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

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on January 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

LeBron James Makes History, Looks Miserable Doing It

Azzedine Ounahi of Morocco controls the Ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 3rd Place match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Doha, Qatar

Soccer

Window Shopping: Azzedine Ounahi Earned His World Cup Boost

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 with Christian Eriksen and Wout Weghorst during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park on January 18, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United Has Regained Some Dignity

NBC Sports analyst Tony Dungy speaks during a segment prior to the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 04, 2022 in Canton, Ohio.

Media Meltdowns

Tony Dungy Believed The Whole “Litter Boxes In Schools” Hoax [Update]

AL KHOR, QATAR - DECEMBER 04: Jude Bellingham #22 of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between England and Senegal at Al Bayt Stadium on December 4, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Window Shopping: There’s Nothing Jude Bellingham Can’t Do

Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, on May 26, 2018.

Gareth Bale Always Scored The Biggest Goals

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Enzo Fernandez of Argentina poses for a photo with the FIFA Young Player award during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. With WINDOW SHOPPING graphic.

Window Shopping: Is Enzo Fernández Worth A Record-Breaking Transfer?

Andrés Cantor Called Argentina’s World Cup Win Like Only He Could

Lionel Messi, Captain of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following his team's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina Went To Hell And Back To Win The World Cup

A fan in the stands holds aloft a replica World Cup trophy during the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final match at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Picture date: Friday December 9, 2022.

The World Cup’s Beauty Is In The Eye Of Its Holder

09 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Soccer, World Cup, Netherlands - Argentina, final round, quarterfinal, Lusail Stadium, Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez cheers with teammates after winning the penalty shootout.

Emi Martínez Saved Argentina From Itself

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on December 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Spain Beat Itself Again

Cameroonian Football Federation President Samuel Eto'o during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Cameroon and Serbia at Al Janoub Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

Samuel Eto’o Kicked A Guy In The Face At The World Cup

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022.

Underexplained Lists

The 16 Teams Left In The World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

A dejected Joachim Andersen of Denmark at full time after being knocked out the FIFA World Cup in the group stages during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Australia and Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar

Denmark Was Something Rotten

A board signifying 14 minutes of first half stoppage time is seen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Where Is All This World Cup Stoppage Time Coming From?

Salem Aldawsari of Saudi Arabia celebrates as he scores the goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Saudi Arabia Had Too Much Fight For Argentina To Handle

Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs back a kickoff for a touchdown during the Sunday afternoon NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons on November 20, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Cordarrelle Patterson Is The Kick-Return King

Enner Valencia of Ecuador , Celebrates the 0:1 goal, which was pulled back for offside during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Qatar Opened The World Cup By Eating A Bunch Of Shit

Second placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari celebrates with teammates following the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 20, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Racing

Ferrari Backed Its Way Into The Right Strategy

Cameroon's coach Rigobert Song (C) celebrates with his coaching staff after qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup African after winning the football match between Algeria and Cameroon at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in the city of Blida on March 29, 2022.

Cameroon Fought Hard For A Short Trip To Qatar

SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 27: Hakim Ziyech of Morocco looks on prior to a friendly match between Paraguay and Morocco at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 27, 2022 in Seville, Spain.

Internationals

Morocco Has All Of Its Weapons Back Just In Time

Pole position qualifier Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Haas F1 talks to the media in parc ferme after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 11, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

An Exciting Outing Doesn’t Redeem Formula One’s Obsession With The Sprint

Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AS Roma at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on November 09, 2022 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.