Miami Heat and the Most-Hated Teams of All Time

The Miami Heat are just the latest example of a team which a major portion of an entire sport's fan base has united in order to cheer against.  You know, the type of team which you root more passionately against even more than you root for your own favorite team? 

Hate: to feel intense or passionate dislike for.

Hate is a strong word.  What does a team have to do in order to become hated?  Some teams are hated just because they win, but others are hated because of how they win.  

The teams on this list aren't just annoying.  They're not just disliked either.  These are the most hated teams of all-time.

20. Boston Red Sox

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK - APRIL 16: Manny Ramirez #24 and David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after scoring against the New York Yankees on April 16, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won the game 15-9. (Photo by Jim M

OK, I said in the intro that the teams on this list weren’t annoying.  Well, when you step over that invisible line, annoyance can turn into hatred.  Nobody whines more in baseball than the Boston Red Sox.

For the longest time, they complained about people continuing to bring up The Curse of the Bambino even though it’s pretty hard to ignore a streak that lasted for 86 years. 

Add to that all the griping about the New York Yankees payroll even though the Sox have the second-highest in the majors.  I guess you can’t forget about their Syringe Twins in Big Papi and the loveable Manny Ramirez.

19. Michigan Wolverines

Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

2 MAR 1994: A CANDID PORTRAIT OF MICHIGAN GUARD JALEN ROSE ON THE COURT DURING A 71-58 LOSS TO WISCONSIN. Mandatory Credit: Todd Rosenberg/ALLSPORT

Being the most-winning program in NCAA history, the Michigan football program definitely has its haters.  While the football team is just hated as a whole, the basketball team isn’t nearly as much. 

Pointing to a specific era, though, the Fab Five can hold its own with the football team.

If you watched the documentary, you know what I'm talking about: the baggy shorts, the black shoes, the swagger. They were different.  Teams with “swagger” aren’t usually accepted with open arms and that’s exactly what the Wolverines had. 

Jalen Rose sure didn’t change any Fab Five hater’s minds by saying in the documentary that Duke only recruited “Uncle Toms."

18. Detroit Red Wings

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 4: A young Detroit Red Wings fan cheers his team on in the second period against the San Jose Sharks in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 4, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, M

Detroit calling itself “Hockeytown” sure doesn’t sit well with other dedicated fan bases.  While we’re talking about fan bases, the Red Wings fan base may just be hated as much as the team itself.  They are also a team quick to break the bank on free agents time after time.

As you can imagine, their winning has a lot to do with the hate as well.  They’ve won 11 Stanley Cup titles, the most out of any American NHL team.  They’ve also been to the playoffs every season in the last 20 years.

17. Boston Celtics

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON - APRIL 27: Kevin Garnett #5 and Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics head for the bench during a time out against the Miami Heat during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA playoffs at the TD Garden on April 27, 2010

Hey, I’d trade winning eight-straight league championships, 11 out of 13, to be one of the most-hated teams in the world of sports.  I think Boston fans gloating about what happened over 40 years ago may get opposing fans a little more riled up than just about the fact they won, though.  They didn’t have the most likeable players over the years, either.

It’s hard to hate Bill Russell, but Larry Bird could chirp with the best of them.  It was easy for opposing fans to target cheap-shot artist Kevin McHale and Danny "Where’s-The-Off-Button" Ainge.  Now, of course, fans can comfortably root against Paul Pierce, who is so overconfident it’s sickening, and Kevin Garnett, who called Charlie Villanueva a cancer patient.

16. USC Trojans

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 16: Runningback Reggie Bush and quarterback Matt Leinart of the USC Trojans pose for a portrait during a USC team practice on the USC campus on August 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo By Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

They’re one of the winningest college football teams ever, but their recent history gets them on the list.  Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart are one of the most talented and hated quarterback-running back duos in college football history.  It felt great for USC haters to see them not live up to expectations at the next level.

Now their 2004 BCS title has been stripped because Bush received improper benefits.  Who knows how many players the Trojans paid to play there?  To top it all off, their head football coach is now Lane Kiffin.

