Derek Jeter, Ron Artest and Other Athletes That Fans Can't Hate Anymore

The sports world is filled with villains. That one player that you can't stand, unless, of course, he's on your side. This athlete seemingly plays forever, making the you miserable for what seems like an eternity. 

He's the guy who always seems to play his best against your team, the guy who always seems to end your season. 

As a fan, you hate this player for reasons you can't fathom. You can't help but curse his name every time your team faces this opponent.

Then, suddenly one day you have a change of heart. At first you don't believe yourself, frequently asking yourself, "Who am I?"

Slowly you convince yourself that it's not your fault. You realize the once-hated opponent's numbers speak for themselves and that they are just too good to hate on any longer. 

This is a list of those current athletes: here are the 10 athletes that fans just can't hate anymore.  

Honorable Mention: Mariano Rivera

Alright, I swear this slideshow isn't an ode to the Yankees...I'm not even a Yankees fan; I'm a sports fan.

As a sports fan, I now fully respect Mariano Rivera.

The man is the best closer in baseball history, and it appears that he will pitch forever. 

Rivera has 594 saves in his career, good for second best all-time behind Trevor Hoffman's 601. With any luck Rivera will surpass Hoffman by the end of the year.

Most remarkable is Rivera's playoff statistics. In 31 playoff series he has 42 saves, 11 of which were in the World Series. In 94 playoff appearances, his ERA is .71.  

These are numbers even a Boston Red Sox fan could admire.

For these numbers alone, Mariano Rivera deserves honorable mention.

No. 10: Jim Thome

Jim Thome is known as one of the nicest guys in baseball. That doesn't mean he hasn't tortured opposing teams for the last two decades.

Thome has played in the AL Central 17 of 21 seasons. Ask Detroit Tigers fans, Thome has hit 66 homers against the Tigers. Ouch.

Jim Thome has won ultimate respect from baseball fans. After hitting his 600th career homer earlier in the month, Thome was traded from the Minnesota Twins to his original team, the Cleveland Indians. Fittingly, Thome homered earlier this week for the Indians, on his 41st birthday. Talk about storybook.   

Jim Thome has made his mark on the MLB history books.  

No. 9: Charles Woodson

Some of you may think of Charles Woodson as an all-around good guy, and I don't doubt that.

As a graduate of Michigan State and a lover of the Detroit Lions though, Woodson hasn't been kind.

Not only did Woodson attend the University of Michigan, he won the National Championship and the Heisman.

On top of that, Woodson now gets to torment the Lions twice a year with the Green Bay Packers. As you can see in the photo, he is now a Super Bowl champion.

The accolades Charles Woodson possesses earn him a spot on the list. 

No. 8: Ron Artest

Many people may still hate this man, but anyone who changes his name to Metta World Peace belongs on this list.

Sure, Ron Artest may be a little crazy. He was involved in one of the ugliest incidents in NBA history. He has also been known to drink a little Hennessy during games.

Regardless of these facts, all that is in the past now. Ron Artest has cleaned up his image in the last few years. 

Artest is also still one of the better defenders in the NBA and a champion.

Metta World Peace makes the list based on the name change alone. 

No. 7: Chad Ochocinco

Some people love him, most people hate him, but any professional athlete who wants to live with a fan is just about the coolest guy ever.

That's what Chad Ochocinco wants to do with a New England Patriots fan. 

Not only is he a dynamic figure in the sports world, he is pretty darn good at football when he wants to be.

This year Ocho knows it's about the team. A Super Bowl ring would solidify him as one of the best.

If one ever doubted Chad Ochocinco, in his own words, "Child Please." 

No. 6: Sidney Crosby

Love him or hate him, Sidney Crosby is the NHL's top star. Once dubbed "The Next One"—after Wayne Gretzky, of course—Crosby has withstood the pressure and lived up to the hype.

Crosby has scored more than 100 points in four out of his six seasons. The two seasons where he didn't meet the 100-goal mark were cut short due to injury. Crosby played in just 41 games last year because of his concussion but still tallied 66 points. He has 215 goals and 357 assists in only 412 career games played.

Crosby has also won an Art Ross Trophy and a Rocket Richard Trophy for most points scored in a season, as well as a Hart Memorial Trophy for MVP and a Stanley Cup.

Last but not least, Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the gold medal Olympic game in 2010 for his home country of Canada. Scoring the game-winning overtime goal for your home country on home ice: priceless.

Bottom line is Sidney Crosby is just to good to hate.

No. 5: Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki has always been one of those guys who kind of irked people. There was something about the man sports fans couldn't stand.  

No one really knew how this guy was good. He was a 7'0" goofy-looking German guy who liked David Hasselhoff—the singer.

No one really knew how good this guy was—until this year. Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks were always a disappointment in the playoffs—until now.

Nowitzki had a mini Jordan-like performance in the playoffs as the Mavs beat the Miami Heat and the most hated man in sports at the moment, LeBron James.

In doing so, Dirk Nowitzki has won respect.   

No. 4: Peyton Manning

To tell the truth, I used to love watching Peyton Manning fail.

The fact that he never won the National Championship or Heisman Trophy at Tennessee made me laugh.

Then, one day around 2005, the Indianapolis Colts were the only NFL game on television. Forced to watch (because it's football), I sat down and saw Peyton Manning destroy his opponent with precision. 

As I watched in pure amazement (and silence), my buddy turned to me and said, "Damn, he's pretty good."

Peyton Manning is pretty good all right, one of the best ever. No one knows how he'll perform after his neck surgery in the offseason, but Manning is Hall of Fame material, no doubt. 

He has 399 career touchdowns and has been the quickest quarterback in the history of the NFL to reach 50,000 yards.

Peyton Manning, I'm sorry I ever doubted you.  

No. 3: Kobe Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers are like the New York Yankees, fans either love them or hate them. Fans especially hate their best player.

In this case, Kobe Bryant has many haters, but he has won over the hearts of many sports enthusiasts in the past couple of years.

He's proved he can win an NBA championship without Shaq and now has a fistful of rings.

He's proved that he's tough as nails, playing at the highest level through years of injury. 

Kobe Bryant also won the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal. 

He's currently 33 years old and has 27,868 career points.

With three or four more quality seasons he'll pass Michael Jordan, yes, Michael Jordan for third all-time in points behind Karl Malone and Abdul-Jabbar.

Don't hate; celebrate. 

No. 2: Tom Brady

What's not to hate about Tom Brady, right? 

Three Super Bowl rings, two-time NFL MVP and a supermodel wife.

Truth be told, and it pains me to say this, Tom Brady lives up to his nickname, "Tom Terrific."

Last year Brady threw for 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns, while only tossing four interceptions. That ratio is out of this world.

It's hard not to believe that Brady and the Patriots won't win another Super Bowl with him calling the shots.

Tom Brady is the truth.  

No. 1: Derek Jeter

New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter has cemented himself as arguably the best Yankee ever this summer.

Jeter passed Rickey Henderson for most steals as a Yankee, Joe DiMaggio for hits as a Yankee and Mickey Mantle for most games played in a Yankee uniform.

Not a bad resume.

It only gets better. Jeter became the 28th player to join the 3,000 hit club in 2011. Not to mention, the first member of the Yankees.

Along with teammates Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, Jeter has five World Series rings.

He may be the leader of the "Evil Empire," but he's a class act.