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

of the New York Knicks of the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 9, 2009 in New York, New York.

Podcasts

Critical New Jersey Hoops Survey, With Papo2oo4

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 25: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts during action against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 110-108 in overtime. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

The Wolves And Rockets Held An Incredible Meltdown-Off

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. The global investment management company held the summit consisting of leaders from government, business, and labor to address expanding U.S. infrastructure. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Capital

Now That OpenAI Has Terminated Sora, How Will I Have This Blog Read To Me By An Uncanny Buxom Mike Wazowski?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holds a Golden State Valkyries jersey after announcing their fifth overall pick of Juste Joyce during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 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)

Welcome To The Craziest Possible WNBA Offseason, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Luka Doncic And Goga Bitadze Debate Whether They Threatened To Fuck Each Other’s Family Members In A Second Language

UAE Team Emirate's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 117th Milan - Sanremo one-day classic cycling race, in Sanremo on March 21, 2026.

Cycling

Tadej Pogacar Takes One Beautiful Step Closer To Completing Cycling

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring a three-pointer against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images)

I’m So Sorry To Tell You This But The Lakers Must Be Taken Seriously

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 is interviewed with teammates Chet Holmgren #7 and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder after beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Why The Thunder Have Been Cast As The NBA’s Villains, With Tyler Parker

Cubans gather in front of their houses during a blackout in Havana on March 16, 2026. Cuba suffered a widespread power cut on March 16, 2026, according to the national electricity company, against the backdrop of a severe crisis on the island caused by the US energy blockade. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP)

Politics

Donald Trump Is Strangling Cuba To Death

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Doug Christie head coach of the Sacramento Kings claps on the sideline during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center on March 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Kelley L Cox/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings Can’t Even Lose On Purpose

The Ticketmaster logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration. Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, currently faces a major antitrust trial in the United States, where regulators accuse the live-events giant of monopolizing the concert ticketing and promotion market, allegations the company denies, in Brussels, Belgium, on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto)

Live Nation Gets To Keep Its Monopoly Thanks To Trump’s Department Of Justice

Rodman and TOni Braxton at the MTV Music Awards

Associated “Association Update” Update, With Will Anderson Of Hotline TNT

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots react on the sideline prior to an NFL wild card playoff game between the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Soccer

Boston’s World Cup Stakeholders Are Squabbling Over Money

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 31: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks and forward AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars chase down a loose ball in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse on January 31, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Who Deserves To Win The NBA Draft Lottery?

TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 14: Susanna Sullivan of Team United States and Jessica McClain of Team United States compete in the Women's Marathon during day two of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Running

U.S. Half-Marathon Championships Thrown Into Chaos After Leaders Accidentally Led Off Course

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 29: New York Knicks fans react after game five in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers after the Knicks win at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kent J. Edwards/Getty Images)

New York Or Nowhere, With Will Menaker

Belgium Remco Evenepoel, Slovenia Tadej Pogacar and France Paul Seixas pictured on the podium after the Men Elite raod race, a 202,5 km from Privas to Guilherand-Granges, at the UEC road European cycling championships, Sunday 05 October 2025, France. The European cycling championships Drome-Ardeche takes place from 1 to 5 October, France. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Cycling Prodigy Paul Seixas Accepts The Sport’s Defining Burden

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Chairman &amp; CEO Paramount David Ellison attends the UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Paramount Wins Hostile Takeover Bid For Warner Bros.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: (L-R) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, IOC President Thomas Bach, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani and President Gianni Infantino attend the Men's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

What Sort Of NBA Does Adam Silver Want To Build In Europe?

Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls reacts after dunking the ball in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

Jeffrey Epstein Appeared To Be A Big Joakim Noah Fan

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 12: Dallas Mavericks have officially won the in NBA Draft Lottery with 1.8% pre-lottery chance to win the pick in Chicago, Illinois, United States on May 12, 2025. San Antonio Spurs got the second pick, Philadelphia 76ers got 3rd and Charlotte Hornets got the 4th pick in the lottery. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Tank Me Later, With Ock Sportello And Sam Sheehan

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 1: Guest and Jeffrey Epstein attend the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Plaza Hotel on August 1, 1995 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Jeffrey Epstein And His Network Of Rich Freaks Were Obsessed With The Chiropractor

Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls NBA Basketball

Maybe LaMelo Ball Shouldn’t Have A Driver’s License

Silver medalist Gu Ailing of China poses for photos after the awarding ceremony of the freestyle skiing women's freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo by Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Olympics

Eileen Gu Will Never Be The Traitor JD Vance Wants Her To Be

France's Emily Harrop competes during the qualifications of the Mixed Relay event at the Ski mountaineering (ISMF) World Championships in Les Crosets on March 3, 2025. (Photo by GABRIEL MONNET / AFP)