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

Tom Ley

Gambling

Bryce Harper Only Pawn In Game Of Exploitation

How Did Bryce Harper End Up Helping FanDuel Keep A Gambling Addict On The Hook?

Albert Burneko

First issues of The New Yorker with a caricature cover of Eustace Tilley drawn by Rea Irvin, are displayed at the "Covering The New Yorker" exhibition to commemorate the magazine’s 100th anniversary.

Everybody Stand Down: New Yorker Columnist’s Child Doesn’t Care About Sports Gambling

Kathryn Xu

A genreal view of the ball as Filip Misolic of Austria serves against Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina (not picture) in their first round match during day four of the Erste Bank Open 2025 at Wiener Stadthalle on October 21, 2025 in Vienna, Austria.

Tennis

Tennis Deserves Better Than These Worthless Metrics

Giri Nathan

Shams Charania Tries Out Legal Commentary, With Perplexing Results

Terry Rozier #2 of the Miami Heat looks on against the New York Knicks during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on March 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Chauncey Billips of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center on October 22, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Chauncey Billups And Terry Rozier Arrested In Connection With Federal Gambling Investigations

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Adam Prentice #46 and Troy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after Franklin's receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants at Empower Field At Mile High on October 19, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Jamboroo

This Is The Lowest Form Of Analytics And We Must Kill It

Patrick Redford

Media Meltdowns

The Feds, Unlike Shams Charania, Have Not Cleared Malik Beasley’s Gambling Case

Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros.

Emmanuel Clase Placed On Leave While MLB Conducts Gambling Investigation

Luis L. Ortiz #45 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on from the dugout during the game against the Athletics.

The Suspect Pitches In MLB’s Gambling Investigation Of Luis Ortiz Look Not Great

Ray Ratto

Jontay Porter Is The NBA’s Collateral Damage

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 09: Jontay Porter #34 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 09, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Feeling Left Out, NBA Announces Its Own Betting Scandal

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is seen while his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

MLB Has A Gambling Problem Even If Shohei Ohtani Doesn’t

Barry Petchesky

College Basketball: NCAA Playoffs: View of sports book patrons betting on March Madness games at MGM Grand Hotel &amp; Casino. Las Vegas, NV 3/21/2013 CREDIT: Chris Farina (Photo by Chris Farina /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X156296 TK2 R1 F31 )

Life's Rich Pageant

We’ve Found Him: America’s Dumbest Bettor

Israel Daramola

Quarterback Hunter Dekkers #12 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws the ball in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Ames, Iowa. The Baylor Bears won 31-24 over the Iowa State Cyclones.

Iowa State QB Charged With Being A Normal 21st-Century Sports Fan

BOULDER, UNITED STATES - APRIL 22: University of Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders secures his headset under his cowboy hat during the Spring football game as part of Black and Gold Day on April 22, 2023. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo for The Washington Post)

College Football

Vegas Doesn’t Stay Down For Long

Laura Wagner

Football Outsiders logo on green background

The People Who Acquired Football Outsiders Are Screwing The People Who Built It

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 18: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards rests during a break in the game against the Sacramento Kings at Capital One Arena on March 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. 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.

Bradley Beal Would Like Gambling-Related Insults Kept To A Minimum

You Are Now Free To Complain To Your Congressional Rep About Sports Betting Ads

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 13: Detail view of a DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement during the first period of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on October 13, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Where Betting Failed

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

Dan McQuade

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 13: Detail view of a DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement during the first period of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on October 13, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.