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

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 19: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans celebrates with Larry Nance Jr. #22 following Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 125-114. 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)

The Pelicans Are Rising To The Moment

SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 19: Luke Voit #45 of the San Diego Padres collides with Tyler Stephenson #37 of the Cincinnati Reds at home plate during the second inning of a baseball game at Petco Park on April 19, 2022 in San Diego, California. Voit was out on the play. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Tommy Pham Would Like Luke Voit To Meet Him In Temecula

Defector Up All Night

Ben McAdoo Displays Cool Mastery Of The English Language

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 18: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round at Wells Fargo Center on April 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Nick Nurse Is Grumpy With Joel Embiid

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 16: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference First Round against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on April 16, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Anthony Edwards Is That Guy

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates the game winning basket as Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the fourth quarter of Round 1 Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on April 17, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Nets 115-114. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Jayson Tatum’s Buzzer-Beater Was A Masterpiece Of Teamwork

BERN, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 20: Jordan Siebatcheu Pefok of BSC Young Boys reacts during the UEFA Champions League group F match between BSC Young Boys and Villarreal CF at Stadion Wankdorf on October 20, 2021 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Soccer

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Jordan Pefok

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets is restrained after a foul is called and he is ejected during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Miles Bridges

The Hornets Had Another Play-In Meltdown

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 23: Nikita Mazepin of Russia and Haas F1 unveils the Haas F1 VF-22 Ferrari during Day One of F1 Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 23, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Racing

The Biggest Piece-Of-Shit Driver In Recent F1 History Just Got His Villa Repossessed By The Italian Authorities

Takip cihazı sayesinde kıyıdan yaklaşık 8 kilometre açıkta bulunan kebap, işletmeci Yaşar Aydın ve ekibi tarafından alınıp kentteki restorana getirildi. ( Yaşar Aydın - Anadolu Ajansı )

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is Stratosphere Kebab

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers is interviewed after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones in the Cheez-It Bowl Game at Camping World Stadium on December 29, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

College Football

What Is Dabo Swinney So Scared Of?

Former world welterweight king Floyd Mayweather speaks on stage during the crypto-currency conference Bitcoin 2021 Convention at the Mana Convention Center in Miami, Florida, on June 4, 2021. (Photo by Marco BELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Boxing

Floyd Mayweather Is Also The Floyd Mayweather Of Shady Crypto Shit

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 24: Gregg Berhalter, head coach of United States greets to the fans during the match between Mexico and The United States as part of the Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Azteca Stadium on March 24, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Gregg Berhalter

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz reacts after scoring against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Utah Jazz Are Broken

Video Games

“Play-To-Earn” Games Are The Latest In Scammy Crypto Bullshit

Eritrean Biniam Girmay Hailu of Intermarche Wanty-Gobert Materiaux celebrates after winning the men's Gent-Wevelgem - In Flanders Fields cycling race, 248,9km from Ieper to Wevelgem, Sunday 27 March 2022. BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER (Photo by KURT DESPLENTER / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by KURT DESPLENTER/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Cycling

Biniam Girmay’s Historic Win Is Just The Start

The Browns Couldn’t Give Any Good Answers At Deshaun Watson’s Introductory Presser

ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne's French player Victor Wembanyama looks on prior to the Euroleague basketball match between ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne and Zalgiris Kaunas at the Astroballe arena in Villeurbanne, near Lyon, on October 1, 2021. (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP) (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images)

Victor Wembanyama, The World’s Best Basketball Prospect, Looms

Team Bahrain's Matej Mohoric of Slovenia celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 113th Milan-San Remo one-day classic cycling race, on March 19, 2022 between Milan and San Remo, northern Italy. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Cycling Daredevil Matej Mohorič Won An All-Time Duel With Gravity

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 12: Weston McKennie #8 of the United States is congratulated by Christian Pulisic #10 and Tyler Adams #4 after scoring a goal during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier match against Mexico at TQL Stadium on November 12, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The United States defeated Mexico 2-0.(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

The USMNT Is Injured As Hell And Has No Margin For Error

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 17: Doug Edert #25 of the Saint Peter's Peacocks celebrates after making a three-point basket against the during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

College Basketball

The Only Peacocks In College Sports Broke Kentucky’s Heart

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic in the second half at Amway Center on March 15, 2022 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 Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Every Great Kyrie Irving Performance Highlights How Much He’s Costing The Nets

Tom Ley

A Discussion Between Two Burgeoning ‘Elden Ring’ Freaks

UAE Team Emirates US rider Brandon McNulty celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 5th stage of the 80th Paris - Nice cycling race, 189 km between Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert and Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut, on March 10, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Here Come The Americans

Competitors psych themselves up before the race starts