Why Are These Men Misunderstood By The Public?

There is no doubt that some athletes walk a fine line between love and hate. Others are simply a question mark to fans and foes alike. Let's look at some of the people in sports  over the past decade who have caused headaches for opponents, as well as their teammates.

Ricky Williams—This running back was a ball of fire at Texas. Some people said he was the equal of Earl Campbell. After gonig into professional football his career dissolved into one of the strangest performances of alltime. Did the wild scenario concerning Saints Coach Mike Ditka trading so much for his draft rights put pressure upon him that he could not live up to? Was it a curse of greatness from which he's merely tried to escape?

Barry Bonds—The alltime MLB home run king and astonishing leader when it comes to taking walks and getting on base. He has been villified from each corner of the nation. Why? Is it his personality? The alleged help from performance enhancers? The fact that the Giants have been judged as a franchise that went from the greatest in baseball 100 years ago to a team that has never won the World Series since they left New York? This situation could be the worst of all worlds from some fans' viewpoint.

Kobe Bryant—How can any objective observer look at this great NBA player's statistics and not be a fan of his performance on the court? Is it an issue of what side you are on in his war with former teammate Shaquille O'Neil? Could it be something darker, perhaps the situation with a young woman in a Colorado hotel? Is his personality, based upon being raised in Europe, just too odd to develop the fan base that other great NBA players have cultivated?

Jeff Gordon—He is a premier race car driver who may end up being the second winningest driver of all-time in NASCAR. His ability to defeat legendary icons of the sport like Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip early in his career are balanced by his consistent championship runs through the past decade. Yet he is booed mercilessly when introduced and regarded with such negative comments by fans that they can't be repeated here.

Dennis Franchione—The former football coach at Alabama and Texas A&M, along with stops at New Mexico and TCU, can raise the ire of any fan whose path he has crossed. What in the world is so bad about the man? Does the fact that he left Alabama before they got around to firing him mean he did something wrong? Coach Fran was always one step ahead and that's why he moved up the ladder so quickly. That and the fact that he did have success during his journeys. Who knows?