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10 Athletes We Don't Know How to Feel About

Nick DimengoNov 9, 2015

There's no denying the fact that some athletes come with a lot of controversy. Whether that's putting it on themselves or unknowingly doing things that always seem to grab them headlines, fans are left wondering what in the hell is wrong with some of these players who continuously get a bad rap.

Even those who have had time to repair their image, fans are still questioning how to feel about them, wondering if it's OK to cheer them on and, potentially, get let down again, or if they've learned their lesson and moved on from their past.

Here are the most questionable athletes to root for—even if they play for your favorite team—because of the decisions they've made or continue to make.

Tom Brady

1 of 10

How could the man known simply as Tom Terrific be on this list? Well, after all the implications of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots cheating over the years, you'll understand why the four-time Super Bowl champ earns a spot.

Brady, who has put up Hall of Fame numbers and is one of the best to ever play the quarterback position, is an icon who fans outside of the Boston area have loved to hate on for years now, seemingly turning their back on him for doing what he's supposed to do—win.

Once one of the most beloved athletes because of his rise from sixth-rounder to Super Bowl champ, when his Pats' teams became favorites and no longer underdogs, people started turning their back on Brady.

With the whole Deflategate thing that happened and all of the other apparent acquisitions over the years, Brady's golden life isn't as admired much more—unless you're a diehard Pats fan, of course.

Tiger Woods

2 of 10

Much like the aforementioned Tom Brady, 14-time major champ Tiger Woods has seen the love from fans go south for a variety of reasons, with the biggest stemming from his cheating scandal and sex addiction situation in 2009.

Once on top of the sporting world—and still very near the top—many are torn with how to feel about Tiger simply because he isn't the player he once was, having not won a major tournament since his miraculous 2008 U.S. Open when he played on a bum knee.

With his dip in the world golf rankings and below-average golf game, there are some who have stuck by Woods' side through it all, but some are happy to see his reign as golf's No. 1 draw come to an end, whether citing karma or otherwise.

When in contention, Woods seems to get the support from fans, but too many people are just burned out on him because of his past and inconsistent play.

Lolo Jones

3 of 10

What's in a Halloween costume? Apparently, a hell of a lot of controversy, as U.S. Olympian Lolo Jones took on the daunting task of dressing like Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, complete with nearly every injury that D-Rose has sustained over the past few years.

For whatever reason, people seemed to take offense to Jones' outfit. Maybe it's because we've all gotten too soft, or that we want to root for a bad luck athlete like Rose, or maybe it's just because people don't like Lolo Jones.

While it could be a combo of all of those things, the latter reason is the most reasonable given Lolo's rise to fame over the past decade or so.

An outspoken virgin prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics, Jones still posed nude for ESPN the Magazine, which seemed to upset people for being so contradictory.

Others were upset that Jones, who has competed in both the Winter and Summer Games, hasn't actually done anything in her athletic career, seemingly becoming popular for no reason at all.

Who knows why so many find a reason to dislike Lolo Jones, but it's something that is definitely prominent.

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Draymond Green

4 of 10

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has, seemingly, gone from nowhere to playing an integral role in the team's success over the past couple of years, providing leadership and a certain swagger that every championship team needs to have.

While Green plays with a chip on his shoulder—especially since he had an accomplished college career at Michigan State and fell through the cracks when the draft came—his antics aren't always accepted with open arms.

Green might not be a full-fledged social media troll, but he has that type of personality, often seen running his mouth to opponents on the court and mixing it up on Twitter with whomever he can that disagrees with him.

He's a good player whose game continues to get noticed, but there aren't many people I know who say they're Draymond Green fans—unless they root for the Dubs or rep Michigan State.

The guy is solid off the court—after all, he made the biggest donation from a former student-athlete to his alma mater—but not too many people are aware of that side of Green.

Johnny Manziel

5 of 10

Once one of the most polarizing and recognizable college football players in recent memory, current Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has come back to reality now that he's in the NFL, struggling to find his way—and haters of the guy love it.

Manziel, who was probably overdrafted at No. 22 in the 2014 draft, was pitiful in his rookie campaign, continuously doing what many found to be immature and arrogant.

