defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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-no-empty-space

Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

Luton Town players celebrating with Tom Lockyer shirt after winning the game during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 27th May 2023. (Photo by Ivan Yordanov/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Coventry City v Luton Town: Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final

Soccer

Luton Town Is Back From The Brink

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Tom Brady attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “80 For Brady” presented by Smirnoff ICE at the Regency Village Theatre on January 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

‚Äú80 For Brady‚Äù Los Angeles Premiere

You Won’t Be Rid Of Tom Brady That Easily

MIAMI, FL - MAY 27: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics shoots the game winner during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on May 27, 2023 at the Kaseya Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

2023 NBA Playoffs – Boston Celtics v Miami Heat

Derrick White Was In Place

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 25: Joe Pavelski #16 of the Dallas Stars celebrates a game-winning power play goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during overtime in Game Four of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 25, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Vegas Golden Knights v Dallas Stars – Game Four

I Live In A Joe Pavelski Household Now

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 23: Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with Jonah Heim #28 after throwing a 6-1 complete game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Texas Rangers v Pittsburgh Pirates

Don’t Look Now But The Rangers Might Be Good

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball ahead of Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals at Kaseya Center on May 23, 2023 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)

Boston Celtics v Miami Heat – Game Four

Celtics Live To Disappoint Another Day

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during the fourth overtime to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 18, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

Game 1 Didn’t Last Long Enough

From left: Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob at Chase Center, Friday, July 30, 2021, in San Francisco, Calif. The Warriors selected Jonathan Kuminga (No. 7) and Moses Moody (No. 14) in the NBA Draft on Thursday night.

SFChronicleGiants

Suddenly Joe Lacob Has A Budget

DENVER, CO - MAY 16 : Rui Hachimura (28) of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during 1st game of Western Conference Final at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Nuggets Lakers

The Lakers Better Hope Their Jokic-Stopper Is For Real

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 03: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman attends the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills Competition at FLA Live Arena on February 03, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

2023 NHL All-Star – Skills Competition

Arizona Is Gary Bettman’s Waterloo

EDMONTON, CANADA - MAY 14 Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 14, 2023, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Vegas Golden Knights v Edmonton Oilers – Game Six

That’s Oil, Folks

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 14: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics collides with Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics – Game Seven

That’s Gotta Hurt

Jets fan holding up a "Thank you schedule makers" sign at a game

Detroit Lions vs New York Jets – October 22, 2006

The NFL Schedule Release Is A Beast That Won’t Stop Growing

Sam Bennett and Jake McCabe hit each other

NHL: MAY 10 Eastern Conference Second Round – Maple Leafs at Panthers

The Leafs Return Home With Bruises, Nerves, And A Win

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 10: LeBron James #6 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors on May 10, 2023 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

2023 NBA Playoffs – Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors

Lakers-Warriors Is A Series Searching For A Story

TORONTO, ON- MAY 7 - Toronto Maple Leafs fans leave after the Leafs fall 3-2 in Florida for game three in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, Toronto fans gathered at Maple Leaf Square outside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 7, 2023. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs fans leave after the Leafs fall 3-2 in Florida for game three in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, Toronto fans gathered at Maple Leaf Square

The Leafs Are The Hockey Knicks, Unless It’s The Other Way Around

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 21: A view shows the Las Vegas Strip behind the site that the Oakland Athletics agreed in principle to purchase from Red Rock Resorts Inc. for a potential new ballpark on April 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The A's President Dave Kaval said the deal for the 49-acre plot of land, formerly the home of Wild Wild West Gambling Hall &amp; Hotel, could be used to relocate the Major League Baseball franchise from Oakland to Las Vegas. The team will now work on a public-private partnership to build a USD 1.5 billion, 30,000-to-35,000-seat, partially retractable-roof stadium in time for the 2027 season. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Oakland Athletics Agree To Purchase Land In Las Vegas For New Stadium

The A’s’ Vegas Deal Might Be Falling Through Already

imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-RxX6NfpCHCsxWDH

Elder Wisdom

Getting Old Is Rude But It Beats The Alternative

West Bromwich Albion's English head coach Sam Allardyce looks on during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on May 23, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Jon Super / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.

FBL-ENG-PR-LEEDS-WEST BROM

Sam Allardyce Is Back For One Last Job, Until His Next Last Job

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 02: Oliver Bjorkstrand #22 of the Seattle Kraken celebrates after Yanni Gourde #37 of the Seattle Kraken scored the game-winning goal against Jake Oettinger #29 of the Dallas Stars in the first overtime period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Seattle Kraken v Dallas Stars – Game One

Kraken 5, Joe Pavelski 4

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks a shot by Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game one of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 02, 2023 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)

Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors – Game One

Jordan Poole, Off The Deep End

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - APRIL 10: Eetu Luostarinen #27 of the Florida Panthers tangles with Mark Giordano #55 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the FLA Live Arena on April 10, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Florida Panthers

No Canadians Allowed In Sunrise

DENVER, CO - APRIL 30: Jamie Oleksiak (24) of the Seattle Kraken celebrates with Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) after defeating Mikko Rantanen and the Colorado Avalanche winning the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. The Avalanche lost 2-1. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Colorado Avalanche vs Seattle Kraken Game Seven NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Kraken Made The Avs Look Like Old News

Toronto Maple Leafs fans watch, cheer, react to game 6 of their first round NHL playoffs series against Tampa Bay Lightning on the big screen in Maple Leaf Square outside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 29, 2023.

Toronto Maple Leafs Fans

The Leafs Vanquished One Ghost, But They Have Many More To Go

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Jack Suwinski #65, Ji Hwan Bae #3 and Connor Joe #2 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after a 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on April 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)