CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

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!

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

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

Andrew Benintendi gives a kind of grim looking thumbs-up in profile after completing a TV interview following his walk-off hit in the Chicago White Sox's win on September 24.

“We’re Trying To Focus On Losing”: A Night With The White Sox At The Edge Of History

Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: The Oakland Athletics mascot, Stomper, waves to the crowd after the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California. Today will be the final Athletics game played at the Coliseum. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The A’s Are Oakland’s No More

David Roth

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants warms up for the game with the Arizona Cardinals on November 23, 2008. It looks like he's looking at the Distraction logo at upper right of the frame.

Podcasts

The Plaxico Continuum

Ray Ratto

A general view of the Oakland Athletics playing against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California.

Never Forget What Killed The Oakland A’s

Kathryn Xu

Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres watches after throwing the ball to first base as part of a triple play as Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers ducks.

The Padres Found The Coolest Way To Clinch

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Go Ahead And Assume The Worst About The Pittsburgh Pirates

Randy Arozarena celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 26, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

The Chaos Option Is Alive In MLB’s Wild Card Races

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Riley Greene #31, Parker Meadows #22 and Matt Vierling #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 16, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

What I Like About The Tigers

Nationals End Season By Demoting Leadoff Hitter Who Was In A Casino Until 8:00 A.M.

Barry Petchesky

SAN DIEGO, CA - Chicago White Sox playes look out from the dugout during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, September 22, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

The 2024 White Sox Have Achieved The Abominable

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Ohtani is now the first MLB player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Shohei Ohtani Is Playing A Sport Of His Own

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Red Sox at Comerica Park.

Mild Card Season, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros points to his foot after grounding out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 17, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Jose Altuve Ejected For Showing Feet

Lauren Theisen

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?

San Francisco Giants fan "McCovey Dave" Edlund, of Los Altos, wears a World Series ring on his head in McCovey Cove before Game 4 of the National League baseball championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals at AT&amp;T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Boat Guy Has Balls

Dave McKenna

A general view of the DraftKings logo in the outfield during the Major League baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on June 22, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphis, PA.

MLB Players Association Sues Sportsbooks For NIL Thievery

Pablo Sandoval smiling, with the shadow of his hat casting an Oakley Blade-shaped shadow across his eyes, before a San Francisco Giants game in 2019.

Here’s To The Pitching Panda Of Staten Island

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox.

Gerrit Cole Shows Remarkable Self-Awareness, Pays The Price

Twins Release Minor League Catcher Accused Of Tipping Pitches Because He Wanted To Go Home

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies gives a thumbs up after hitting his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Kyle Schwarber Jacks Taters

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (52) celebrates after robbing a home run to end the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 10, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

It’s A Bad Day To Be A Fly Ball When Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Around

Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers greets teammates on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

The Cavalry Arrives Too Late To Save The Rangers

Dodgers Announcers Enjoy “Tipsy”

T.J. McFarland #48 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the top of the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Coliseum.

MLB