Top 10 Most Hated Sports Teams In America
The American people love their sports, and as fiery as the passion is for some teams the hate for others is undeniable. From the Floridian peninsula to the cloudy skies of Seattle, this list highlights the 10 most loathed organizations in America today, enjoy!
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
We start our hate train in The Forest City, where LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers host opposing teams in the Quicken Loans Arena. As one of the NBA's most dominant and popular teams, the group of players is often bashed due to its glamorous looks and unfair roster. The Cavs single handedly dominate teams, which shouldn't surprise many for they have five of the top 100 NBA Players ("SI.com's Top 100 NBA Players of 2016: 100-1"). Some sports fans hate this team for their commitment to recruit popular players, no matter how large of a contract they must offer, aka LeBron James. James has labeled himself as a not clutch, cry baby for his inability to take over games and his constant bickering and wining to the referees. Although one of the best players int the game today, if not the best, his demeanor and attitude increase his hate bandwagon. His inability to win and constant recruiting of popular players take him out of the conversation for the "Best Player in History" in the minds of most NBA fans. The false title of greatness labeled on him from NBA analysts increase the common distaste for him, as well as the team. After James' four year college trip to South Beach, his contract to rejoin the Cavs was a whopping $47 million for 2 years (Amick). Many believed that the contract was not deserved, especially after leaving the city in the fashion in which he did. The city removed his poster and his ex-fans burned his jersey and he still received a $47 million contract? He is a lucky man! The contracts offered to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were worth $90 million(ESPN) and $110 million (ESPN), respectively. The acquisition of Love only further created a larger divide between the team and NBA fans. The general hatred of the top team in the Eastern Conference due to their success and overload of players lands them as #10 on our Top Hated Teams.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
After traveling two hours south-east, we find ourselves in one of America's most beloved cities, The Steel City. The Pittsburgh Steelers, 6x Super Bowl champions ("Super Bowl 50"), find themselves as the ninth most hated franchise in American sports. We start off our venture through this franchise at the locker room, where the throwback uniforms are located. These hideous, bumble bee-resembling jerseys are absolutely atrocious. In the eyes of other fans, they are humiliating to wear. A basic, yet obvious reasoning for the hatred towards Big Ben and the Steelers may be due to the general boastful attitude their fans carry. The "Terrible Towel," originally created as a means to "energize fans and draw the attention of sponsors" ("Terrible Towel") for a playoff game, soon became a staple component of the team. This same perspective does not carry with fans of the rest of the NFL. To others, the sight of the towel and the outlook of "Steeler Nation" members creates a wide disaster for the squad. Not only does the attitude of fans create hatred for this team, the performance of the some of the players have allowed people to distance themselves from the franchise. James Harrison, one of the league's most hardest hitters, has "racked up $150,000 in fines since 2010" ("James Harrison"). The reasoning for most have been for the dirty plays on the fields, purposely injuring other players on the field. In an era where fans are promoting stricter rules for "on-field conduct," Harrison and other members of the team fail to abide by the rules, making them the ninth most hated team in America.
8. Boston Celtics
From the Steel City to Beantown and the green grass to the hardwood, our eighth most hated team is the Boston Celtics. As the most successful franchise in NBA history, winning 17 championships ("Championships"), a considerable amount of hatred is appropriate to follow. Whether it be in the times of Bill Russel or the former Big 4, the team has always been looked down upon by the rest of the NBA for its natural success. The former Big 4 is the main reason for the general hatred for this team. Although none of the players are still there, the bad taste left by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Ray Allen still exists inside NBA fans. The location of the team does not do any good for the Celtics, for Boston is often not the most favored city. The franchise's success and the city it represents unfairly land this team as one of the most hated in the country.
