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

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a single in the top of the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on September 06, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Mets Have Been Chased Down

ZAGREB, CROATIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea FC at Stadion Maksimir on September 06, 2022 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Soccer

Thomas Tuchel Wore Out Another Welcome

English Premier League

VAR Isn’t The Only Way To Piss Away A Game

College Football

College Football Has Something For Every Type Of Degenerate

Can The Orioles Just Make Up Their Minds Already?

Tennis

Anett Kontaveit Gets The Pleasure Of Being In Everyone’s Way

Jimmy Garoppolo Will Stick Around To Make Things Weird

At Least The Nationals Are Finding Novel Ways To Suck

DurantWatch: Well That Was A Huge Waste Of Time

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 22: Adam Oller #36 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on August 22, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Can The A’s Reach Triple-Digit Attendance?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 22: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates his solo home run during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 22, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Albert Pujols, Lost And Found

The NFL And Deshaun Watson Did The Math

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: A general view during the San Francisco Giants game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on August 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Nothing Says August Baseball Quite Like Jon Miller Trying To Understand Wordle

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea speaks to the media after the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea FC and Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on July 20, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Please Keep Christian Pulisic Away From Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (R) and Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (L) shake hands then clash after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on August 14, 2022.

Who Needs Goals When You’ve Got Managers Fighting?

Zach Wilson of the New York Jets walks to the locker room after an injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the preseason game against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field on August 12, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Zach Wilson Is Hurt, And The 49ers Are Hopeful

Bruno Fernades of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Manchester United at Brentford Community Stadium on August 13, 2022 in Brentford, England.

Life Is Good When Manchester United Is This Awful

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies June 23, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

The Fernando Tatis Jr. Drama Has Only Just Begun

Erik ten Hag Is Getting A Crash Course In Manchester United Dysfunction

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 4: Al Avila laughs during a news conference at Comerica Park after he was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager on August 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Avila replaces Dave Dombrowski who was the Tigers' general manager since 2002. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Al Avila Dug His Own Grave

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens watches from the bench during the NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 33-27 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

I Challenge You To Find A More Useless NFL Record Than The Ravens’ Preseason Win Streak

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 6: Daniel Vogelbach #32 of the New York Mets reacts after being walked during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on August 6, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets won 8-5. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Something Big Is Happening In Queens

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 waits for the next batter in the fourth inning while playing the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 3, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

Good Teams Win, But Bad Teams Make Baseball Go

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross before the game against the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Roger Goodell On Dolphins: Nothing To See Here, Folks

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 13: the Los Angeles Dodgers the San Francisco Giants on September 2, 2009 at Dodger Stadiium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)