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

Barry Petchesky

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 29: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #15 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal during overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 29, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens are the first NHL Canadian team to host 2,500 fans since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Leafs Fans, You Have Permission To Panic

Lauren Theisen

Abolish The Penalty For Losing A Replay Challenge

JARRRR-EEEEEE. JARRRRRR-EEEEEE. JARRRR-EEEEEE.

Marty Necas’s Beautiful Wraparound Saved The Hurricanes

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Alex Galchenyuk #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks Joel Armia #40 of the Montreal Canadiens during the third period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

This Was The Alex Galchenyuk That Was Hoped For

Tristan Jarry’s Boner Was One For The Ages

Ray Ratto

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

TORONTO, ON - MAY 20: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to suffer a significant injury against the Montreal Canadiens in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 20, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Tavares

That Was About As Sour A Start To A Cup Run As You Could Envision

David Roth

Russell Westbrook contemplates the void, and The Distraction logo.

Podcasts

A Hater’s Guide To Every Postseason, With Lauren Theisen And Albert Burneko

The Colorado Avalanche celebrate a goal by Nathan MacKinnon

Can Anybody Handle The Almighty Avalanche?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

‘The Hockey Sweater’ Is All You Need To Know About Leafs-Habs

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

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates during warm ups before the game against the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

This Isn’t Quite The Alex Ovechkin I Remember

Imagine What The Islanders Are Capable Of

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - MAY 16: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores on the powerplay at 14:51 of the second period against Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the BB&amp;T Center on May 16, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 5-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Nikita Kucherov Makes The Lightning Go

Eugene Melnyk, cast here as Thurston Howell III in a remake of Gilligan's Island.

Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk Sues Yacht Captain After Nightmare Christmas Vomit Cruise

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

It Sure Looks Like Marc-André Fleury Will Get Another Shot At Postseason Glory

Start The Damn Playoffs Already!

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 26: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates after scoring on the New York Rangers during the second period at KeyBank Center on January 26 , 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

Jack Eichel Sounds Done With This Shit

<p><a href="http://www.ddavisla.com"><span style="font-weight: 400">David Davis </span></a>is the author of <i>Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans From World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation</i> and <i>Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku</i>. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>
<div></div>


David Davis

Hockey’s Cold War Was The Summit Of Two Photographers’ Careers

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 04: John Tortorella, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third period at American Airlines Center on March 04, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

John Tortorella Doesn’t Know How To Be Any Other Way

Michal Kempny #6 of the Washington Capitals looks on in a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 31, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Caps Defenseman Michal Kempny Injured On A Check From An Ice Scraper

Eugene Melnyk Never Met A Problem He Couldn’t Make Worse

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Brendan Smith #42 of the New York Rangers chats with Zdeno Chara #33 of the Washington Capitals during the second period at Madison Square Garden on May 05, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Senators Week

Former Senator Zdeno Chara Present For Caps-Rangers Tom Wilson War