The Sports World's Most Enthusiastic 'Villains'
In sports, someone always has to be the villain, even if it’s by default. It’s the nature of competition—when someone wins, someone else loses. And losing is such a terrible experience that sufferers easily attach all of the bad to the person who is at least partially responsible for it. But, what kind of villain earns the designation by virtue of doing what they’re supposed to—win.
Opposing coaches and players will always fill the role of villain, temporarily, but there are some people in sports whose villainy transcends any single moment. These are the men and women who say and do things that get under our skin—or find some other way create haters with ease. They’re the trash-talkers, the flame-throwers, saboteurs and the foils.
And some of these villains seem energized by ticking us; they thrive on driving us crazy and getting away with it. These are the Sports World’s Most Enthusiastic Villains.
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
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When towering New York Yankee’s first basemen Alex Rodriguez not only failed to give the appearance of feeling contrite as severe MLB discipline was imminent in 2013, over damning allegations (fueled by more than hearsay) he had taken PEDs, but was openly and outspokenly defiant, the man made it clear he was throwing out the playbook used by other players who had faced the same kind of scrutiny.
And he certainly wasn’t asking Yankees fans to forgive him for signing a 10-year, $252 million contract in six years earlier.
A-Rod exhausted all of the procedural avenues available, ultimately receiving a 162-game suspension—reduced from 211 games—missing all of the 2014 season. But, he didn’t retire, or tepidly capitulate to his status as symbol of the worst excesses of baseball. The 39-year-old came back rolling from his suspension and has hit 20 homeruns and knocked in 54 RBIs just over halfway through the 2015 season.
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina Gamecocks
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In a sport where most coaches and players go to painstaking lengths to avoid saying anything that might be construed as bulletin-board material—or a candid opinion—South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier not only eschews such caution, but clearly enjoys needling the opposition. His willingness to go there, coupled with his track record of building winners in Florida and South Carolina, have made Spurrier a reviled figure at all SEC campuses outside of Gainesville and Columbia.
The Head Ball Coach thrives on the attention and almost always uses the annual SEC Media Days event to rile up his SEC colleagues.
And you can tell he enjoys every minute of it—as evidenced by the barbs Spurrier has reserved for some of the more bitter rivals over the course of his career. There was, “You can’t spell Citrus without U-T,” in reference to Tennessee’s failure to win the SEC Conference Championship; the infamous “Free Shoes University” comment; and his dig at Clemson, “Most of our guys have never been to Death Valley. That is the Death Valley, isn't it? Or is there another one around?"
Skip Bayless, ESPN
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If your on-air personality appears to be based purely on playing the role of snarky contrarian, opposite Steven A. Smith is possible to be a reluctant sports villain? ESPN personality Skip Bayless is in the business of saying whatever will annoy viewers the most at any given moment—and if not annoying viewers, he’s annoying other ESPN personalities, while defying logic.
If you had never heard or seen Skip Bayless before and someone comprehensively described him to you, as a person, you would see his face.
There is simply no way the man can soldier on unless he lives for being despised. Bayless was Tim Tebow’s biggest cheerleader. He never sees anything to like in Lebron James’ game. Manny Pacquiao beat Floyd Mayweather, Jr. because…yeah. Bayless he nails it on Twitter. It’s exhausting just to think and write about.
Colin Cowherd, ESPN
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Radio personality Colin Cowherd has generated more headlines in the past two weeks than he likely has over the entire two years prior—in terms news reported across major outlets. And when the bulk of your career has been dedicated to extolling your viewpoint on sports radio, which usually isn’t a good sign.
First, there was the news Cowherd was leaving ESPN Radio after 13 years to join Fox Sports One, which was a surprise but nothing damaging. Today, however, Cowherd found himself answering questions about insensitive comments he made on his show the day before—questions he tried to respond to in a way that mitigated the fall out, but instead just made him seem like the confrontational and self-righteous jag he gets paid to be. Cowherd obviously doesn’t want to be defined by this kind of scandal, but his career isn’t built on measured analysis and thoughtful commentary.
Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
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Parallel to the Seattle Seahawks ascent to a Super Bowl winner—and AFC contender—is the rise of cornerback Richard Sherman. Today, he’s considered one of the elite, if not the best, at position in the NFL and an integral part of the ferocious defense that has keyed the team’s success. His play garnered the spotlight, but his personality commanded it and continues to make him a compelling figure.
He’s cocky, outspoken and doesn’t shy away from challenging opposing players in the media—and sharing his opinion about topics that make people uncomfortable. Sherman’s style—combined with his ability to shut down the passing game on his side of the field, makes him an easy villain. And no single moment better captures is confidence in the approach than the awesome ‘You mad Bro?’ incident with Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady in 2012.
Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens
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Terrell Suggs is one of the hardest hitting linebackers in an NFL division that has a history of cultivating fearsome pass rushers. By the very nature of the business, Suggs is guaranteed to be someone’s villain on any given Sunday during the NFL season. At least twice a year his Baltimore Ravens engage in a brutal battle royale with the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers—a series that seems to always come down to the wire and provide a highlight reel of League-sanctioned violence.
Few players seem to feed off the intensity like Suggs, who always seems to be a factor when on the field. On the sideline he exchanges words with Steelers fans. Suggs truly plays the role of villain with gusto—something encapsulated by the divisional rivalry, but certainly not exclusive to it.
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
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When New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady received a four-game suspension by the NFL for his alleged role in “Deflategate,” did you assume he would accept the discipline and move on? I’m guessing that the answer is ‘no’, regardless of how you feel about the entire scandal. Tom Brady doesn’t roll over, on those rare occasions that he isn’t in an advantageous position. And now that he has threatened to take the fight to the courts—smiling, always smiling—what are the odds the suspension stands?
