Let me tell you a secret: even though the Pistons have lost to them twice this year, I actually really like the Jazz. I’m still a Memo Okur fan, and watching Andrei Kirilenko is just plain fun. Plus, I love Jerry Sloan’s old school approach, and his teams always play hard.
And while most fans will say the Pacers are our biggest rival, I can’t muster up the energy to care about them now that Ron Artest is gone. I’ll even go so far as to say that I like Jermaine O’Neal, and I admit that if you really look at the tape, he was probably justified for KO’ing that fan on the court last year.
But the Nets? Holy crap do those guys annoy me.
Richard Jefferson always seems to be overrated just because he can jump high. Plus, he’s a bit too cocky considering his team never actually does anything. And Vince Carter is, well, Vince Carter. Sure, Rob Babcock deserved to be fired in Toronto for trading Carter, but Carter should be forced to give back paychecks (or would that be paycheques?) for dogging it as much as he did to prompt that trade. And even though he’s no longer with the team, Kenyon Martin is a thug, and the rest of their big men like Jason Collins and Nenad Krstic are guilty by association — even if the only way they’re actually still associated is in my head. As for coach Lawrence Frank, Doogie Howser jokes aside, I don’t like how he got the job. Byron Scott didn’t deserve to be fired in 2004 — the Nets were 22-20 (one win fewer than they have now), and even though the team obviously responded to the change by going 25-15 the rest of that season, in the back of my mind I feel like Frank pushed out a quality coach.
But here’s the thing: of all my beefs with New Jersey, the only one that’s actually valid is with Carter. The numbers prove that Jefferson is actually a quality player, Collins and Krstic have nothing to do with Martin’s thuggery and Frank probably had absolutely nothing to do with Scott losing his job. And when did I suddenly get an affinity for former Laker guards in the first place?
I think what’s really going on here is that I just don’t like the franchise, and I constantly make up reasons to reinforce that opinion. Why? I have no clue, but it may have something to do with the fact that Detroit lost to New Jersey in the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals. Heck, maybe it dates back earlier than that, maybe the jealousy I felt in 1993 when Chuck Daly left Detroit to coach Kenny Anderson and Derrick Coleman has been simmering all these years and has been distilled into pure, 100% disdain. Whatever it is, I’m able to objectively realize that it’s almost completely irrational without actually changing the way I feel.
What about you? Am I the only one that hates the Nets? Are there any players out there that make you want to throw a brick at your TV? Which teams get under your skin the most? Tell us in the comments.
I definitely yell at my TV a lot more when Richard Jefferson is on the floor–but I don’t think he can hear me with his tiny ears.
(God, I hate him.)
i think that my most hated teams in order are:
NJ Nets
Richard Jefferson jumping and pumping his fist after making a routine fastbreak dunk? Who are you? Jason Kidd for just being so damn steady. And they barely beat the Pistons with the Pistons playing terrible
Spurs
Biggest rival, most boring rival. Parker and Ginobli act like every call is owed to them, and Parker drives like a big guy. I wish someone would knock him on his little ass. Ginobili too.
There is apparently nothing going on in Duncans head that I can tell. Dum-de-dum all day long.
Heat
The most overrated mediore team of supposed superstars, but will probbaby still make the conference finals in the weak east.
Screw Jersey. Long been one of my least favorite teams as well.
Any team with Shaq. The only time I could cheer for Miami is MAYBE if they’re playing the Lakers.
I don’t necessarily hate teams, but I really, really, really hate certain players. Many of them on the Lakers. Devon George and Luke Walton annoy the crap out of me. Maybe because they have the faces of weasals, act like they’re the shit when they suck, and they think it’s cool being Kobe’s bitch… Correction, I reallly really hate the Lakers.
Jersey. Hate Jersey. It’s cruel, but the “tiny ears” comment made my day. Kidd’s the one I yell at. I get the sense that despite his millions, he’s a guy you’d have to follow around your house to be sure he didn’t take anything. Because he would. Just to spite you.
I had a huge dislike of the Celts from the Bad Boy days that carried through until ‘Toine left for Miami.
Then there’s the Lakers. What’s not to dislike about any team with Phil & Kobe?