15. UNLV Runnin' Rebels

Ken Levine/Getty Images

1989-1990: Head coach Jerry Tarkanian of the UNLV Rebels watches his team in action. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport

Can you say: violation?  This entry is era specific to the Jerry Tarkanian years.  UNLV broke more rules than USC and Ohio State combined.  The whole deal with Richard Perry didn’t help either: gambler convicted twice of bribery, possible connections to the mafia, a Perry-encouraged UNLV recruit caught buying crack. Not good stuff.

And again, no swag allowed.  The Runnin’ Rebels bravado-style of play wasn’t accepted too well by the public.  UNLV would run up the score and then they would tell you about it.

14. New York Knicks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

6 Dec 1995: Guard John Starks of the New York Knicks tries to guard guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won the game 101-94. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allspo

It’s easy to hate any team in New York.  They're in the biggest market in the world so they’re always going to get the most attention.  NYC calls itself “The Mecca of Basketball” even though it has only won two NBA titles and hasn’t won one since 1973.

The 90s Knicks were the most hated.  John Starks and company turned hand checking into an art.  A lot of their front office hasn’t been the most likable people either: Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas…Spike Lee if you want to count him.

13. Oakland Raiders

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

26 Nov 2000: Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, watches the action during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders defeated the Falcons 41-14.Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /A

On NFL Network’s list of team feuds, it wasn’t the Raiders versus the Chiefs or Broncos at the top of the list.  It was the Oakland Raiders versus the World.  Only a handful of owners are the face of the franchise, and “Godfather” Al Davis is one of them.

It’s kind of hard to hate a team that hasn’t won in years, but Davis makes it easy.  The peak of their criticism was back in the 70s when they were good, with  Jack Tatum and George Atkinson. Steelers coach Chuck Noll called them the “criminal element” of the league.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthe

Calling yourself The Ohio State University definitely doesn’t come with the label “humble."  The Buckeyes have all that entitlement even though they’ve won one national title since the 60s.  Even that one championship was handed to them by the referees on a phantom pass-interference call.

Some of their recent characters haven’t helped the school’s cause either.  Maurice Clarett going in and out of prison, now Terrelle Pryor and his who knows how many cars.  With the violations that could be in their future, it looks like the Sweater Vest got out just in time.

11. Detroit Pistons

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

1989: Center Bill Laimbeer of the Detroit Pistons looks on. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

The Pistons aren’t that hated nowadays. They’re too pitiful to hate.  Back in the day, though, they were at the top of everyone’s hate list.  The Bad Boys of the 80s made football a year-round sport in Detroit.

Bill Laimbeer would take your head off and then cry about the call.  Dennis Rodman, Isiah Thomas and Rick Mahorn were also big parts of that Bad Boys persona.  Even more recently, any team with Rasheed Wallace on it is going to be hated.

10. Los Angeles Lakers

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 04: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives on DeShawn Stevenson #92 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 4, 2011 in

If you look up the term “bandwagon” in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Jerry West, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant.  There’s no doubt LA has more bandwagon fans than any other team, except for maybe the Yankees.  Of course, it’s hard not to love the purple and gold.

You know, they got the always media-friendly teddy bear named Kobe Bryant.  The last few years, Hollywood has turned into Hollyhood thanks to Ron Artest and Tatt Barnes.  And all that winning: the most wins of all-time and 16 NBA championships, where no one besides the Celtics even comes within 10 rings.

9. Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are the most hated team in the entire NHL.  If you were going to pinpoint a specific era, though, it would have to be the Broad Street Bullies of the 70s. That team took physicality to a whole new level.

From Bobby Clarke to Dave Schultz, virtually every player on that team wasn’t afraid to throw a punch.  Don’t feel bad Raiders, the Flyers were called evil too.  Outside of that era, Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom weren’t really the most beloved group of guys as well.

8. Miami Hurricanes

Mike Powell/Getty Images

2 Sep 1995: Linebacker Ray Lewis of the Miami Hurricanes during the Hurricanes 31-8 loss to the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport

Miami is kind of like Ohio State with their cocky name, except they take it a step further.  Instead of The Miami University, it’s just The U.  Yeah, they are thee university.

Era speaking, the whole Thug U label of the 80s and 90s sure didn’t help win over any of the older generation.  The trash talk before games, the celebrations during, and the arrests after, Miami’s been clean for years, but may never live down its criminal reputation.