7. Washington Redskins
From Boston to the DMV, the Washington Redskins are our next stop and the seventh most hated team in America. The Redskins could arguably be the most controversial, drama-filled franchise of all of sports history. We cannot automatically blame this group of men for frequent success, for since 2009 their win-loss record is 41-71. However, we can blame the nightmare they have had at the Quarterback and Head Coach position for the last 16 years. This franchise has started 16 different quarterbacks in 16 years ("Who's the Worst"), one of the worst scenarios in the league. The general hatred of the public has slowly started to reach the own fan base of the team. The more controversial rationale for the common dislike is the name of the team: Redskins. This highly disputed argument has hovered over the franchise for some time now, with each year gaining more momentum to change the name. Many believe that the name is "disparaging to Native Americans" (Bellware), breaching the law that prohibits trademarks that are demeaning. Yet their hard headed owner, Daniel Snyder, refuses to change the name for the perception that the name is "a term of honor and respect" ("Daniel Snyder Defends 'Redskins'"). This arrogant mindset of the negatively popular owner has led him to further disappoint and anger the fans of his team. FedEx Field, located in Landover, Maryland, is about a 30-minute drive, with normal DC traffic, outside of the capital. The inconvenient distance between the city it represents and the actual location has angered its "die hard" fans and local season ticket holders. When plans of moving the stadium to DC surfaced, the Mayor announced that the team could not move to the nation's capital unless they change their name (O'Connell). With Snyder not budging from his spot, the drama series "Washington Redskins" will return in full force in September 2016. The title of the franchise, the glamorous Robert Griffin III, and the overall poor performance of the team has landed it as the seventh most hated team in America.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
From the diamond to the City Of Angels, our next stop is at the Staples Center. To the objective sports fan what is there to hate about the purple and gold of the Lakers? Quite simply, everything. Starting from the time of Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain to the current atrocity of Kobe's team, 16 championships is no fluke. Let's face it, people hate winners. However, it is Lakers' culture that is repulsive to so many. This all starts with the City of Angles attracting marquee free agents to create super teams that defied the traditional building of a sports team; the money follows the success. This was shown in the acquisitions of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaq, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, and many more. Moreover, past the "unfair" wealth of the franchise is the roster itself. From Kobe Bryant's rape charge (Howard) to Lamar Odom "recently accepting 3 years of probation and 3 years of alcohol abuse treatment " (Sperry) , this franchise embodies the athletes-being-terrible-role models stereotype, the kind parents wish their kids wouldn't idolize. Additionally, the attention this team receives from the media is seen as over-bearing and unwarranted especially when the team has failed to make the playoffs the last two seasons. To top it all off, the biggest cheerleaders of the team are the most controversial celebrities ranging from the Kardashians to Jack Nicholson("Top 10 Celebrity Lakers Fans"). "Laker Nation" just seems to rub everyone the wrong way.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
Roll Tide! From professionals to college, our next stop on the hate train is Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This college football dynasty has won 16 national championships including 2 in the past 4 years ("Alabama Football"). But as it with any successful college team, it has had its history in recruiting violations and coach theft. In 2007, coach Nick Saban left the LSU Tigers to coach their most hated rival, 'Bama. This not only sparked national outcry, but forever tainted the reputation of college football's most successful head caoch of the last half century thus creating his destination to be a scapegoat for all of college football issues. Additionally, Alabama is known for not producing NFL ready players, as their system strives for immediate impact and not the long term growth and development of their players--- doesn't sound too "amateur" like, huh? After all, this is still college and Alabama is known for its incredibly pathetic GPA amongst its football players (yikes)! But, most of all the hate stem from one fact: it works. The system works, and year after year 'Bama is the consensus choice to win it all and land the top recruiting class. For haters of Crimson Tide, this means more Alabama championships and more hate.
4. New York Yankees
You knew this one was coming...the boys in pinstripes just ooze an arrogant vibe to every non-New-Yorker. For a while, this team represented the American dream; its legends have served in the Armed Forces ("Military Yankees"), broken and set major records, and single-handedly set baseball as the American pastime. But its recent players have been knee deep in the steroid era of baseball. In 2014, after years of denial 3B Alex Rodriguez was suspended for the entire season for his use of testosterone building steroids (Hagen). But the icing on the cake was his record $275 million contract, which by the way he is getting every cent of. ("Rodriguez"). Normally, this would be a stumble in an otherwise clean record but with MLB's policy of not having a salary cap, Yankees can spend as much as they want for players which is aided by playing in the largest city in the world. Not to mention, the Yankees inspire hate from the fact that they are rivals with just about every competing team in existence.Not only does this cause resentment from the poorer 31 teams in the league, it gives fans a plausible reason to point the finger at the Yanks for not being talented to win anything, just overly rich. Nothing is more bold than not being a credible winner and, with the Yankees being the most successful team in American sports history with 27 rings, that is a hard shadow to escape from. On the bigger picture, the hate for the Yanks stems deeper as many fans associate the decline in baseball's popularity with the Yankees continued controversy, ouch!
3. Duke Blue Devils
Ah, the most juxtaposing entity in all of sports, the Duke University Blue Devils men's basketball team. Never has a team been so dominant, and equally as loathed as these guys. The destain for them comes in two parts: cockiness, and success. It is a known fact that Duke wins, but they like to make sure you know about it. This has been a tradition from the day that Christian Laettener stepped on the torso of Aminu Timberlake after slamming home a dunk. Laettener went to become a member of Team USA at the 1992 Summer Olympics and was featured in an ESPN documentary entitled I Hate Christian Laettener.After being unapologetic about the incident, fans nationwide only knew Duke as the "big,blue bully" (Mandell). This hatred has stayed and even manifested into aggresive accusations that Duke violates academic policies, recruiting codes, and runs a program based on sport and not sportsmanship and growth. Moreover, the success that this team has endured in spite of being the prime target amongst the NCAA is what boils the blood of haters everywhere, it seems as though no adjective is harsh enough and no swear is intense enough for the Blue Devils to fall off of their "false pedestal" (Mandell). The team has won more championships in the past 30 years than any other program. The USA men's basketball team is led by Duke's coach Mike Kryzyzewski ( "Mike Kryzyzewski Bio"), which ticks off fans even more as the most resented man in college athletics leads America on the Olympic level. Fans hate that they cannot penetrate the blue curtain of this empire, and hate even more that Duke's bitter rivals the UNC Tar Heels always come in second to them. This Goliath beating David not so fairytale story absolutely tarnishes Duke's repuatation and brands it as the indestructible bully. Is this a case of fans being sore losers or rightfully upset with a corrupt dynasty? Ask the millions of Duke haters and the latter wins out everytime.
