From the Super Bowl and the World Cup to the Master’s Tournament and the World Series, it’s no surprise that athletes are often treated like celebrities.
As stadiums are filled with sell-out crowds who pay top dollar to watch their favorite rivalries compete in person, athletes quickly realize that football, soccer, golf, baseball – whatever the sport – is truly more than just a game.
With special appearances and pre-game interviews to endorsement deals and hefty paychecks, athletes often make media headlines just as much, and sometimes even more so, than A-list actors and musicians. Whether it’s the latest gossip on who’s dating who to rumors of cheating or scandal, athletes confront the toughest competition of their careers when they face off with the media who can easily make or break them.
As many athletes become overnight sensations, thanks to the support of their fans, they often realize that one wrong move in the spotlight could forever jeopardize staying in the world’s good graces. While some athletes try to become role models and make a positive change, others tragically fall from grace because of their own personal struggles. From sex scandals and bad attitudes to drugs and violence, we found 10 of the most hated athletes of all time who know a thing or two about losing the public’s favor. Will any of these names shock you? Let’s take a look!
#10 – Ron Artest
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| #10 – Ron Artest |
Despite being one of the league’s best defenders, Artest’s explosive personality proved to be a ticking time bomb both on and off the court. When a drink was thrown at him during a game against the Pistons, Artest ran into the stands and punched a fan, who didn’t actually throw the drink, and incited a large brawl. With growing hatred as a result of the incident, matters only got worse when Artest asked for a trade away from Indiana in 2006. Now back once again with the Lakers, the infamous hothead continues to be the topic of drama.
#9 – Marion Jones
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| #9 – Marion Jones |
On top of the world with her success, everything soon fell to pieces for Jones who was stripped of her medals after admitting to steroid use to help her get ahead of the competition. As part of the BALCO scandal including nearly two dozen high profile athletes, Jones’ name was at the top of the list, which proved to the world that she was a liar and cheater who had also been involved in a check counterfeiting scheme in 2006. Despite spending six months in jail, Jones had forever lost her fans after her gold medal performance of ultimate betrayal.
#8 – Kobe Bryant
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| #8 – Kobe Bryant |
From showing his opponents who rules the court to leading complete knock outs during some of the NBA’s greatest rivalries, fans have many reasons to hate Bryant. But, there’s more to it than just winning and losing. Many people don’t like Bryant because he’s earned the reputation as being a bad team player by refusing to take a pay cut to help the franchise despite being far past his prime and often injured. Of course, his scandalous infidelity in Colorado and the accusations of rape don’t have fans screaming “We love you, Kobe!” all too often either.
#7 – Lance Armstrong
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| #7 – Lance Armstrong |
But, much like Marion Jones, Armstrong went from beloved athlete to hated cheater almost overnight in 2012 when the United States Anti-Doping Agency completed their investigation of Armstrong. After learning that America’s favorite cyclist had used performance enhancing drugs throughout his entire career to get ahead, fans quickly turned their backs feeling completely betrayed. Though many other cyclists were busted for the same crime, the blow wasn’t any softer as Armstrong’s legacy was forever tarnished.
#6 – Barry Bonds
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| #6 – Barry Bonds |
Known for having a bad attitude along with a mantle of shiny awards, Bonds set the perfect stage for becoming one of the most hated athletes in baseball. Then, just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, he was indicted for lying to a grand jury during the 2007 BALCO scandal. Though the charge was dropped, Bonds was convicted of obstructing justice but even that charge has since been overturned. Whether Bonds used steroids throughout his career or not is still a matter up for debate but, because of his infamous bad attitude, most fans wouldn’t put it past him.
#5 – Tiger Woods
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| #5 – Tiger Woods |
As news of his marital trouble filled the media, Woods was far from being hated by fans as it seemed like normal drama in the lives of the rich and famous. It wasn’t, however, until Woods crashed his car after being assaulted by his wife, Elin Nordegren, that the truth of his vast infidelity was revealed. With mistresses coming out of the woodwork, fans jumped off the Tiger train long before Tiger could ever hope to save his game.
#4 – Floyd Mayweather
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| #4 – Floyd Mayweather |
Widely criticized for his jab and run fighting style as being for wussies, Mayweather is hated more for his antics outside the ring, wuss or not. Nicknamed “Money”, the highest paid athlete doesn’t let anyone forget that his ego is just as big as his paycheck and often reminds anyone who will listen just how rich and how good he is. With multiple charges for domestic violence, the fires of hate burn hotter as fans think a match with Ronda Rousey just might do the trick for this undefeated egomaniac to experience a true total knock out, by a woman, no less.
#3 – OJ Simpson
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| #3 – OJ Simpson |
Simpson’s drama, however, wasn’t just limited to Hollywood or the field as the former football star faced charges in 1994 of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. In a controversial decision, Simpson was acquitted but obviously didn’t take the close call very seriously as trouble found him again in Las Vegas in 2007. Now sitting in a Nevada prison for armed robbery and kidnapping, not even prison time could top the worst of O.J.’s entire career: his book, If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer. No wonder so many people hate him!
#2 – LeBron James
LeBron James has never been arrested nor has he ever cheated. He is married to his high school sweetheart, he plays professional basketball for his hometown team and he’s won two NBA championships. He’s often considered one of the best basketball players of all time and is genuinely a nice guy. So, why exactly does everyone seem to hate LeBron?
Other than the fact that James traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat, the only real reason why fans hate him is because he’s not Michael Jordan. Idolizing Jordan throughout his childhood, James now spends much of his professional career fighting off comparisons to the NBA star to make a name for himself. With fans completely set in their ways about the king of basketball, not even a man of respectable character and dignity like James can beat big, bad Jordan.
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| #2 – LeBron James |
Other than the fact that James traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat, the only real reason why fans hate him is because he’s not Michael Jordan. Idolizing Jordan throughout his childhood, James now spends much of his professional career fighting off comparisons to the NBA star to make a name for himself. With fans completely set in their ways about the king of basketball, not even a man of respectable character and dignity like James can beat big, bad Jordan.
#1 – Ty Cobb
Sweet as a Georgia Peach, or is he? Often considered one of the best athletes in the history of baseball, Ty Cobb actually deserves every feeling of hate he ever received. With a batting average of .367 and 4,191 hits in his career, Cobb had little else going for him outside the diamond as he was a notorious racist known for committing hate crimes. From fighting a black groundskeeper and choking the man’s wife to assaulting a black elevator attendant and stabbing a security guard, Cobb was truly a despicable man.
Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach”, Cobb’s private life wasn’t much better as he had a history of domestic violence, even beating his son when he dropped out of college. Fans and other players weren’t safe from Cobb’s evil grasp as he often tried to take out his opponents’ legs with sharpened cleats and ran into the stands to fistfight fans who heckled him. Needless to say, if baseball can forgive Cobb for being a terrible person, surely the rest of the world can forgive Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong for using steroids, don’t you agree? Source: OldCatLady
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| #1 – Ty Cobb |
Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach”, Cobb’s private life wasn’t much better as he had a history of domestic violence, even beating his son when he dropped out of college. Fans and other players weren’t safe from Cobb’s evil grasp as he often tried to take out his opponents’ legs with sharpened cleats and ran into the stands to fistfight fans who heckled him. Needless to say, if baseball can forgive Cobb for being a terrible person, surely the rest of the world can forgive Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong for using steroids, don’t you agree? Source: OldCatLady