7. Duke Blue Devils

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 20: Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts while taking on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the third round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2011 in Charl

OK, maybe more people agreed with Jalen Rose about Duke than I originally led on.  Duke isn’t exactly known for recruiting the inner city.  I’d love to see how long Kyle Singler could last in a pickup game at Rucker Park.

All the faces you love to hate: Singler, J.J. Redick, all the way back to Christian Laettener.  Mike Krzyzewski’s complaining is almost as annoying as his last name and how about them Cameron Crazies?  Plus, you just can’t be good at athletics and academics.

6. Miami Heat

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 09: Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat look on in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 9, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User ex

Once upon a time, everyone loved Dwyane Wade and rooted for his team because he was the best “good guy” superstar in the league.  All of a sudden, "The Decision" happened and everything changed.  Wade’s rep hasn’t suffered that much. But the Heat bandwagon fans would prefer to call him Pippen, Chris Bosh is now apparently the softest thing since Charmin Ultra, and LeBron James gets attacked like he’s the Antichrist.

Like good old Charles Barkley said in an interview with Jim Rome, it’s not what they did, it’s how they did it.  “Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven.”  When you guarantee eight championships, you didn’t paint a bulls-eye on your back; you put one on your heart.

5. New England Patriots

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England speak to Head Coach Bill Belichick against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL game on October 24, 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty

Bill Belichick should write a book: “How to Go from Being the Story of the Year to the Most Hated Team in the NFL.” 

In their first Super Bowl, it was nice to see the Patriots win after 9/11.  After that, though, if you cheered for that stuck up, preppy quarterback and that unsportsmanlike coach, you were either in Boston or you were alone.

The whole Spygate thing didn’t help either, that’s for sure.  Shady Brady and Bill Belicheat, thank you Ryan Parker.  And then for them to go undefeated after that, the New York Giants practically became the heroes of the human race after their Super Bowl upset.  

4. Manchester United

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

ROME, ITALY - MAY 27: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Barcelona and Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27, 2009 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

If Manchester United is known as the Yankees of soccer, then you know they’re hated.  Well, they aren’t just called the Yankees of soccer because they’re hated.  They sold Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 for a record 80 million euros to add to their bank account.

They’ve won like the Yanks, too.  Man U has won a record 19 English League titles.  Ronaldo and past stars like David Beckham don’t exactly have the greatest reputations either.

3. Dallas Cowboys

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys attends the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Tom Landry believed the Cowboys nickname “America’s Team” would motivate their opponents.  Well, he was right.  Jerry Jones is another one of those owners who is the face of his franchise and you love to see him lose.

You can’t tell me you didn’t smile when the he spent $1.3 billion on a new stadium that included a high-definition television screen bigger than your house just to have a shot at hosting a Super Bowl. Then Dallas did host the big game, and then went 6-10 in the regular season. 

Having Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders on the same team in the 90s definitely is going to rack up the haters.  They may just have the most-hated quarterback in the league right now, the one everyone loves to call overrated: Tony Romo.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Jimmy Clausen #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks the sidelines during their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Notre Dame follows the same path of hatred that Duke does, plus a little bit extra.  Ever notice how the Notre Dame starting quarterback almost instantly becomes the most hated man in America?  Brady Quinn, Jimmy Clausen.  There’s actually a whole website dedicated to how much Notre Dame “sucks."

And the fact that NBC plays every single one of their games?  They’re practically on television more than Oprah.  They could be 0-9 and playing Eastern Michigan and they’d still broadcast the Fighting Irish. 

1. New York Yankees

Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees flies out against the Boston Red Sox during their game on June 8, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

“People fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t conquer.” 

That old quote pretty much sums up the hate of the New York Yankees.  They’ve won over 25 percent of all the World Series ever played, 27 out of 106.

No, everybody does not love a winner, especially when that winner beats your favorite team year after year after year.  Of course, a lot of the hate towards the Yankees stems from their payroll.  Their ability to outbid teams for everyone except Cliff Lee gives them an “unfair” advantage over every other franchise.

Oh yeah, there’s also that Alex Rodriguez guy who not too many fans are fond of, to say the least.

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him and Bleacher Report Swagger on Twitter.