Arena Football

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

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

Samer Kalaf

Aaron Rodgers is sacked in the end zone by a Bills defensive player

Aaron Rodgers Incapable Of Throwing Even One Touchdown Pass

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


Dan McQuade

During an interview with sportscaster Greg Gumbel (right), American disc jockey (from WLUP radio, 'The Loop') Steve Dahl breaks a disco record over his head prior to hosting an anti-disco promotion at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 1979. The event, held between games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, allowed fans to attend the games for 98 cents along with an unwanted record and, following the detonation of those records, eventually resulted in the White Sox forfeiture of the second game due to unsafe playing conditions when fans stormed the field causing serious damage to the venue and playing surface.

Greg Gumbel Kept It All In Perspective

NFL Christmas Gameday signage advertising the NFL's two Christmas Day marquee games.

NFL Schedule Creep Is Getting Out Of Control

Barry Petchesky

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 01: NFL Christmas Gameday signage on a blimp advertising the NFL's two Christmas Day marquee games streaming live on Netflix on December 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Netflix NFL Viewership Claims Threaten Several International Incidents

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Victoria Zeller

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 22: Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal (93) recovers a fumble and celebrates with teammates in action during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on December 22, 2024 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.

Go For It

Ray Ratto

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 19, 2024: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts after Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) scored on a 34 yard touchdown to ice the win over the Denver Broncos at So-Fi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Nothing Gets Jim Harbaugh’s Motor Running Like An Obscure Rule

David Roth

Woody Johnson (center) and his sons attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Report: New York Jets Plagued By Woody Johnson’s Meddlesome Teen Sons

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Automobile in a winter landscape with a man coming from Christmas shopping trip with packages, Christmas Tree, etc. Undated photograph circa 1911.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Falcons Choose Buyer’s Remorse Over Kirk Cousins

Israel Daramola

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Even With Patrick Mahomes’s Injury, The Chiefs Feel Inevitable

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Linebacker Nick Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos jumps backwards into the end zone for a pick six touchdown as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and quarterback Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts look on during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Colts Gave Away Their Season

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook #4 runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

We’ll Take As Much Bills-Lions As You’ve Got

Tom Ley

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

College Football

It’s A Good Time Be One Of Bill Belichick’s Lackeys

Matthew Stafford hands the ball to Kyren Williams against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. It is a low-angle shot and raining as hell.

That Was Just Awful

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 08: Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sam Darnold Brought Me To Football Nirvana

Bill Belichick, former NFL coach, looks on during the game between the Washington Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines at Husky Stadium on October 5, 2024.

Bill Belichick Isn’t The First Coaching Legend Who Doesn’t Know How To Quit

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 08: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets reacts on the field during the first half of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Funbag

Aaron Rodgers Is The Last Glory Boy Standing

Xavier Worthy celebrates a first down in the Chargers-Chiefs game.

The Chiefs Can Make A Last-Second Win Less Exciting Than Filing Taxes

Justin Ellis

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

NFL Quietly Drops Latest Investigation Into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Deshaun Watson

The Lions Will Live Or Die Off Chance

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans adjusts his helmet in close-up before taking the field for Houston's game against Jacksonville on December 1, 2024.

Podcasts

That AFC South Feeling, With Rivers McCown

Climate activists of Extinction Rebellion wearing masks of company CEOs including LVMH's Bernard Arnault (2nd L) Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg (C), Microsoft founder Bill Gates (2ndR) and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson (R) take part in a demonstration in Berlin on April 13, 2023. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

The Price Of The American Dream Is Now $1 Billion

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 24: A pylon-camera is seen during an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Things We Actually Like

Blessed Be The Pylon Cam

Jameis Winston (5) of the Cleveland Browns reacts to missing David Njoku (85) for a first down during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos on December 2, 2024.

There Are No Small Servings Of The Jameis Winston Experience

Matt Eberflus looking vaguely disheveled as he coaches the Bears

NFL