmas Movie

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Kelsey McKinney

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


Sabrina Imbler

Drew 'Gonzo' Gonville is at the bottom of the steps of a private jet, dressed in a Santa suit. The beard is pulled down. Bowyn Sykes is dressed in a sleeveless sweater top and a kilt-like skirt. She is on the top step of the airstairs into the private jet. They are looking at each other.

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘Christmas In The Spotlight’

Color print of late Victorian marketing for bathroom and sanitary equipment. It's for Twyford’s Improved Independent Canopy Bath combining plunge, shower, and spray. There is also a Cabinet Bath Enclosure that looks like a coffin (and also a cabinet, I guess)

Showering After A Loss Is Just Too Self-Indulgent

Split image of Magic Johnson rubbing his hands in front of the AOL logo. Other side is David Hasselhoff, as Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch, pointing while in an America Online NASCAR racing suit

Life's Rich Pageant

“You’ve Got Mail” Reminds Me Of A Specific Time And Place

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 03: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles hurdles Jarrian Jones #22 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Eagles Take One Giant Leap Backwards In Win Over Jaguars

Split photo. Dan stands in front of some giant pastel mural, wearing a Pizza Plus shirt and sweapants, holding up an old Captain Planet costume. Dave stands in front of a giant helmet that says SPORTS CITY. They're both in a mall.

Dan And Dave Visit A Mall Over The Ocean

Feasterville-Trevose, PA - October 20 : Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump hands out food while standing at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, PA on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.

Politics

Donald Trump Played Pretend In A McDonald’s I Once Knew Intimately

Conkers in boxes at the annual World Conker Championships at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, Peterborough. Picture date: Sunday October 13, 2024.