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

Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Conor McGregor of Ireland is carried out of the arena on a stretcher after injuring his ankle in the first round of his lightweight bout against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Conor McGregor Can’t Back This Up Anymore

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

What The Damn Hell

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JUNE 12: Terrance McKinney hurts his knee celebrating his knock-out victory over Matt Frevola during their UFC 263 lightweight match at Gila River Arena on June 12, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona.

The Fights

There’s Gonna Be Three Hits: Me Hitting You, You Hitting The Floor, Also Me Hitting The Floor

Stephen Strasburg looks bummed as he leaves the field following another injury.

More Like Stephen Hamburger

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

Dan McQuade

Joel Embiid lies on the court, clearly injured. Robin Lopez looks back at him.

I Spent All Day Thinking About Joel Embiid’s Injury

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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

Giri Nathan

Jamal Murray, Joy Ruled Out Of The NBA Playoffs

The scrum around Pliev after they discovered he was down a finger.

MMA Fighter Loses Fight Due To Finger Falling Off And Getting Lost

Samer Kalaf

Scene of single-vehicle rollover involving golfer Tiger Woods.

Golf

Tiger Woods In Surgery For Leg Injuries After Single-Car Crash [Update]

Kings Righteously Pissed After Jonas Valanciunas’s Tornado Slam Broke Chimezie Metu’s Wrist

Ray Ratto

Quarterback Chad Henne #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles against the defense of the Cleveland Browns late in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.

One Tackle Has Forced Us All To Thoroughly Discuss Chad Henne

Barry Petchesky

A member of the Ripoll Taberner family minces meat during the annual tradition of the pig slaughter (matanza de cerdo) in Llucmajor on the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca on November 23, 2020. - For the traditional slaughter, a pig is fattened up for a year and then killed on a cold day to ensure the best conservation of the "sobrasada" sausages. (Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP) (Photo by JAIME REINA/AFP via Getty Images)

Year In Review

What Horrible Things Did We Do To Our Penises Last Year?

What Did We Get Stuck In Our Rectums Last Year?

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith lies crumpled on the turf after being tackled. He's fine! Both legs are intact.

Alex Smith Will Not Suffer A Football-Related Injury To Either Of His Legs For At Least One Week

Tom Ley

Defector Up All Night

A Guy Broke His Throat

Alex Smith Is Losing Healthy Legs At An Alarming Rate

Joe Burrow Carted Off With Knee Injury

visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl 50 Radio Row at the Moscone Center on February 5, 2016 in San Francisco, California.

Media Meltdowns

What Are We Even Doing Here, Man

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Injured Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the bench after the Warriors made a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chase Center on November 25, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Warriors May Learn The Hard Way, Again, How Much Klay Thompson Means

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers exits the field as they play the at the start of the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on November 01, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

The 49ers Are Well And Truly Boned

Trent Brown of the Raiders chills on the sideline during a game against the Cardinals earlier this season.

Something Very Scary Is Happening With Trent Brown

Lauren Theisen

Dak Prescott covers his face with a towel as he leaves the field after his injury

Oh Goddammit, Dak Prescott’s Leg Just Got Destroyed

Isaiah Thomas of the Washington Wizards reacts after being ejected during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Capital One Arena on January 03, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Isaiah Thomas Is Pain-Free For The First Time In Three Years, For The Fourth Time In Three Years

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 21: Safety Johnathan Abram #24 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at Allegiant Stadium on September 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Saints 34-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)