Hm. I probably would have said the Pacers, but they have lost a bit of their bite now that Ron-Ron ran away (or more accurately, was chased from the house with a broom). I guess for me it’s a Miami/San Antonio toss up. Miami because they think they can beat us and San Antonio because they have beat us. I hate watching Manu Manu drive to the basket with his hair flapping wildly. I equally hate watching Dwayne Wade (and yes I know I spelled it RIGHT!!) and his ridiculous fade away jumper.
The Heat’s coach was more annoying until he went back to his previous profession…now they have greasy hair man. I guess that tips the scales in favor of the Amazing, Championship-bound Miami Heat (How will the Pistons ever get past this great team??).
I’d have to go with the Lakers, just because I absolutely hate Kobe Bryant. I’d also rank Miami and Shaq up there, although I don’t dislike him as much as I used to after reading a few good articles about him. After that it’s San Antonio for one of the same reasons Julie mentioned- Manu’s hair.
I’m with you, Matt. I can’t stand the Nets! I would place Chicago on the “hate” list as well, followed by the Spurs.
My Top 10 Most Hated (not in order)
1. I once threw a shoe at my TV when I saw Robert Horry in a commercial about the tsunami. (I think all Pistons fans know why)
2. Ron Artest the king of thuggery.
3. I loathe Tony Longoria and his Desperate Girlfriend.
4. Kobe Bryant and his ego.
5. Dwyane (why couldn’t it be just spelled Dwayne?) Wade and his lazy eye.
6. Shaquille O’neal on the court, off court he’s hilarious.
7. Manu Gi-Blow Me. (Gonzo called and he wants his nose back)
8. Stephen Jackson — can’t even find the words to describe how much I despise him.
9. Stan Van Gundy aka Ron Jeremy (Good-bye and good riddance)
10. Mike Miller and his mouth guard. (that I secretly wish he’d choke on)
In the past few years I hated many teams, usually because of only a single guy.
I hated the Orlando Magic because of Drew Gooden when we faced them in the playoffs three years ago or something. I hated how he would “pop the collar” of his jersey running down the court after he made a shot. That annoyed me. But look at who popped their collars at the end…us!
I hate Indiana not because of Artest but because of Jeff Foster. It seems like he keeps finding every rebound and gets garbage points. That annoys me probably the most.
I hate Jason Kidd, especially because he hit the game winning shot over Billups in the playoffs a few years ago. He dribbles the ball funny too.
Antoine Walker aka the Michelin Man aka Micro-mini-step man aka Crybaby.
I admit, I didn’t even really have a reason to “hate” on him. The feelings of hatred must have been rubbed off onto me from my husband…and oddly enough I never really questioned the reasoning….But Shaq just annoyed us.
Until…. I saw him on MTV Cribs… and although the Superman Logos throughout his house are COMPLETELY annoying… I really don’t think he’s all that bad. I really like seeing him as a dad, and now it is hard to hate him on the court.
But Caroline, what team do you hate the most? (inquiring minds…)
Spurs. ginobili dribbles maybe 5 times a game, always flying around, out of control, arms going wild, it’s not grace manu, it’s pathetic. and you whine about fouls more than jordan did, and jordan is GOD so. as for mr. parker, 1 word: he’s fu*kin’ french! hate him.
Put me down for the Spurs. I hate them. I hate Ginobli and his traveling drives to the basket that always yield a trip to the free throw line. And that smug french b-stard Tony Parker getting in the pain with his biatch teardrop shot. And Robert Horry for only joining teams that are already favored to win a championship and making it even harder for other teams to ever win (cause its not like the league’s nonparity is killing it, oh wait a sec…it is). And that jerk Bruce Bowen for playing dirty and getting away with it. And Popovich is a condescending a$swipe. Duncan is kinda cool, i just wish he wasn’t surrounded by such a-holes.
Let’s start with your quote:”And while most fans will say the Pacers are our biggest rival, I can’t muster up the energy to care about them now that Ron Artest is gone….”
Hmmnnnn….as fast as the Pacers have sunk on the inside, the Sacramento Kings have the 5th best-record in the NBA since the trade…but enough about teams I like(including the Detroit Pistons).
Back to teams I loathe……….The Dodgers, The Yankees(the evil empire); & the fakernation in all it’s-”Desperate Actors”-in their-over-the-hill glory.& I say that as a UCLA grad.
Living in La-La-land is probably where the loathing started…..Oh sure, Santa Monica was artsy with fresh air & I had good professors at UCLA.I played in the pep band at Pauley Pavillion with all those “dynastic banners” in the raftors.