To fans outside of Boston, he is the right arm of the Patriots juggernaut and its brand of championship football; he is a villain who can’t be stopped. Brady clearly enjoys the view, because he keeps going and winning—everywhere and in everything. Goodell is the commissioner of the most powerful pro sports league in America, yet it feels like he’s doomed. Brady contested the findings of the “Deflategate” report, because he can and why shouldn’t he? When you’re Tom Brady, you always like the odds.
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets’ Dwight Howard played some of the best basketball of his career this past season, which almost certainly was a relief following his rocky tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers; a stint that included a snippy relationship with Kobe Bryant, but mercifully ended when he signed with the Houston Rockets following the 2012-2013 season.
While there have been bigger villains in NBA history, Howard’s career featured enough to qualify the power forward, including a contentious exit from the Orlando Magic in 2012 after reneging on an agreement not to exercise an option to stay an additional year, putting the franchise in a terrible position.
But his resurgent play in 2014-2015 proves he has no problem shaking off the baggage and producing on the court—and can thrive as an NBA villain. If nothing else, his style says, “Let’s do this.”
Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
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Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll's ability to transform the franchise into a dominant, punishing team that looks capable of representing the NFC in the Super Bowl for a third consecutive year, is remarkable. What he accomplished is not unlike what he did when he was named head coach of a listless University of Southern California program in 2000. He quickly turned the Trojans into a BCS Championship contender—winning the title game in 2003 and 2004.
But, becoming one of the juggernauts means a lot of teams are on on the outside looking in; and when an NCAA investigation leads to stiff penalties, people begin to question the approach. Dominance and doubt, together, are a recipe for villainy...and no villain looks more thrilled than Peter Carroll. His gum-chewing, hyper-energetic cheeriness makes the narrative seem all the more improbable.
Luis Suárez, FC Barcelona
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FC Barcelona forward Luis Suárez came back from a four-month ban on all soccer-related activities—which he incurred after biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 FIFA World Cup—helping his club capture the Champions League. And though Suárez has been the spotlight for his stellar play since that infamous moment of soccer-related cannibalism, let’s not assume he has truly shed the role of villain.
Suárez’s record of chomping on the opposition and saying some fairly unambiguously terrible things portend a man who seemed quite comfortable as the talented loose cannon. That is, at least until he sunk his teeth into another person on a stage that made his behavior an international sensation. The bulk of his career doesn’t preclude a 180 degree turn from the role of FC Barca’s controversial striker, but it does make it seem like he played it with gusto as long as he could get away with it
Daniel Snyder, Washington Redskins
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There was a time that embattled Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s problems were football related—now those days of taking away former coach Jim Zorn’s play calling duties and overpaying Albert Haynesworth must feel like the good times. Facing a growing controversy over the racial undertones symbolized by the team’s name, Snyder is now fighting on two fronts. Not surprisingly, Sports Illustrated recently named him the most hared owner in the NFL.
But if the intense criticism of how he has handled pretty much every aspect of his ownership is bothering him, Snyder isn’t showing it. Rather than turn inward or attempt to find some third-way to navigate through the name-controversy and a track record of mostly failure on the football field, Snyder digs in and fortifies.
Outspokenly defiant toward the call by Native American organizations to change the team’s name, he forms a group to defend it and engages in assorted stunts to show that he is right and the critics are wrong. It’s almost like he’s a general who was never quite comfortable with peace.
Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
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Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is a villain for the same reason he became a star the moment he played his first game as a Major League Player—he's as undeniably talented as he is brash. Harper didn't need time or prodding to open up to the media, he provided one of the greatest MLB quotes of the 21st Century before the All-Star break in his rookie season.
He clears the benches. He argues with the umpire and gets tossed. It's clear Harper is as confident and enthusiastic a player as he is a villain.
John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats
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Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball coach John Calipari is unapologetic for an approach that drops the pretenses of the NCAA student-athlete system; a system that many would argue values the illusion that the most talented basketball stars commit to a school on the merits of getting an education, rather than reforming it into something reality based and equitable.
While the merits of these arguments can be debated, the results Calipari has achieved at Kentucky and UMass before that...are conclusive. However, resurrecting Kentucky isn't exactly the kind of thing that qualifies as a miracle, or wins you any friends outside of the Commonwealth. Calipari seems almost cast in the role—embodying a coach with a somewhat shady track record, but confidently at the reins of a dominant program.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Boxer
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Not long after the final bell signaled the end of Mayweather-Pacquiao in May, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was named winner of the uber-hyped welterweight bout by unanimous decision and millions of viewers began suffering buyer’s remorse.
Why? Because boxing fans who ordered the fight just financed Mayweather, Jr.’s $200 million payday; and regardless of whom you wanted to prevail, it was a steep price to pay for 12 spiritless rounds of the winner’s brand of boxing. In July he repaid the favor by making the WBO strip very title he just won when he failed to pay the required $200,000 sanctioning fee and comply with the organizations rules.
Yet, the world keeps accepting the terms of Mayweather, Jr.’s deal—despite the allegations of domestic violence and generally holding a struggling sport hostage. “Money” will gladly keep selling the same product and passing on the profits to his favorite casinos, because he can.
Soccer Hooligans
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Ah, no sport inspires such intensity and passion among its fans like the game known as soccer in the United States and football everywhere else. And everywhere the sport is called football, its most obnoxious and violent fans are called hooligans.
Football hooligans are capable of turning a normal sporting event into a deadly riot—and even when hooligans avoid starting a riot, they make the whole experience miserable for the rest of the crowd. The mayhem caused by 'super fans' of the world's most popular sport is in the news frequently; the level of competition is irrelevant.
Football hooligans are villains with an infinite supply of enthusiasm and booze—and likely wouldn't exist without one or both of them.
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