The Misery of Hating Great Players

[Dolphster]

There are certain teams and players that I always root against.  I just dislike them (whether with a good and rational reason or not).  Among the players that I dislike are Brady, Gronkowski, and Romo.  But dang are they good football players.  Brady has to be part of the conversation on any list of the greatest QBs of all time.  Gronkowski is an absolute beast and even at his relatively young age, has to be in the conversation of greatest TEs of all time.  And Romo, who will never be one of the all-time greats, is as good at the 2 minute drill as any QB in the league. 

So who do you guys hate (dislike) but grudgingly acknowledge their greatness?

[Dave Gray]

Michael Jordan was always one I disliked.

I hate Brady now, but didn't until very recently.  I've said he's one of the all-time greats well before that.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Very rarely do I root aginst players, I root for and against teams.  One exception and he is an all time great is labron

[Phishfan]

We aren't keeping this discussion within the NFL, so I moved it to a more appropriate board. There have been a few players like this for me over the years and some have been off the list and then moved onto it (see LeBron).

One of my biggest is Johnny Manziel. I've never liked or rooted for the kid. I think Tom Brady will show up on just about everyone's list (except Hoodie). While not a "player" in a sport another athlete I've never rooted for is Floyd Mayweather.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

While there have been many players over the years here is a few current great players I despise

LeBron James
Tom Brady
Dwight Howard
Blake Griffin
Richard Sherman
Darrelle Revis
Ben Roethlisberger

There are a bunch of other players I despise as well but I don't consider them what we call greats so I will not list those!!!!!

[Phishfan]

The worst is when you have one of those players and they come to a team you like. Dwight Howard was one of those for me. I'm a Lakers fan and I knew signing him would be a terrible mistake.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

^^^^Being a fellow Laker fan that is how I felt when Karl Malone signed for his 1 season. Great player but I have always despised him and hated rooting for him that year.

I was torn on the Howard trade but in hindsight I would have liked to have seen them pass on the deal!!!!!

[Brian Fein]

Tom Brady is the top of the list.  I actually really like Gronk, and wish he didn't play for the evil empire.

Others:
A-Rod
Alex Ovechkin
Sydney Crosby
Darelle Revis
Phillip Rivers

[Phishfan]

^^^^Being a fellow Laker fan that is how I felt when Karl Malone signed for his 1 season. Great player but I have always despised him and hated rooting for him that year.

I was torn on the Howard trade but in hindsight I would have liked to have seen them pass on the deal!!!!!

Living in Orlando I saw Howard go from beloved to despised in this city. I knew what the Lakers were getting and didn't look forward to it.

[CF DolFan]

Richard Sherman

I didn't care for Sherman either until recently. I really loved that he stepped up and posted this in a time when so many others are just trying to cause problems. I have now become a fan of his.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

We aren't keeping this discussion within the NFL, so I moved it to a more appropriate board. There have been a few players like this for me over the years and some have been off the list and then moved onto it (see LeBron).

One of my biggest is Johnny Manziel. I've never liked or rooted for the kid. I think Tom Brady will show up on just about everyone's list (except Hoodie). While not a "player" in a sport another athlete I've never rooted for is Floyd Mayweather.

with the inclusion of manzeili I guess we aren't limiting it to great players

[Brian Fein]

I guess I'm in the minority.  I really like Richard Sherman.  He's one of my favorite NFL players.

Sadly, only one of my favorite players plays for my favorite team.

[Phishfan]

with the inclusion of manzeili I guess we aren't limiting it to great players

I debated this myself but was thinking of him more as a college player. The guy won a Heisman so I can't argue against his greatness at that time.

[Sunstroke]

I hated Bill Laimbeer when he was with the Bad Boy Pistons...same with Dennis Rodman. I reeeeally hated Charles Barkley, and when he came to my beloved Phoenix Suns, it almost made me stop cheering for them. But, in all three cases, despite how much I disliked them, I never once doubted their talent, or motor, or, in Barkley's case, the ability to back his extra-wide ass down into the post.

There really aren't any current players that I feel strongly enough to say I hate 'em.

[masterfins]

The player I despise the most is Ray Lewis, I change the channel anytime he is on the TV.  I also don't care for Kobe Bryant.