OT - Players you used to hate/love, but now they're on your team/rival
So as I sit here watching my Bulls absolutely dominate the Hawks, I was thinking about Joakim Noah. Who I HATED while he was at Florida. I was pissed the Bulls drafted him, thought he sucked... and somehow in year 3 he dragged me in. I like Noah. I like his awful hair, hideousness, and jerk demeanor.
Simmons' classic example of this is Lambier. Someone who I LOATHE as a Bulls fan... but would probably love if he was on my team.
How do you deal with players you hate going to your teams? Are you a Browns fan - did you cheer Brady Quinn when he was drafted even though as M fans we know it's all yackety sax? Can you root for OSU players in the pros? (not that there have been too many great ones recently) Any packers fans out there with AJ Hawk jerseys? I love the Bears and hate the packers, but love Woodson, and am conflicted there.
Who are your biggest conundrums as fans? How do you rationalize the Love/Hate?
Tom Brady. I'm a Dolphins fan, and I'm old enough that I can just barely remember him playing for Michigan. But when I think of him my first reaction is always negative, because of his time in New England.
On the flipside, Brian Hartline. I don't remember hating him specifically per se. But he was a Buckeye, and now he's a very promising young receiver for the Dolphins.
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Brady as a Jets fan. I was a Jets fan waaayyyy before I started cheering on the Maize and Blue. Brady to me means horrible beatdowns and unfulfilled seasons. Ah well, hopefully tides are turning!
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
That reminds me of another one. I absolutely despise Jason Taylor now that he's with the Jets.
I hated Ryan Miller with a passion when he was at MSU. Then I loved him when he was in goal at the '10 Olympics. And now I'm slowly going back to hating him again...until the next Olympics.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
Justin Abdelkader. I didn't particularly hate him at MSU, but he played for MSU so I didn't exactly like him either. But I really like the grittiness he can bring to the Red Wings.
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
I absolutely LOATHE Patrick Kane as a Blackhawk because he just seems like an arrogant douche in the way he plays, but in most part due to the story about him beating the crap out of a cab driver and robbing him because he didn't have 20 cents of change. But last year in the Olympics, he was one of my favorite players to watch for Team USA along with Ryan Miller, and I actually found myself excited and rooting for him when he was on the ice.
He's back to being a douche now though.
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:15 AM ^
I remember reading about Kane before he was even drafted and how he had a chance to be the first American taken first overall in quite a few years. Then he went to the Blackhawks who I can't stand so I hated him on principle. Then I loved him in the Olympics (yeah he's not a Wing but gotta show some pride for the nation) and I pick him up whenever I can in NHL 11 dynasties.
I am a die-hard Barcelona fan... when Spain plays international games I detest having to root for Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos. I often wish that Carles Puyol would sucker-punch Ramos mid-game.
Also, I loathe everything about Brek Shea. I think hes the worst soccer player ever, and I'm forced to hope he does things well when he gets minutes for the Us National Team.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
Aww fuck yes a "Brek Shea is overrated" reference. That guy's been around for what seems like a decade and he's still only like 23 years old. He hasn't gotten any better either.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^
I have literally never heard of any of these people.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^
I remember the announcers in FIFA 2011 joyously shouting their names, but I couldn't tell you any of their career stats or what position they play if it isn't striker.
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
How do you become a diehard fan of a team overseas? Are you as passionate about them as you are about a U.S. team?
I studied abroad in France, and my host family were Paris Saint-Germain fans, so I sort of adopted them as a team. But I feel way too removed from that whole context to ever become a serious fan.
It starts out as normal fandom. You love the sport, you played it yourself, but you don't really have a strong affiliation with a specific team. Then something happens.
You probably have to be present. You have to go to games. Maybe you're sitting for 10 minutes holding your head after Kordell Stewart throws a hail mary to Westbrook your freshman year. Maybe a guy called Mercury catches a last minute pass to win a game you thought was lost in a season opener against Virginia. This makes you a fan for life.
The next step is what makes you a diehard. It goes beyond a few thrills and some excitement. It's about the magic that happens that one season when everything falls into place. Let's say this happens your senior year. When a team you had expected to be mediocre surprises everyone and a superstar emerges. The son of an NFL legend starts throwing to an ex-QB playing tight end crossing over the middle and you know it's always good for 15 yards. The running backs burst through gaping holes. Your superstar makes one spectacular play after another. Your team demolishes the #1 team in the nation on the road and you're part of the crowd that storms South U and enters the University president's house to watch the heartbreaking end of a rival's game. You watch the last game of the regular season where your #1 rival is outplayed and outclassed in a power struggle and you storm the field with the rest of the student body. The team you expected to be mediocre becomes national champions. Its superstar wins the Heisman as the only defensive player ever. Your memories last you a lifetime.
