We are open for business. Chat with your pals, or even your enemies.

You! There! Come Join The Weekend Open Thread!

core/paragraph

Tom Ley

World Cup fans cheer as one tries to catch a ball

Defector Up All Night

Try To Cool Off In The July 4th Weekend Open Thread

Defector Staff

Here’s A World Cup Weekend Open Thread

The cast of Our Gang/The Little Rascals singing, circa 1930.

Hey! Over Here! Come Chat With The Defector Staff

Undated group photo of the original "Our Gang."

Staff Chat

Come One, Come All, And Ask The Defector Staff Some Questions

31st December 1931: New Year's Eve revellers at the Piccadilly Hotel in London.

Here’s An Open Thread To Help Ring In The New Year

A fan dressed in a snowman costume looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Have A Wonderful Christmas Time In This Open Thread

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

Giri Nathan

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 18: Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during a match against Learner Tien of the United States on day eight of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Tennis

Frances Tiafoe Is Peaking At The Right Time

Samer Kalaf

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings in the fourth quarter.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Los Angeles Chargers

Israel Daramola

Ray Ratto

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Louisiana State Tigers poses with the mascot before the game against the Houston Cougars during the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

Death To The NCAA

The 2026 College Football Offseason Recap

Matt Calkins being interviewed on News Nation

Journalismism

Seattle Times Dipshit Quits Because His Editors Were Smart Enough To Spike His Stupid Columns

Patrick Redford

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Yellow Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as final overall winner during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 21 a 89km stage from Paris to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 26, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

Tadej Pogacar Returns To The Scene Of His Arrival

Luis Paez-Pumar

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal (hidden by ticker tape) celebrates with the Premier League trophy after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England.

Soccer

And Now, A 2026-27 Premier League Preview In Five Storylines

post

Football teams from the schools of Yale and Princeton playing a match on Thanksgiving Day afternoon that ended in a tie score, November 1879. The illustration, a wood engraving, was published in an 1879 issue of Harper’s Weekly newspaper.