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

Ray Ratto

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets leaves the court following the 120 -102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center on January 10, 2021 in Houston, 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 Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

James Harden Is A Net, No Matter How Kyrie Irving Fits The Plan

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 03: Head coach Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears looks on from the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter in the game at Soldier Field on January 03, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The More The Bears Stink, The More They Stay The Same

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Tom Flores of the Los Angeles Raiders and his crew stand on the side lines during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 22, 1985 in Los Angeles, California. The 49ers won 34-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

If It’s Tom Flores’s Time To Make The HOF, Who Cares What Help He Gets?

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after defeating the Clemson Tigers 49-28 during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

College Football

The Invisible Championship

7 Jul 1991: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda yells during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit:

Tommy Lasorda Was The Showman Who Couldn’t Turn It Off

Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, stands for a photo at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on November 9, 2020. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Politics

It Took Tommy Tuberville Four Days To Prove Himself One Of America’s Worst Senators

So Much For The Feel-Good Browns

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 03: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Bills Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Tua Tagovailoa Had A Day To Forget

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates

The Browns Are The Closest Thing To A Feel-Good Story That The NFL Has

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns walks from the field

Week 17 Is One Last Middle Finger From The NFL

Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns prepares for a game

Death To The NCAA

Texas Has Discovered A New Level Of F-U Money

&lt;&gt; at Wrigley Field on April 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

Cubs: You Can’t Criticize Our Salary Dump Until The Prospects Hit Puberty

Kelly Oubre’s 0-fer Threatens To Consume Us All

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The Rays Can’t Help Themselves

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)

Do Not Let Plans For NBA Expansion Be Constrained By Reality, Which Is Bad For Business

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly enters Notre Dame Stadium for an interview on a live broadcast of ESPN College Gameday from Notre Dame Stadium before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clemson Tigers on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)

Brian Kelly Throws A Tantrum, Threatens To Do The Right Thing For The Wrong Reason

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 17: Wide receiver Tyron Johnson #83 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after scoring a 26-yard touchdown against Daryl Worley #36 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on December 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 30-27 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Raiders Cannot Defeat December

BEIJING, CHINA - DECEMBER 16: A sculpture depicts Olympic figure skaters for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at Shougang Park on December 16, 2020 in Beijing, China. The organizing committee introduced the latest progress of the Olympic venues, all competition venues will be completed this year. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Olympics

Let’s Fix The Olympics By Getting Rid Of The Countries

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: A view of cut-outs of African-American players from the Negro Leagues are displayed in left field during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson this weekend. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phillies won 4-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

MLB Attempts To Fix The Baseball History It Fractured

Bowl Season Will Be College Football’s Crowning Embarrassment

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 16: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates his third inning two run home run with Carlos Santana #41 and Jose Ramirez #11 while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 16, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Let’s Rename The Cleveland Baseball Team

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after a basket during the second half of their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on December 21, 2019 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Kyrie Irving’s Gambit May Not Come Cheap

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets exits the court after their loss to Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 12, 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

If James Harden Wants Out, “Should” Has Nothing To Do With It

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 07: Jon Bostic #53 of the Washington Football Team celebrates with teammates following an interception during the fourth quarter of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 07, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

This Is Not The NFC East We Knew And Loved And Recoiled From

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)