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

Kelsey McKinney

Food

I Apologize For The Behavior Of Barry “The Popcorn Moron” Petchesky

Barry Petchesky

Woman holding giant sized popcorn and drink

I Submit To You That Popcorn Is A Bad Movie Snack

Willie Mays leaps against a green wall to grab a fly ball

Bills Week

All-Star Week Needs A Cool Catch Contest

Giri Nathan

Aryna Sabalenka reacts to a break of serve during her victory against Laura Siegemund of Germany in the Quarter-Finals of the Ladies' Singles Competition on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 8th, 2025, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)

Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka Could Round Out Her Game By Hiring Some Elderly Training Partners

SHAOYANG, CHINA - FEBRUARY 16: People read books at Songpo bookstore during the Spring Festival holiday on February 16, 2021 in Shaoyang, Hunan Province of China. (Photo by Teng Zhizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

Life Lessons

Buy Yourself A Gift Card

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


Chris Thompson

Max Verstappen's Red Bull car sends off a lot of smoke.

Racing

Set Max Verstappen’s Car On Fire More Often, For Morale

COLUMBUS, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: Cierra Gaytan-Leach of the Hard Eights prepares to serve during the Major League Pickleball finals match against BLQK at Pickle &amp; Chill on October 16, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Hear Me Out: Pickleball Eschaton

This Will Not Be Finished Until Mike Trout Is Allowed To Pitch To Shohei Ohtani

Ray Ratto

Four Brief Proposals For Unclogging The Western Conference

Lauren Theisen

Tage Thompson celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal

Put Buffalo In The West And Then Put The Sabres In The Playoffs

Defector Staff

Announcements

We Will Further Secure Our Financial Independence By Sending David Roth To Your House

We’re Going To Need A Bigger Suspension Yacht

The San Quentin Athletics pose for a team photo for the prison newspaper before their game against Club Mexico on April 29, 2017 in San Quentin, California.

Throw These Slow-Playing Bozos In Baseball Jail

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides into second base against the Orioles.

The Orioles Must Help Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Hit For The Triple Crown

Laura Wagner

CHOFU, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Annika Schleu of Team Germany looks dejected following her run in the Riding Show Jumping of the Women's Modern Pentathlon on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Olympics

Horse Innocent!

A turkey leg smothered in some sort of cream-based seafood slop. Delicious.

Stuff And Smother More Food, Goddammit

Coaches' headsets just waiting to be worn, by bloggers.

The Detroit Lions Must Hire Us To Coach Them In Battle Against The Buccaneers This Saturday

Jayson Tatum and Daniel Theis look like crap in black Celtics alternate uniforms.

No More Black NBA Uniforms, Please

A sideline view of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium, where the Defector Idiots hope to achieve ultimate glory in the sport of college football