This is one way one becomes a diehard fan of a team overseas.
Are you Norwegian? Or are you an American who moved to Norway? If it's the latter, that's a little different. If I were to move overseas, I wouldn't stop being a Michigan fan, but that's because I grew up and went to school here. I'm curious about people who adopt a team from far away for no obvious geographical/family reason and become diehards.
Born and raised. Spent 7 years in the US, but moved back home in 2000.
Chris Chelios was a big one for me. I hated (and still do) the Blackhawks. Chris Chelios was a major reason why. When the Wings aquired him, I wanted him to just go away. I had a hard time cheering for him at first. I learned to love the way he played and became one of my favorite Wings. I will think of him as a Wing and not a Hawk.
Who won the Stanley cup last year? Aw that's right sucka!
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
The four cup rings the Wings have won since 97 must be blocking my ears.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
I'd like to say "BOOM: Roy'd" but I hate Roy. I suppose this post fits the thread.
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
see ya next time in another 50 years or whatever it was. hope you dvr'd that stanley cup series! also.. tainted cup since you didn't even go through the red wings :P
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
So are the Blackhawks even going to make the playoffs this year, or what?
Salary capped
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
That's exactly the person I searched for when I saw this thread.
It's weird for me since the years when the Chelios Hawks were worth hating, I was at that age where you just love superstars -- we were big fans of Ken Griffey Jr., and the Big Hurt, and Messier, et al. too. So I just knew Chelios was another superstar. I was too young for his Montreal term, and by the time my Wings homerism had solidified and I started getting a feel for names around the league, the Red Wings were the Russian Five and former Blackhawks (Belfour, Hasek, Roenick) going off to play for different teams, and half of the Finals team from the early 90s was retired or on a different roster.
Like I still have a hard time thinking of Larmer as anything but a Ranger.
I was 18 when the Red Wings traded for Chelios, and I remember all the adults were apoplectic and I was like "dude, sweet" because if you added Chelios to that (EA Sports) NHL'99 roster you were just unfair. That Chicago got basically nothing (they frittered away both draft picks and Anders Ericksson turned out to be useless) out of the deal while Detroit got as many years from Cheli as the Hawks (plus a Chili Bar and a weekly radio show).
But yeah, if you're a couple of years older than me, or just got into hockey first instead of baseball and college football, Cheli's probably the exempli gratia for this sort of thing.
When Santonio Holmes was on the Steelers it was tough at first but I got over it pretty quick. That catch in the super bowl made it even easier. When the Rooneys kicked him off the team for doing stupid shit and then tweeting even more stupid shit about what he had done, it was also very easy to hate him for the Buckeye that he is.
Even though I admired his passion and intensity, I hated Tyler Hansbrough when he was at UNC. I also disliked the Pacers drafting him.... turns out he's playing well now, AND my admiration has turned into a love for his level of play. He's a more athletic Jeff Foster with a nice offensive touch.
Brandon Graham. I hate the Eagles
You belong in Bolivia for even thinking this.
I feel like Brandon Graham should make you love the Eagles, rather than the Eagles make you hate Brandon Graham.
/s
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
but for me its Donavan Mcnabb. I hated him in college I lothed him with the Eagles well actually I still hate him so never mind.
this may be crossing the line, but I LOATHED Hawk while he was at Ohio St. and his first two yrs in Green Bay....just didn't think he was 5th pick material, and while he still isn't dominant, the guys just.does.not. make a mistake and is content to sit in the shadows while guys like woodson, matthews, etc get the spotlight, plus is willing to take a paycut to stay in GB...he's a true packer and I respect the heck out of him now....
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
Hawk took less money because even if he went somewhere else thats what he was going to be making. He is very smart by staying instead of getting pissed and leaving. but I agree with you that he was a waste of a #5 pick.
been on a team I like (the wings). But i can't stand the guy.
Ryan Getzlaf and Pronger are the two people in sports i wish got hit by a car. Also I live with Hawks fans as roomates and they really don't like the wings and they always ask me why i don't hate the hawks i said, "well the hawks are like the red wings little brother."