But the smell of L.A. water is still nausea-inducing….Ditto Beverly Hills “starlettes” with little-rat-dogs & gucci princesses.
Jumped on the chance to come back to Nor-Cal to do grad work at the University of the Pacific (2005:Pacific beats Pitt in 1st round). My “college” team was playing better defense than my “pro” team the Sacramento Kings.
Pacific was rebounding…cleaning up the glass…gettin’ in there for the garbage like Ben Wallace does(so,so ironic that he wasn’t drafted!).There I go again about what I like!
The breaking point occured when Charles Barkley called the Kings “soft” & “complacent” on TNT.Meanwhile,….. there was all that talk about the soap opera in el-lay with Kobe & whether ‘dr. Phil in all his ‘zen-ness’ was/was not coming back. I just couldn’t stand it anymore & I lost it.
I did what any musician would do…I wrote a song about it. Why I wanted the Kings to play “tenacious ‘d’ as if every possession mattered.”(Didn’t the Sacramento Monarchs prove that with their championship run?!).Why I was tired..”Oh, so tired….of all that talk down ‘el-lay’ way…that little soap opera I like to call as the ‘faker laker’ world turns…”
A King’s fan heard it at a gig & approached me & I told him the web address for the tune, & he started a thread about it on http://www.freewbs.com/lakershaters on 7/7/2005;10:47p.m., Pacific time:
“Hello King’s fans are you aware that there’s a song “Gotta love your Sacramento Kings!” that has a great dis on the ‘fakerlakers’ in version 1 of the song…”
Predictably the fakernation counter-attacked & the thread is now up to 784 posts & 2284 views. So much for Kobe Bryant saying “it ain’t a rivalry with the Kings”…It is if he & his fans think so!Especially when the Kobemeister pumps his fist in the air like he’s won a play-off game the last time the fakers won at Staples against the Kings.
I am really looking forward to the matchup with the Spurs in the playoffs because if the Kings could beat them they could beat anyone in the west.Then I can look forward to Charles Barkley taking back what he said about the Kings on national T.V.(Are you listening Sir Charles? It doesn’t count to issue mea culpas thru your p.a. on the website!).I am SO looking forward to hearing you eat your words(yum!!).
Oh,….. & thanx to the Detroit fans that posted on the thread to flame the fakers:DEE-TROIT RULES!, PISTONS RULE, Pistons.com, http://www.need4’sheed.com.&,m.e./Detroit. You guys really know how to flame & cap.*smile*Peace everyone.
Let me help Rhonnda out. The website is http://www.freewebs.com/lakershaters
She left the last “e” out of freewebs. Now you guys can see the post.
Thanks, NBAFan. Much appreciated.
Too funny NBA fan. I left out the ‘e’ for the link & you mispelled my name, LOL!Thanx for correcting my mistake.
Always have hated the Spurs. Don’t know why, just have always hated them. Hate the Jazz because of there ugly-ass uniforms of the past. Hate Kevin Garnett because his head looks so sharp it would cut your hand.
I didn’t know what hate felt like until I started following the NBA again this year. I HATE MIAMI ! Wade and Shaq are on top of my list. Mourning and Walker are not too far behind. And please, to anyone who’s comparing Wade to Michael Jordan, just stop! I’m not a Jordan fan, but Wade is no Jordan. Not now, not ever.
I hate Miami’s team now. That Wade, Shaq and Mourning combo - I hate them. And they’ve just won a championship they don’t deserve. Those people comparing Wade to Jordan must be joking. Wade is only good because there’s no one else in the league that can play basketball anymore, no one that could play great, honest defense. Wade’s defenders give him so much room, there’s hardly any defense, of course he can make a move, of course he’ll look like he’s so great… NOT!
The NBA is not what it used to be. I stopped watching a few years ago and just started following it again when Detroit won a championship. By the way, Detroit needs to fire Flip.
& perhaps bring in the coach of the Shock?I know it’s considered a reach by some, but I think Bill Laimbeer could do it.
Christ, i hate the spurs for all that was mentioned. the dirty playing, the arm flailing, the whle team playing one on one with penetrations and no real game, the robert horry i-shot-a-three-and-won-the-championship-for-another-loser-team, the take michael finley to shot some thres as well shit. makes me puke
God i hate them.
I also hate miami and the lakers cause of kobe and shaq.
Still i hae the spurs so much….