Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Get unlimited blogs for $8/month.

Subscriptions make our work possible.

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!

Register your email to read more blogs.

Thanks for reading Defector!

Defector

Ray Ratto

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 22: Pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals takes off his belt after throwing his cap and glove down as umpires ask to search him for sticky substances during the fourth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 22, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

We Can Make Gunk Inspections Even Weirder. We Must.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees rubs the ball between pitches during the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field on June 16, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

Bring On The Sticky-Stuff Anarchy

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers bumps into fans during the fourth quarter during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center on June 20, 2021 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)

Who Wants Ben Simmons?

Damn You, Defector, For Forcing Me To Rewatch ‘Taskmaster’ Out Of Envy And Cussedness

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate the win of game seven of the Eastern Conference second round at Barclays Center on June 19, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111 in overtime to win the series.

Defensive Heroics Made For A Wild Night In The NBA And NHL Playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 15: Mike Yastrzemski #5, LaMonte Wade Jr #31 and Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after Yastrzemski hit a grand slam home run to put the Giants ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park on June 15, 2021 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the game 9-8. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Biggest Surprise In Baseball Still Doesn’t Make Much Sense

Soccer

Consider The Power Of “Just Happy To Be Here”

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: The New York Islanders celebrate an empty net goal by Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum on June 09, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Bruins 6-2 to move on to the Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Where Weird Shit Is Status Quo

There’s A Problem, And It’s Not Baserunning

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball against Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of Game Seven of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Clippers’ Demons Aren’t Theirs

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a Phoenix Suns foul in the second quarter during game six of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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.

Rome Didn’t Fall In A Day

Life's Rich Pageant

The USFL Is Back, Because No Bad Idea Ever Dies

Apparently It’s Just That Easy To Change A Team Name

Tennis

Will Tennis Blink Before Naomi Osaka Does?

There’s Only One Solution To Bad Refereeing

Oakland Athletics team president Dave Kaval waving his team's flag during the 2020 playoffs.

The Oakland Athletics Take Trolling Back Twenty Years

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - MAY 23: Connor McDavid #97 and Jesse Puljujarvi #13 of the Edmonton Oilers react after the Jets tied up Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on May 23, 2021 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)

New Disappointments, Same Old Oilers

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores the game winning three point basket against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the closing minute of an NBA Tournament Play-In game at Staples Center on May 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

What If We Just Did Six More Of That?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 18: Spencer Turnbull #56 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with his teammates after a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 18, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Tigers beat the Mariners 5-0. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Maybe It’s Time To Stick An Asterisk On No-Hitters Against The Mariners

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his game winning goal in overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.The Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Give Me Multiple Overtimes Or Don’t Even Bother

Astudillo Versus Mercedes Was A Battle Of Brains And Brawn

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts as he drives between LeBron James #23 and Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 115-113 Warriors win on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Staples Center on January 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The NBA Should Beware Of Getting What It Wanted From The Play-In Games

Alex Rodriguez Finds Another Way To One-Up Derek Jeter

Wilson Versus Marchand Is The First Course These Stanley Cup Playoffs Deserve

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: A general view of RingCentral Coliseum during the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum on April 04, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)