2. Dallas Cowboys
Our second to last stop is at "America's Team" located in the Big D. The Cowboys have captured 5 Super Bowl titles and currently sit as the most valuable sport's franchise in the western hemisphere ("The World's 50 Most Valuable Sports Teams"). As such, this team is under the largest microscope in the sports world. Every signing, draft pick, and game is scrutinized to the max. In addition, the owner is as controversial as they come, the quarterback dated Jessica Simpson, and their roster includes a man convicted of domestic violence, but hey what's to hate, right? Jerry Jones promises year in and out that the Cowboys will be relevant again, but having not reached a Super Bowl since 1995 ("Super Bowl 50") has continually invited mocking and ridicule of the once dominant dynasty. While this team's history is as successful as they come, most notably its off-the-field issues are the bane of its reputation. In 2009, Dallas unveiled the new stomping ground of the Cowboys, an 80,000 seat stadium costing upwards of $1.43 billion in today's currency. To the vast majority, it is a spectacular show of mediocre play. Most teams are rarely allowed to build new stadiums but the Cowboys have the shiniest toy in the NFL, this does not sit well with fans and causes mass hatred. Moreover, the Cowboys hate is the most unique on this list; whether they win or lose, they will be loathed for eternity. Their hate stems from the Texas pride their fans carry as well as the questionable moves they make. In 2014 Dallas signed Greg Hardy, a pro-bowler with a recent domestic violence conviction. Knowing the seriousness of such an offense, giving that man millions of dollars was perhaps the most offensive and degrading act by a sports team in recent memory. But this is not a lone offense by Dallas. Many Cowboys including former receiver Terrell Owens have had run-ins with the law but somehow ended up still picking up checks from Jerry Jones. The combined pathetic win-loss record of the past two decades, the negligence of crimes within the roster, and the vast display of showmanship lands this squad #2 on the most hated American sports teams.
1. New England Patriots
And finally....America's most hated team, located in Fox Borough, four-time Super Bowl champs, the New England Patriots. Perhaps the most appropriate voyage through this franchise would be starting with the smallest factor for the hatred, so let us begin. In Gillette Stadium, an obnoxious, ear drum blowing horn is located on the field to be used on third downs. To say the sound of the blow makes the audience cringe is an understatement; even loyal Pats fans have to hover down and cover their ears for the sound is unbearable (McFeeley). We move on to the 53 man roster, filled with arrogant men, college party mindsets, and at one point a convicted murderer. The face of the franchise, the husband of super model Gisele Bundchen, and the 4x Super Bowl champion ("Tom Brady"), Tom Brady is a key component in the despise of the Patriots. His arrogant fashion, his convictions of cheating, and frankly, his success, has established him as the NFL's "most disliked Quarterback" ("NFL's Most Disliked Quarterback"l). Next, we move on to the massive 6'6" 265 lb tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski is an interesting figure who naturally dominates defensive backs, making it almost impossible to assign a linebacker to guard him. His superior performance smoothly translates and transitions over to the night clubs and parties. Gronkowski knows how to have fun, but also is able to get his work done; unlike another player.....sorry Manziel! Still, the constant social media photographs of him intoxicated does not go over well with the fans of the NFL. Most believe that he is a role model to the younger generations, and he must act in a responsible manner for the sake of the younger population's lives. His dance moves do not seem to impress NFL fans, creating distance between the fans and the Gronk. The third man on the list, at one point Gronk's partner in crime, became a criminal and now sentenced to life behind bars ("Convicted Murderer"). Aaron Hernandez was a former tight end for the Patriots and the 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year. Getting in trouble with the law was nothing new for Hernandez, but the last straw was the murder of Odin Lloyd. In 2013 Aaron Hernandez shot and killed Odin Lloyd and there was no escaping the evidence. In 2015, Hernandez was sentenced to life. As the star tight end in the late 2000s, he carried the weight of the franchise on his shoulders and after his conviction, the team was labeled and looked at with hatred. Rewinding a few months back from the conviction, the Patriots found themselves in the AFC championship game, where they dominated the Colts 7-45. But did they win this fairly? On May 11, 2015, the league hit Brady with a 4 game suspension, for allegedly tampering with the footballs before the game. Although the evidence was pointed at him being at fault, the suspension was uplifted by the federal court. The Pats eventually went on and beat the Seahawks to be crowned Super Bowl champions. The constant controversy that surrounds the franchise with the addition of the out of sorts players has landed the team as the most hated franchise in American sports.
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