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

Ernie Clement #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays smiles ahead of playing against the Philadelphia Phillies in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 9, 2026 in Toronto, Canada.

The People Have Spoken: Ernie Clement Is The Best Player In The American League Now

Pat Riley lifts his fist to imitate his statue after the reveal of the Pat Riley Lakers statue at Star Plaza outside the Lakers arena in February of 2026.

Pat Riley Is Going For It, For Better Or For Worse

Japan fans cheer in the stands during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Tunisia and Japan.

Soccer

Tunisia Blows Up Its Manager, Still Gets Blown Out

Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies takes a moment as he pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 19, 2026.

Baseball’s Bad-Team Shitshow Could Use More Shit

Eloy Room of Curacao makes a save during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao.

Eloy Room Saved A Place For Himself And Curacao In World Cup History

Chancel Mbemba of Congo DR reacts after the 1-1 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Portugal and Congo DR at Houston Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

Congo Was Ready For The Moment, And For Portugal

Alexi Lalas attends the Fox Sports FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Day event at Lavan on May 21, 2026 in New York City.

Alexi Lalas Has Already Worn Out His Welcome

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 14: John Tortorella of the Vegas Golden Knights arrives before the start of game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 14, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Christopher Trim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

I Hope John Tortorella Didn’t Bother Unpacking

Cabo Verde players react after the 0-0 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Cabo Verde at Atlanta Stadium on June 15, 2026.

Cape Verde Defeats Spain, 0-0

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour celebrates Jordan Staal #11 on the ice after winning the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Hurricanes’ Dominance Required Years Of Disappointment

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: layers of the United States celebrate their side's first goal, an own goal by Damian Bobadilla #16 of Paraguay (not pictured), during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

The USMNT Won With Flair. Can It Win A Grind?

Players of New York Knicks celebrate after the final game 5 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 13, 2026. (Photo by Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images)

It Won’t Get Better Than This

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 11: Jalen Chatfield #5 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates away from Ivan Barbashev #49 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game Five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

In Unprecedented Development, Carolina Wins Normal Game

The French national team smiles after scoring a goal

France Is Great. What Else Is New?

King Charles III , with his son, Prince William, and grandsons George and Louis, standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Minor Dilemmas

What Is A Grandparent Actually Good For?

Jonah Heim of the Athletics celebrates a home run in the 10th inning during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark on Monday, June 8, 2026.

The A’s And Brewers Got Stupid In Las Vegas

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock returns to the locker room before playing the Los Angeles Kings at the Scotiabank Arena on November 5, 2019 in Toronto.

Mike Babcock Is Proof That No One Is Too Weird To Get Hired In The NHL

Portugal Belongs To Cristiano Ronaldo For A Little Bit Longer

Vegas Golden Knights players William Karlsson, and Mitch Marner celebrate in front of the opposing goal after the the game-winning the goal in double overtime to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes Took Vegas To The Brink And The Rest Of Us Got Hockey Nirvana

Seth Jarvis (number 24) of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates toward the home crowd after scoring during game two of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 4, 2026.

Carolina Refused To Die, And The Stanley Cup Final Has New Life

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter in Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals.

There’s No Such Thing As An Inevitable Team In The NBA

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred answers questions during an MLB owner's meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league's collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021.

MLB Owners Want A Salary Cap Because They Want To Cash Out

Claude Lemieux carries the torch in the opening ceremony of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The Tragedy Of Appreciating SOBs Too Late

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 27: Joe Veleno #90, Jakub Dobes #75, and Mike Matheson #8 of the Montreal Canadiens look on from the bench during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre on May 27, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Canadiens Have A Weird Fetish For Not Shooting The Puck And They’re Making It Everybody’s Problem

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 26: Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 2-1in Game Four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 26, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena on May 26, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)