Don’t Hate The Game, Hate The Player: The Most Hated Athletes Of All Time

“You don’t have to love me. You don’t even have to like me, but you will respect me,” said Portuguese football manager Jose Mourinho. Many athletes have egos and personalities that are larger than life. This is why their fans love them, but also why others find them absolutely obnoxious. Here’s a list of professional athletes that are notoriously hated.

The sixth person just might be the most polarizing figure sports has ever seen.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has the best professional record any boxer has ever obtained in the history of the sport. Mayweather has made Forbes’ Highest Paid Athletes List four times in recent years and was ranked #1 twice. Still, he is one of the most despised athletes ever. His showboat personality plays a huge part in that. One time, someone filmed his training session as he punched a speedball with one hand, with a stack of cash in the other hand. In 2002 he was charged with domestic violence and in 2004 he was ordered to attend counseling after being convicted of two counts of misdemeanor battery against two women. Overall, many people have Mayweather on their dislike list.