So when he failed in his first career start against the Cincinnati Bengals, fans were quick to say, 'I told you so,' about the kid's ability.

Following the season, Manziel checked into rehab to help get himself better from inner demons that many of us would never even want to admit to ourselves existed. Instead of applauding him for trying to make a change, many found his admission to check into rehab as another reason why he isn't a leader.

Johnny Manziel has risen to fame following a Heisman Trophy campaign in 2012 that was unexpected, riding that popularity to bigger and better things, but because he hasn't shown much on the field, fans still have their recollections about him.

P.K. Subban

6 of 10

Playing with an unmatched passion for the game that he wears on his sleeve, the Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban actually collects more boos than cheers when he's in an opposing arena.

A lot of it is because of that mean streak that he plays with, as he's constantly mixing it up with opposing players and doing the blue-collar stuff that we don't expect our superstars to do on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Routinely showing up on the league's most hated players list, Subban soaks it all up, letting it feed him to play his best.

It's strange he gets so much hate, though, seeing as how he made a $10 million donation to a children's hospital this past offseason. That's sports for you, though.

Eli Manning

7 of 10

It's not that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has done anything wrong—well, besides be the younger brother of NFL passing god Peyton Manning—but it's that, when looking at stats alone, why Eli causes a lot of debate.

That's because even with two Super Bowl rings, the youngest in the Manning clan doesn't seem to get the respect he has earned, with many wondering if he's elite and a future Hall of Famer.

A three-time Pro Bowler, those rings and a career record of 96-80 should be enough to get him into Canton, but if you bring up the topic at a bar, you would be surprised that some reactions wouldn't agree.

Chris Paul

8 of 10

Often mentioned as the best point guard in the NBA—even if he's not as trendy as other, younger stars—the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul sort of gets a bad rap from some fans.

A lot of that has to do with the fact that the 30-year-old Paul isn't one of these point guards who's dropping 25-plus a game and showing up on highlight reels, instead setting up teammates like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan for showtime dunks.

That doesn't mean CP3 isn't dominant, though.

Adding to some confusion for fans is Paul's fiery demeanor, as he's often seen scoffing at refs following a foul call and, of course, his well-publicized feud with Jordan last season that nearly led DeAndre to bolt during free agency this past offseason.

Never advancing past the second round of the playoffs, Paul has his doubters for being as revered as he is, with many wondering if he truly is as elite as some claim he is.

There's a reason why so many teams say they hate the Clips, and a lot of it is because of Paul and the way he plays.

Bryce Harper

9 of 10

Maybe it's that incredible salad that he has sitting atop his head, or that he has a reputation for being more than just a little cocky and even recently fought a teammate, but Washington Nationals All-Star outfielder Bryce Harper doesn't get much love from fans.

It's sad, really, because Harper is such a freaking talent on the baseball field that it's not even funny.

For as humble and proper as Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels is, Harper is on the other side of the spectrum. He's the guy you don't want your sister bringing home to your family, or the friend you want to trust for some reason.

More than likely the NL MVP after an amazing 2015 season, the 23-year-old Harper is here to stay, baseball fans, so you can either learn to accept his craziness or miss out on watching one of the best talents the game has seen in a long time.

Alex Rodriguez

10 of 10

Of every athlete on this list, there isn't quite anyone more loved/hated than New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, who, since being suspended for the entire 2014 season, continues to try and repair his image.

A-Rod, who had a bounce-back 2015 campaign by leading the Yanks in homers while finishing second in RBI, has dealt with criticism ever since he became the highest-paid athlete in the history of sports back in 2000 when he signed the biggest contract ever with the Texas Rangers.

Since then, he's tried to live up to the fortune and fame, mostly failing miserably.

The dude has done a lot of dumb things in the past to bring attention to himself, and it doesn't help that he's as arrogant as they come, but the fact that a simple slip of the tongue while being part of Fox Sports' World Series coverage got so much attention shows that anything he does wrong will be mocked.

It's kind of sad, but that's the way it is for Alex Rodriguez.

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