FML.
From the way-back machine, let me throw out the name of Chris Spielman. I'm not old enough to remember him as a Buckeye, but he is one of my all-time favorite Lions.
I've actually always respected Stanton. The JLS teams at Michigan State are generally hated by MSU fans today, but the type of person recruited in the Smith years contrasts positively with the Saban and Dantonio ruffians. Stanton's a total Sparty, but he's also always been a pretty class act, the mortal opposite of (Saban recruit) Jeff Smoker. Stanton also played Michigan a lot tougher -- if he didn't go down in '04, we probably remember an embarrassing tidewater moment instead of Braylonfest.
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
"Class act" might be a bit much for a guy who always called us "University of Puke."
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
Fair point. I didn't say he's intelligent (or else why go to State? zing!)
I do a bit of work in the Metro Detroit community and Stanton's one of the athletes whose presence is more than the normal cursory show-up-for-the-cameras. As a college kid I didn't pay too much attention to him other than watching him play (which was fun in Tate kind of way), and watching him discover various ways of heartbreakingly losing to Michigan.
That quote (which he reports is a family tradition) is reason enough for me to pull against Stanton. He was quoted on this when he was plenty old enough to know better, and I love the fact that he went winless against Michigan, both as an understudy to Jeff Smoker and in the leading role. Absolutely classless, and emblematic of a lot of State fans. (I'm well aware there are douchey Michigan fans too, but that's another topic.)
What kind of family refers to any school as the University of Puke? Let alone a leading academic institution? His kind of family.
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
Spielman was my first thought. I'm too young to really remember him as a buckeye, and he was one of my favorite Lions as a kid. He's not a bad broadcaster either.
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
As a Lions fan, I can vouch for the man: he was everything you would want in a Wolverine defensive player. And, therefore, he is the exception that proves the rule.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
I'll second/third/whatever the pick of Spielman. In college he seemed like one of those OSU linebackers that always have their best game (double figures in tackles, etc.) against Michigan.
I liked him as a Lion *and* in the booth (where he doesn't seemed compelled to babble after every play, unlike most color guys). Seems to know his stuff ...
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
If Ernie Harwell was still alive, I feel like he would slap the shit out of half of today's announcers. He proved that it is okay to allow for 5 seconds of silence when there is nothing to say... and he did that on the radio. Our screen has moving pictures, guys, so shut the hell up sometimes.
/rant
It isn't like announcers have gotten remarkably worse since Ernie died, as he passed only a short time ago.
Furthermore, Ernie Harwell was a badass for not being at all a badass. He was a man small in stature, extremely friendly. He wrote poetry. He cried. Ernie Harwell would never slap anyone. He wouldn't even go so far to tell today's announcers how bad they suck. He would probably give them respect. I doubt Ernie thought he was as great as we all know he was, so I doubt he would feel he could "school" todays announcers.
The only way today's announcers can improve is by looking at how much everyone loved Ernie, listening to his old broadcasts, and studying his life.
/counterrant
Spielman showed himself to be a class act both in the booth and as an overachieving Lion. And the way he handled his wife's illness and tragic death was inspirational.
Spielman, Jesse Owens and Jack Nicklaus are all in that limited sphere of ex-Buckeye athletes I admire.
Sheed. Definitely Sheed. I think in Detroit we saw a better side of Sheed than Jail Blazer Sheed. Also, Chris Spielman, but in reverse. Spielman was drafted before I was old enough to put two and two together about where NFL players came from, so he was "always" on the Lions as far as my young Lions fan self was concerned, and it wasn't til a while later I learned where he'd played his college ball.
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
Sheed was immediately the one I was thinking of. I didn't even want the Pistons to trade for him in 2004 because I thought he'd be a cancer, but once he was on the team I loved the guy.
One quasi-candidate: Greg Kelser. I've never actually hated him, but I probably would have hated seeing him play when he was at MSU. He's one of my favorite analysts.
I have an AJ Hawk jersey as a Packers fan. I expected much more from him, but he's played a very nice role on that defense. I like to think he never graduated from that school down south.
As a Cleveland Cavs season ticket holder for the past 12 years I'm pretty sure the board can guess who i'd put on the top of my list........
March 22nd, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
It's ok, a lot of people hate Mo Williams.
On a less snarky note, this could also be Carlos Boozer. He left in a quite controversial manner and now plays for a hated division rival.