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

Dave McKenna

Future Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby shouts during the first half of the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on January 24, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. He looks very happy.

College Football

Judge Reinstates Brendan Sorsby To Texas Tech, Says QB Will Miss Just Two Games

Future Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby shouts during the first half of the game between the Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech Transfer QB Brendan Sorsby Leaves School, Enters Gambling Rehab

ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 6: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Wayne Gretzky and Gary Bettman after scoring his 895th career goal, passing Gretzky for the all-time scoring record, during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/NHLI via Getty Images)

I’m The Idiot Who Bet Against Ovechkin

Ray Ratto

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 7: Jontay Porter #34 of the Toronto Raptors arrives to the arena before the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 7, 2024 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)

Gambling

How The Fix Gets In

Barry Petchesky

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Shohei Ohtani (C) of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks with his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (L) and agent Nez Balelo (R) prior to the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 21, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Gambling Addiction Is A Nasty, Nasty Thing

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

The view of the F1 race from the Bellagio Fountain Club on the Las Vegas Strip. The club can hold 3,600 people and three-day tickets sell for $12,000. You can also see the Paris casino and its recreation of the Eiffel Tower.

College Basketball

In Las Vegas, It’s Not Who’s Your Team But What’s Your Parlay

Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Gives Two Different Stories

LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 12: Crowds jam into Caesars Sports Book at Caesars Palace Hotel &amp; Casino to bet on the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League's Super Bowl LVII (which took place in Glendale, Arizona) as viewed on February 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas will play host to the NFL's Super Bowl LVIII, taking place next year at the recently constructed Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Jamboroo

Toward A Better Playoff Tiebreaker

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

A general view of an Alabama Crimson Tide baseball cap during the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Alabama Crimson Tide on May 23, 2023 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

College Baseball

Sports Gambling Can Give Us So Many Dumb Guys Doing Schemes

Patrick Redford

Shams Charania gestures during an interview.

Media Meltdowns

Shams Charania’s Whoopsie Sure Made Someone A Lot Of Money

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Duane Banks Field, where the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team plays.

Two More College Athletic Departments Swept Into Online Gambling Troubles

Samer Kalaf

An Alabama Crimson Tide hat rests in the dugout during a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers on May 12, 2018, at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.

Something Weird’s Going On With Alabama Baseball

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 24: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons takes the field before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)