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

defector-present-wrapping-logo-gift-subscription-250fixed

winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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

Merch v3

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

FBL-ENG-FRIENDLY-ITA-ARG

Elder Wisdom

After A Great Deal Of Serious Debate, We Have Figured Out What Makes A Great Sports Town

EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 09: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers battles against Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at Rogers Place on April 9, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Colorado Avalanche v Edmonton Oilers

The West Is More Than MacKinnon Vs. McDavid, But That’s Plenty

San Francisco Giants v Cincinnati Reds

Finally, A Baseball Beef For A New Generation

CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 26: Kyle Farmer #17 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on May 26, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs v Cincinnati Reds

The Reds Were More Fun When They Were Historically Fecal

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 22: The Edmonton Oilers battle against the Calgary Flames during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 22, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Calgary Flames v Edmonton Oilers – Game Three

Rasmus Andersson Scored From HOW Far Away?

during the 2015 Pro Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 25, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona.

Pro Bowl

Consider The Dreadful Possibility That You Will Miss The Pro Bowl When It’s Gone

bulgarian-soccer-owner

Life's Rich Pageant

Bulgarian Soccer Owner Sets New Standard For Self-Sabotage

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 22: Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers scores his third of the evening against goaltender Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Calgary Flames during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 22, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

The Oilers Got What They Wanted

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Manchester City fans celebrate winning the Premier League title on the pitch by swinging on the cross bar and lounging on the roof of the net after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Manchester City v Aston Villa – Premier League

English Premier League

The Pitch Invasion Is Back

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 19: Ross Colton #79 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises his stick after scoring the go ahead goal against Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ross Colton;Sergei Bobrovsky

Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers – Game Two

The Lightning Feed Off Crushed Hopes And Dreams

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being fouled by Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v Dallas Mavericks

How The West Wasn’t One-On-One

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 17: Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the second inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 17, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Houston Astros v Boston Red Sox

Like Fort Sumter Or A Peanut, Nathan Eovaldi Got Shelled

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 09: Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during overtime in Game Four of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 09, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Florida Panthers v Washington Capitals – Game Four

Even The Panthers’ Schedule Gets No Respect

CALGARY, AB - MAY 15: The Calgary Flames celebrate after defeating the Dallas Stars during the overtime period of Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 15, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Calgary Flames – Game Seven

It’s Time For Alberta To Relearn How To Hate

Los Angeles Angels v Oakland Athletics – Game One

Shohei Ohtani Is Just Getting Started

Milwaukee Brewers v Miami Marlins

It’s Important To Appreciate The Human Element In Baseball, Like An Ump Forgetting How To Count

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: The National Football League offices on October 10, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Cleveland Browns v Los Angeles Chargers

The NFL Schedule Release Demeans Us All

Tom Brady’s One And Only Job As A Broadcaster Will Be To Exist

Cleveland Guardians v Oakland Athletics

Josh Naylor Hit A Hell Of A Lot Of Homers For The Guardians Last Night, Which Certainly Proves Something

Memphis Grizzlies v Golden State Warriors – Game Four

Did I Say Grizzlies-Warriors Would Be A Great Rivalry? I Lied

ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 08: Mats Zuccarello #36 Matt Dumba #24 Marc-Andre Fleury #29 Jonas Brodin #25 and Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild defend the net against Colton Parayko #55 Pavel Buchnevich #89 and Ivan Barbashev #49 of the St. Louis Blues in the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 8, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)

Minnesota Wild v St Louis Blues – Game Four

Everyone But Colorado Needs To Get It Together

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 03, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Golden State Warriors v Memphis Grizzlies – Game Two

Grizzlies-Warriors Has All The Ingredients For The Next Great NBA Rivalry

San Diego Padres v Cincinnati Reds

Things Have Somehow Gotten Even Worse For The Reds

Real Madrid CF v Getafe CF – La Liga Santander

Soccer

Carlo Ancelotti, Everyone’s Cool Soccer Uncle, Just Keeps Winning

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts on the court during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on May 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 121-114.

Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns – Game One

Luka Doncic Is Going It Alone