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

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Tony Dokoupil Eats Heaps Of Shit In First Week As CBS News Anchor

Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 2, 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

College Basketball

Former Michigan State Player Makes Too Much Of A Scene For Even Tom Izzo To Tolerate

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Ravens And Steelers Made A Mess At The Classic Factory

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets draws a triple team from Rudy Gobert (27), Jaden McDaniels (3) and Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 142-138 overtime win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

Nikola Jokic And Anthony Edwards Gave Us A Christmas Game For All Time

A fan dressed in a snowman costume looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Defector Up All Night

Have A Wonderful Christmas Time In This Open Thread

Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (4) walks off the field after the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.

DK Metcalf Suspended Two Games For Punching A Really Annoying Guy

Kevin Durant #7of the Houston Rockets exchanges words with Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on December 20, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

What Can A Man Say To A Man?

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears rolls out of the pocket during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Solider Field on December 20, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Caleb Williams Can Really Throw That Damn Football

Puka Nacua doing an antisemtic dance with Adin Ross

Puka Nacua Did An Antisemitic Little Dance [Update]

Journalismism

CBS News Hitches Its Wagon To These Two Duds

J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings leaves the field after his team defeated the Dallas Cowboys at AT&amp;T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

J.J. McCarthy Did A Little Dance He Wasn’t Supposed To Do

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks onto the field prior to the game against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

College Football

Bill Belichick’s Lackeys Have Become His Fall Guys

Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka

Tennis

An Extended Conversation Between Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, And Aryna Sabalenka Was Always Going To Turn Transphobic

Daiyan Henley #0 of the Los Angeles Chargers at hits Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles as he throws during the second quarter SoFi Stadium on December 08, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Jalen Hurts Won The Disaster Contest

Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans intercepts a pass intended for Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Chiefs Are No Longer Getting Away With It

Fernando Mendoza And Indiana Are The Flippin’ Big Ten Champs!

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool waves to the fans at full time during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on December 6, 2025 in Leeds, England.

Soccer

Liverpool’s Nightmare Season Now Features Mo Salah Drama

Aaron Rodgers Is All Fucked Up

Football teams from the schools of Yale and Princeton playing a match on Thanksgiving Day afternoon that ended in a tie score, November 1879. The illustration, a wood engraving, was published in an 1879 issue of Harper’s Weekly newspaper.

Catch Your Breath In The Thanksgiving Open Thread

Zohran Mamdani holding up a photo of Ian Wright

This Is So Stupid

Can Zohran Mamdani Keep New Yorkers Safe From Remembering Some Arsenal Guys?

11:00 A.M. Monday. May 9th. 1910. Newsies at Skeeter's Branch. Jefferson near Franklin. They were all smoking. Location: St. Louis. Missouri. May 9. 1910. Gelatin silver print. 9.1 x 11.9 cm

Announcements

Would You Like To Be Defector’s Sixth-Ever Editorial Intern?

Idrissa Gueye of Everton receives a red card for a disagreement with Michael Keane of Everton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England.

You Can Get Slapped By Your Own Teammate And Still Beat Manchester United

Malik Nabers attends the MLS match between New York City FC and Inter Miami CF at Citi Field on September 24, 2025 in New York City.

Malik Nabers Doesn’t Know What The Hell The Giants Are Doing, Either

A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 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.

WNBA

The WNBA’s Million-Dollar Offer Is A Misdirection

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

(L-R) Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, and musician Michael Bolton pose for a portrait during a party at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000.