Here's the List and the details for each list member:
- Barry Bonds: Never a fan favorite because of his rudeness with the media, Bonds' image has suffered in recent years because of the allegations -- and physical appearance -- that he used steroids. His pursuit of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record has brought on even more antipathy from those who feel Bonds is not worthy of taking over the title of Home Run King.
- Michael Vick: No matter the resolution of the legal case, Vick's reputation has been sullied by his alleged connection to the ugly underworld of dogfighting.
- Floyd Landis: Whether or not fans in America believe his claims of innocence, Landis is viewed as a villain by many in the cycling community, mainly overseas, after an unusual level of testosterone was revealed during his Tour de France victory in 2006.
- Kobe Bryant: Whether or not fans in America believe his claims of innocence, Landis is viewed as a villain by many in the cycling community, mainly overseas, after an unusual level of testosterone was revealed during his Tour de France victory in 2006.
- Terrell Owens: Owens' 10-year NFL career has been defined by a series of incidents: he has demanded trades, insulted his quarterbacks (even suggesting one was homosexual), and engaged in controversial and public contract disputes, all the while claiming he has been unfairly portrayed.
- Floyd Mayweather: Considered by some to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Mayweather has failed to endear himself to fans through a series of controversies inside and outside the boxing ring.
- Ron Artest: Artest's pattern of unruly and unusual behavior came to a head when he was the central figure in the 2004 Pacers-Pistons brawl in Detroit, jumping into the stands to confront a man he incorrectly believed to be responsible for throwing a cup of beer at players on the court.
- Zinedane Zidane: The merits of his behavior were debated long after the 2006 World Cup had concluded, but Zidane's headbutting of an Italian defender in extra time of the final will be the lasting image of the game's greatest player on its biggest stage.
- Isiah Thomas: Thomas feuded with the ever-popular Michael Jordan during their playing careers, but he has become even more unpopular in his role as a basketball executive, causing so much distaste from Knicks fans that several Web sites have been dedicated to getting him fired.
- Bob Knight: Adored by some, but hated by most, Knight has rubbed many the wrong way with his brash, old-school style of tough-love coaching.
- Al Davis: The George Steinbrenner of football -- or perhaps it's the other way around -- Davis has been a source of controversy throughout his tenure as the Raiders' owner, most notably with his moving the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles and back again in the span of 15 years.
- Scott Boras: Boras has endeared himself to players by winning them huge contracts, but his hardball negotiating tactics have made him an enemy of team executives and fans alike.
Alright, here's the hard hitting analysis that you've come to expect from StandardChuck...I agree with the selections of Bonds, TO, Kobe, and Artest. Bonds is the most reviled baseball player in my lifetime, TO has been entertaining but an extremely effective heel (wrestling term for bad guy), Kobe is a PR nightmare, and Ron Artest is a hyperviolent alien.
There are some choices that I'm on the fence about: Scott Boras is hated by baseball executives, but the general public could give a flying flip about agents (no one cared about Arli$$, and no one cares about Scott Boras). Yes, agents are lumped together with insurance salesmen and lawyers as slimy professionals, but that queasiness isn't really a villainous quality. Bob Knight may be intense, violent, and insane, but that also describes John "I'll Kill You" Chaney or Woody "Punchy" Hayes...and they can't hold a candle to Mark "Bean the Autistic Kid" Downs for sheer evilness. Come on, Knight was a little grabby and loved throwing furniture, but that doesn't make him on of the greatest villains in sports. How about that Floyd Landis? Who even cares about cycling? I think in order to be one of the greatest, you have to be involved in a sport that has some relevance.
Alright, now the choices that I absolutely disagree with.
2. Michael Vick: he hasn't been convicted of anything. Have we forgotten the lesson of the Duke lacrosse debacle? Let jurisprudence run its course before you crucify the guy. Before the dog fighting allegations, Vick was beloved for his video game skills (skills that make him the ultimate Madden quarterback) as well as electrifying presence: I've watched Falcons games, not because I cared about the score, but because I was sure something amazing was going to happen. Instead, why not put in someone who was actually convicted like Mike Tyson or PacMan "Make it Rain" Jones? How about someone banned from the baseball...Pete Rose?
Where would you place his brother Marcus in the evil villain list?
6. Floyd Mayweather : Sure, I can use the argument about the relevance of the sport, as boxing continues its slow death. However, I object to his characterization as a villain just because he hasn't endeared himself to fans. A villain is reviled by fans...he has to elicit a reaction in order to be a villain...otherwise he's just irrelevant. Mayweather has the talent and he's back it up. He's just not popular, mostly because boxing does not attract the mainstream fan anymore as well as his hiccups with minor scandals. The thing is, you can't be a villain if no one cares, and the simple fact is that Floyd will not be appreciated, good or bad. He might be an automatic lock for the Greatest Sports Figures Who Really Isn't Noticed, but Is That a Bad Thing? list, but villain is surely is not. For famous boxing villains, why not Don King? Heck, why not Clubber Lang?
8. Zinedine Zidane: come on. Seriously? The dude headbutted a schmuck, and suddenly he's one of sports greatest villains? That's laughable compared to real insanity, like Artest's melee with Detroit. What about Kermit Washington's infamous punch of Rudy T? That had serious repercussions to Washington as a player, race relations in the United States, and NBA player policies...Zidane headbutted a guy, got YouTubed up the wazoo, and then retired! What about Todd Bertuzzi stick attack on Steve Moore? How about every single Miami Hurricanes' player during that disgusting fight? History has so many serious altercations between players that the Zidane head butt (and the subsequent rolling around by Materazzi, who by the way has profited off of the head butt receipt, like the whore that he is) just doesn't register.
9. Isiah Thomas: if incompetence is a mark of being a villain (as most bad guys in movies do stupid things that end up leading to their downfalls, like monologuing), then you'd have to add way too many individuals to the list for much more egregious actions. Let's compare Thomas to compadres in his own league...bone headed moves from the NBA include the draft day debacle of the Bucks trading away Dirk Nowitzki for Robert "Tractor" Traylor! What about taking Kwame Brown number 1 (thanks MJ!)? Who could forget the dunderheaded play of trading for Vlade "Floppy" Divacs for a young man by the name of Kobe Bryant (we're talking young future Jordan Kobe, not Colorado hanky panky, trade me flip flop Kobe). There have been so many bad moves in the NBA and horrible GMs (Raptors GMs, I'm looking at you!) that you just can't blame Isiah.
Non-NBA: How about Grady Little leaving Pedro in the game? How about the front office guys who made the trade for Glen Davis (Baltimore). How about trading away Jeff Bagwell (Red Sox), Lou Brock (Cubs), or Babe Ruth for cash (Red Sox)? That's just baseball. The NFL has the infamous Hershel Walker to Minnesota trade or the John Elway "I won't play for Baltimore" give away (of course, look how the same ploy performed by Eli kinda hurt the Giants and helped the Chargers). Hockey...who cares?
Anyway, what I'm saying, Isiah isn't that bad...and the supporting argument that there are websites calling for Isiah's firing...do a search for any coach with the word "fire" and you'll find a site. Fire Tony Dungy exists, come on people!
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In conclusion, I think that this short-sighted list generates debate (positive) but fails in accuracy. Debate amongst yourselves.
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