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

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 04: Managing and principal partner Jimmy Haslam of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns OTA offseason workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 04, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Ohio Caves To The Haslams, Tells Cleveland To Eat Dirt

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 28: Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins and Heriberto Hernandez #64 of the Miami Marlins celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images)

They Let The Fish Get Hot!!

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches during the game between the Athletics and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Luis Severino And The A’s Can’t Wait For Luis Severino To Leave

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 29: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals prepares to bat during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

James Wood If They’d Let Him

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred (L) and principal owner John Fisher of the Athletics shake hands after participating in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the A's new stadium in Las Vegas.

Take A Look At These Ghouls

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

“Deserve” Has Nothing To Do With It

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Finals Have Given Us Everything But An Ending

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

San Francisco Giants’ President Buster Posey talks to the media before Giants play San Diego Padres during MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Buster Posey Made The Big Deal Giants Fans Have Been Waiting For

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Oilers-Panthers Isn’t A Rivalry, It’s A Saga

New York Knicks owner James Dolan attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

The Whole NBA Is Telling James Dolan To Piss Off

Albert Burneko

Tom Ley

Luis Paez-Pumar

Patrick Redford

David Roth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

Miguel Andujar of the Athletics reacts at a called strike against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 25, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

The Athletics Have Hopped Back Into The Dumpster

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a pass against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

They Can’t All Be Thrillers

Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up against the Dallas Stars in Game Four

Oh God, Stuart Skinner Controls The Oilers’ Destiny

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025.

Paul Maurice And The Panthers Do Not Care If You’re Having Fun

Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on May 22, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pirates Avoid Historic Humiliation, Suffer Regular Kind Instead

Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 21, 2025.

Three Goals, Six Minutes, No Response

Rich Hill #44 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the seventh inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 29, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

It’s Time To Start The “Rich Hill Is BACK” Countdown

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers fights with Shayne Gostisbehere #4 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 20, 2025.

For The Panthers And Thunder, The Worse The Better

TORONTO, ON - May 18: The Toronto Maple Leafs skate off the ice after game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 18, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Seven Is The Leafs’ Unlucky Number


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Kelsey McKinney


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

The two Eurovision hosts are surrounded by dancers holding giant fondue sticks.

Music

Can You Do Racism Against Italians? A Eurovision Roundtable

Group shot of the 1919 White Sox. They would after this year be known as the "Black Sox Scandal" team, due to the allegation that eight members of the team accepted bribes to lose the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.

Baseball Frees Its Gambling Ghosts

Tyrese Haliburton greets fans after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.