😠Most Hated Athletes of All Time

Lance Armstrong▲ Rising

Armstrong dominated cycling with seven Tour de France wins before a doping confession stripped every title. The betrayal of fans who bought his cancer-survivor narrative cemented lasting fury.

Sport: CyclingPeak Era: 1999-2005Hate Rating: 9.8/10Major Scandals: 3Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRLance Armstrong

Michael Vick▲ Rising

Vick's dog-fighting ring conviction and graphic details of animal cruelty triggered nationwide outrage that followed his return to the NFL.

Sport: FootballPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 9/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRMichael Vick

Diego Maradona▲ Rising

Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal and later drug issues polarized fans between genius and cheat.

Sport: SoccerPeak Era: 1980sHate Rating: 7.9/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 6 rankingsDiego Maradona

Tiger Woods

Woods' perfect image collapsed with a 2009 scandal involving multiple affairs and a car crash.

Sport: GolfPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 7.5/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 7 rankingsTiger Woods

Pete Rose▲ Rising

Rose's all-time hits record stands but betting on his own team ended his Hall of Fame chances and created decades of debate over integrity.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1960s-1980sHate Rating: 8.7/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: —

added by IJRPete Rose

Barry Bonds▲ Rising

Bonds broke the home-run record amid clear evidence of performance-enhancing drugs that transformed his physique late in his career. Fans split between stats worship and steroid disgust.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1990s-2000sHate Rating: 9.2/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 8 rankingsBarry Bonds

Tonya Harding▲ Rising

Harding's involvement in the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan defined her as the villain of 1990s figure skating.

Sport: Figure SkatingPeak Era: 1990sHate Rating: 8.8/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRTonya Harding

Jose Canseco▲ Rising

Canseco's tell-all book named names in baseball's steroid era and made him a pariah.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1980s-1990sHate Rating: 7.8/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRJose Canseco

Ryan Lochte▲ Rising

Lochte's fabricated robbery story at the 2016 Olympics turned him into a symbol of entitled athlete behavior.

Sport: SwimmingPeak Era: 2010sHate Rating: 8.3/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 4 rankingsRyan Lochte

Alex Rodriguez▲ Rising

A-Rod's multiple PED suspensions and record contract made him the face of baseball's steroid era excess.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 2000s-2010sHate Rating: 8.5/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 4 rankingsAlex Rodriguez

Ben Johnson

Johnson's stripped 1988 Olympic gold exposed the dark side of sprinting's steroid era.

Sport: Track & FieldPeak Era: 1980sHate Rating: 8.1/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 2 rankingsBen Johnson

Mike Tyson

Tyson's ear-biting incident and multiple legal troubles turned him from champion to cautionary tale.

Sport: BoxingPeak Era: 1980s-1990sHate Rating: 7.6/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 8 rankingsMike Tyson

Allen Iverson

Iverson's practice rant and legal troubles made him a lightning rod for NBA attitude debates.

Sport: BasketballPeak Era: 1990s-2000sHate Rating: 6.8/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 6 rankingsAllen Iverson

Rafael Palmeiro

Palmeiro's finger-wagging denial before Congress followed by a positive steroid test made him baseball's ultimate hypocrite.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1990s-2000sHate Rating: 8/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 3 rankingsRafael Palmeiro

Plaxico Burress

Burress accidentally shot himself in a nightclub, ending his Giants career and drawing league-wide scorn.

Sport: FootballPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 7.2/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRPlaxico Burress

Dwight Gooden

Gooden's early dominance gave way to repeated drug suspensions that wasted his Hall of Fame talent.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1980sHate Rating: 6.9/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: —

added by IJRDwight Gooden

Manny Ramirez▲ Rising

Manny's PED suspensions and odd behavior overshadowed his hitting genius.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1990s-2000sHate Rating: 7.3/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 3 rankingsManny Ramirez

Dennis Rodman

Rodman's cross-dressing and constant antics overshadowed his defensive greatness.

Sport: BasketballPeak Era: 1990sHate Rating: 6.7/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 6 rankingsDennis Rodman

Ricky Williams

Williams' marijuana suspensions and abrupt retirements frustrated fans and teams.

Sport: FootballPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 6.3/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 3 rankingsRicky Williams

Vince Coleman

Coleman's firecracker incident injuring fans destroyed his rising star status.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1980s-1990sHate Rating: 7.4/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRVince Coleman

Milton Bradley

Bradley's explosive temper and umpire confrontations defined his journeyman career.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 7.1/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRMilton Bradley

Terrell Owens

Owens' constant drama and team feuds made him the NFL's most divisive receiver.

Sport: FootballPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 7/10Major Scandals: 2Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRin 5 rankingsTerrell Owens

Floyd Landis

Landis won the Tour de France then lost the title to a massive testosterone positive, becoming another Armstrong-era villain.

Sport: CyclingPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 7.7/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRFloyd Landis

Carl Lewis

Lewis' perceived arrogance and relay controversies earned him early career hatred.

Sport: Track & FieldPeak Era: 1980s-1990sHate Rating: 6.2/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 6 rankingsCarl Lewis

Serena Williams

Williams' on-court outbursts and US Open controversies fueled debates over sportsmanship.

Sport: TennisPeak Era: 2000s-2010sHate Rating: 6.5/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: —

added by IJRin 11 rankingsSerena Williams

John Rocker▼ Falling

Rocker's racist and homophobic rant in Sports Illustrated made him an instant pariah.

Sport: BaseballPeak Era: 1990sHate Rating: 8.4/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: ✓

added by IJRJohn Rocker

Bode Miller▼ Falling

Miller's brash interviews and Olympic underperformance drew American fan ire.

Sport: SkiingPeak Era: 2000sHate Rating: 6.4/10Major Scandals: 1Still Hated?: —

added by IJRBode Miller