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

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts to defeating Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the first round on Day 2 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2024 in New York City (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Tennis

Naomi Osaka Found The Joy

Defector Reads A Book

The New Trend In Book Covers Is Old-Timey Animals

DETROIT,MI - APRIL 25: Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. poses for portraits with his father, and former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison after being selected fourth overall in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals during the 2024 NFL draft on April 25, 2024 in Detroit Michigan. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Fanatics Refiles, Adds New Marvin Harrison To Marvin Harrison Lawsuit

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Brandy Jensen

Let’s Chat Janet Malcolm, Analysis, And Get ‘In The Freud Archives’

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City indicates to the Tottenham fans how many times they've won the Premier Leagu as he is substituted off during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at The King Power Stadium on August 19, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Soccer

Old Man Jamie Vardy Is Back Scoring Goals And Chatting Shit

Canyon//SRAM Racing team's Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma celebrates after crossing the finish line and winning the third edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race, after the 8th and last stage of the Tour de France, a 149.9 km between Le Grand Bornand and the Alpe d'Huez, in south-eastern France, on August 18, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Cycling

The Tour de France Femmes Ending Was As Dramatic As It Gets

Luis Paez-Pumar

Albert Burneko

Billy Haisley

Ray Ratto

Tom Ley

The Premier League trophy during a pre-season friendly match between Manchester City and Celtic at Kenan Stadium, on July 23, 2024, in North Carolina, USA.

And Now, A Timely And Exhaustive Preview Of The 2024-25 Premier League Season

Stage winner Team SD Worx - Protime's Hungarian rider Blanka Vas (L) speaks with Team SD Worx - Protime's Dutch rider Demi Vollering after the 5th stage (out of 8) of the third edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race, a 152.5 km between Bastogne in southeastern Belgium and Amneville in northeastern France, on August 15, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Untimely Crash Throws Tour de France Femmes Into Chaos

Gambling

‘ESPN Bet’ Is A Black Hole

Chess

Russian Chess Player Arrested For Allegedly Poisoning Opponent With Mercury

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 25: Haason Reddick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 25, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Jets’ Quarterback Dysfunction Temporarily Overshadowed By Pass-Rusher Dysfunction

China Miéville Is Back

Cédrine Kerbaol of France and Team CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling - White best young jersey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland and Team Canyon//SRAM Racing - Polka dot Mountain Jersey, Demi Vollering of The Netherlands - Yellow leader jersey and Lotte Kopecky of Belgium and Team SD Worx - Protime - Green points jersey celebrate at podium during the 2nd Tour de France Femmes 2023, Stage 8 a 22.6km individual time trial stage from Pau to Pau / #UCIWWT / on July 30, 2023 in Pau, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

The Tour de France Femmes Is The Perfect Post-Olympics Spectacle

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is This Idiot Dog Starting A Fire

Defector Reads A Book Is Ending The Summer With Janet Malcolm

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 04: Kristen Faulkner of Team United States celebrates at finish line as Gold medal winner during the Women's Road Race on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Trocadero on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Olympics

Kristen Faulkner’s Gold Medal Ride Was A Masterpiece Of Bravery

Japan's #08 Rui Hachimura leaves the court after being sent off for committing to successive unsporting fouls in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between Japan and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 30, 2024.

Cheating-Ass France Men’s Basketball Needed A Pair Of Miracles To Beat Japan

ELANCOURT, FRANCE - JULY 29: Thomas Pidcock of Team Great Britain competes during the Men's Cross-Country on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Elancourt Hill on July 29, 2024 in Elancourt, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Tom Pidcock Scandalizes Delicate French Fans By Being Too Good At Bike Racing

PARIS, FRANCE: JULY 27: Stephen Nedoroscik of the United States prepares to perform his pommel horse routine during Artistic Gymnastics, Men's Qualification at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on July 27th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Stephen Nedoroscik Is The Bespectacled King Of The Pommel Horse

Video Games

‘Elden Ring’ Makes Everyone A Poet And A Reader

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 04: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is interviewed before Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Landmark TV Deal Shows What Matters

COL DE LA COUILLOLE, FRANCE - JULY 20: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - Yellow Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 20 a 132.8km stage from Nice to Col de la Couillole 1676m / #UCIWT / on July 20, 2024 in Col de la Couillole, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Tadej Pogačar Is Insatiable

Lauren Theisen

Wings Week

Wait By The Door, Light A Cigarette, And Listen To Miranda Lambert With Defector Music Club

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Giri Nathan

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain stretches to play a backhand volley against Daniil Medvedev in the Men's Singles Semi-Final match during day twelve of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)