The most hated athletes in American history
- Thread starter J_Dee
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I think an even better question is who hates Steffi Graf? What a pro.
some people like Steffi Graf so much they stab her competitors
Monica Seles, now that's another unlikable *****. Add her to the list with Pat Tillman and Roberto Clemente.
I'd like to know that, too.
Are we including anyone who kneels during the National Anthem as a Tillman hater since he was a soldier and all??
I think with Tebow, it is more just he media creating something where there isn't anything that should be created.
I think the fact he was one of the best college football players ever fuels a lot of that. He was great in college, therefore he should be great in the nfl. Clearly, those that know the game knew he was never going to be a star nfl qb with his throwing mechanics. As a Christian, I'm a big Tebow fan, but at no point did i think he was nfl starting qb good (completely different game than what they did during his time at florida)
As for the publicity stunt, it puts people in the seats. Minor league attendance is a lot of times boosted by publicity stunts. Most wouldn't even know (and still don't anyway) he was playing in the minors if the media didn't have to create a story about everything that he does.
The military seems to be one of the last things that cancel culture has yet to come for. Even a guy like Pat Tillman, who I'm sure some anti-anthem folks would LIKE to **** on, know better,
But give it a few years.. Pat Tillman will be some sort of villain.
WTF? In my life in no context have I ever read or listened to any fan hate on or criticize either one of those two, especially Pat Tillman? I mean, from what orifice was that pulled from?
If you HATE LeBron you hate greatness in life. He’s never been arrested or in trouble, what do you want?Ive come around on laettner, he did some cool things with the UK VS Rivals. If you hate someone it’s on you.
Tillman is loved by the right because he volunteered for the army. He's loved by the left because he changed his position on the Persian Gulf War. He's basically the most beloved athlete there is.
Lebron James - for what he did re: that police officer in Columbus (e.g., YOU'RE NEXT) deserves the hate.
Lebron James - for what he did re: that police officer in Columbus (e.g., YOU'RE NEXT) deserves the hate.
Its Kaepernick and no one else is very close right now. I know lots of people that will not watch an NFL game because Kaepernick started kneeling. There is a large group of people that believe all the protesting in different sports goes back to him.
I was born a decade after the '68 Olympics but I remember being taught about Tommie Smith and John Carlos in elementary school (probably in '84).
The first protest enacted by an athlete that I can personally remember is:
"A national debate" is an understatement. Toni Smith's protest is the first instance I can recall offhand of someone being savagely attacked en masse online, and also the first instance I can recall offhand of an athlete receiving death threats. :/
Lebron James had the top selling jersey in the NBA again this year. If being #1 in jersey sales means you're the most hated, then yes, put Lebron there.
I think Tyler Windham was the most hated athlete in the world for at least a couple of days.
Edit: In case you've forgotten, the idea of criminal charges was all over the gator boards. Probably had fans praying for a heart attack.
I met Taylor Windham a few years ago and asked him about that hit. His girlfriend (or wife I dunno) was clearly annoyed that I brought it up and he went "Yeah it felt good". One of the cleanest form tackles ever and somehow it was 'dirty'
Two things about that hit:
1) The reason Tebow got knocked out was because his head hit the knee of a Florida player on the backside. So it was a fluke KO on a clean hit.
2) I **** you not and as God as my witness, I was at that game and right before the play I said to my buddy something like this, “I just want to see us stick it to Tebow. Just crush him one time.” Then that play happened and I realized Tebow may be the second coming of Jesus, and it made me feel bad about myself. Ha!
1) The reason Tebow got knocked out was because his head hit the knee of a Florida player on the backside. So it was a fluke KO on a clean hit.
2) I **** you not and as God as my witness, I was at that game and right before the play I said to my buddy something like this, “I just want to see us stick it to Tebow. Just crush him one time.” Then that play happened and I realized Tebow may be the second coming of Jesus, and it made me feel bad about myself. Ha!
You could make a good argument Tiger is the greatest golfer of all time and also make a good argument his career is a huge disappointment.
Two things can be true at the same time.
UK and Duke are the most popular, top selling/watched basketball programs but also the most hated.
Same with Yankees, Cowboys and others.
Tiger Woods' career "a huge disappointment?" Shyeah okay buddy.
True, but McGwire, Bonds, and Sosa should thank Roger Clemens because after those three Roger said "hold my beer, I got this..." and everyone forgot about those guys and just eviscerated Clemens and made him the poster boy for roids in the game.
LeBron - on the inverse everyone loved Jordan, but lebron is insecure as hell. Youre one of the best players in history but you'll tweet things like your stat line for justification. Or his constant lying- like the time he claimed someone put racist graffiti on his property, or the time he claimed he watched the godfather between games but couldn't answer a reporters questions about the film, or the time he pretended to read a book prior to an interview, etc etc
Kaepernick- kneel...whatever I just ignore that. But when you don't start kneeling until you get beat out by Blaine Gabbert, quit, then get a million dollar endorsement deal creating a new career...when if you hadn't you'd probably been close to fading away and forgotten, I see the grift. I'm not sure the nfl has ever held a private workout for someone on their terms and with their own camera crew, but they did for him. He didn't get cancelled...he doesn't really want to play.
Other than that I'll stay NBA specific: Laimbeer, Isaiah Thomas, Starks, Sprewell, Ainge (during playing career)
Kaepernick- kneel...whatever I just ignore that. But when you don't start kneeling until you get beat out by Blaine Gabbert, quit, then get a million dollar endorsement deal creating a new career...when if you hadn't you'd probably been close to fading away and forgotten, I see the grift. I'm not sure the nfl has ever held a private workout for someone on their terms and with their own camera crew, but they did for him. He didn't get cancelled...he doesn't really want to play.
Other than that I'll stay NBA specific: Laimbeer, Isaiah Thomas, Starks, Sprewell, Ainge (during playing career)
I disagree. The analytics nerds ruined baseball. But I don’t blame them too much as they were correct in the analysis.
Agree, but I would put those more in the “you either love them or you hate them category”. You also listed some of the greatest franchises in sports history. A lot of the great ones are seen that way.
I think it's fair to say with LeBron you either love him or hate him.
People hate top franchises because they're jealous.
In the spirit of the times & from the working files of The Squad, The Mob & The Media....
Any white athlete.
Any white athlete.
As far as % of people who hated them, I have to imagine the leaders in the clubhouse are OJ (because he is a murderer), Kaepernick, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos.
White people don’t like having their dominance on power threatened it when blacks get all uppity and stand up for their civil rights.
White people don’t like having their dominance on power threatened it when blacks get all uppity and stand up for their civil rights.
I hope Ilife long enough to see you be correct on just 1 thing ,I';m sure it will be an accident .
You put down America after paying you millions to play a kids game, to most people your toast.
Is Bo Jackson the most beloved? I can't think of a single person who doesn't love that dude.
I'd put Wayne Gretzky up there. Michael Phelps, also.
Probably pretty hard to find a "team" athlete that's universally liked. Because chances are, some other teams fanbase hates them. but I'd bet Derek Jeter is up there. The Manning brothers are probably up there.