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

Patrick Redford

My slightly dried-out specimens one week after harvesting.

The Great Outdoors

An Ode To The Jack-O’-Lantern Mushroom, A Poisonous Friend

Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets watches the action between the Wagner Seahawks and the Seton Hall Pirates during the game at Prudential Center on December 1, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall defeated Wagner 85-63. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

KyrieWatch: Deployed As Emergency Player For Select Road Games

TOPSHOT - The Los Angeles Rams mascot Rampage wears a face mask as drivers wait in line during a holiday mobile food distribution from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supported by the Los Angeles Rams NFL football team and Pechanga Resort Casino outside of SoFi Stadium on December 22, 2020 in Inglewood, California. - The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has distributed 145 million pounds of food since the Covid-19 pandemic started. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

The Old Protocols Don’t Work For The New COVID Wave

Josh Lambo #4 of the Jacksonville Jaguars warms up prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at TIAA Bank Field on September 26, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Former Jaguars Kicker Says Urban Meyer Kicked Him

Justin Herbert winding up before unloading.

Justin Herbert Touched The Sky With This Pass

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Giri Nathan

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Racing

Let’s Banter About The Finish At The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 23: George Bello #21 of Atlanta United against Alex Roldan #16 of Seattle Sounders during the first half at Lumen Field on May 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Soccer

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: George Bello

Russia's grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi and Norway's grandmaster Magnus Carlsen play game nice during the FIDE World Chess Championship Dubai 2021, at the Dubai Expo 2020 in the Gulf emirate, on December 7, 2021. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Chess

It’s All Gone To Hell For Ian Nepomniachtchi At The World Chess Championship

Perfectly Nice Center-Ice Poop Ruined By Flyers Logo

Carlsen going through it as the game crosses over into history.

Magnus Carlsen Wins Longest World Chess Championship Game Of All Time

Gioacchini giving an interview after arriving at Montpellier

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal:  Nicholas Gioacchini

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 20: President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Moda Center on October 20, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Blazers Fire Neil Olshey After Taking A Month To Learn He Led A Toxic Workplace

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 01: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after being fouled during the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Fiserv Forum on December 01, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Here Comes Giannis

Manning giving a press conference earlier this season.

College Football

Is Oklahoma Assistant Roy Manning Recruiting For The Sooners Or Lincoln Riley?

Laura Wagner

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg's spokesperson Lis Smith speaks to the press in the Spin Room after participating in the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, June 27, 2019. (Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Media Meltdowns

Let’s All Laugh At Andrew Cuomo’s Pathetic Crisis Team

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 09: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners arrives before the 2021 AT&amp;T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 09, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The State Of Oklahoma Is Handling Lincoln Riley’s Departure Very Normally

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after he is called for his fifth foul of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-100. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)

The Lakers Are Big-Time Butt

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is: Tire

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Luke Walton of the Sacramento Kings looks on as the Kings take on the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 31, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Luke Walton–Sized Solution No Match For Sacramento Kings–Sized Problem

Clark celebrating a win over Atlanta United

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Caden Clark

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 13: Kelly Stafford, wife of Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions, appears next to Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders in cutouts in the stands for the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on September 13, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Kelly Stafford, Who Threw Pretzel At Niners Fan: “Zero Excuse” For Throwing Pretzel At Niners Fan

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 12: Tim Weah #20 of the United States controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier match against Mexico at TQL Stadium on November 12, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Tim Weah Answers All The Right Questions

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 27: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings watches from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on October 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

At Least The Marvin Bagley Disaster Will Be Over Soon

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Jimmy Lake of the Washington Huskies takes the field before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Husky Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Jimmy Lake’s Disastrous Tenure At Washington Comes To An End

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 05: Christian Pulisic #10 of United States runs with the ball on net against Canada during the first half of their World Cup qualifying match at Nissan Stadium on September 5, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Christian Pulisic