“I was taught as a kid,” Flintoff later explained, “always respect the opposition first and celebrate after. The 5ft 11in, 140lb place-kicker is thought the be the first of the dozen or so documented women in the male-only sport to play on a full ride. When they write checks to candidates, their motives are almost always fiscal. Once the league realized chasing after every random Twitter egg that posted a LeBron James lay-up was a waste of time, it had the sense to let the issue go.