Um, yes, he was. 
Reggie Jackson was detested in Yankee Stadium early for because he dissed captain Thurman Munson and didn’t get along with Yankee manager/nutcase Billy Martin. Later on Yankee fans decided they loved him. In the Bill James “Historical abstract” Jackson is listed as least-admired star of the 1970s (Willie Stargell was most-admired).
I think Joe Namath would qualify. When he was at Alabama, his on-campus nickname was Greasy Joe. He was a drunk, a jerk, and a slob with poor personal hygiene. Apparently, he was frequently involved in fistfights in bars, and he went for weeks at a time without showering.His cocky, showboating behavior is what first earned him the nickname “Broadway Joe”.
I misread this, by the way; I thought I’d mildly offended you or something. I meant “seriously” in agreement (like “Dude, totally!”), not that I thought you didn’t believe me. 
I encountered Norm Cash and Hank Aguirre several times in bars. They were two of the most approachable and nice guys you would ever meet. But Denny McClain believed he was special. He had a prima donna attitude.
In response to a reporters question about his attitude, he told him, When you are discovered to be a special athlete, you are young and everybody is trying to do things for you. You are a kid and things just keep coming your way. From the age of 15 he never had to pick up his own luggage. He wasn’t mature enough to handle it.
I’m tempted to start a “most popular athlete who wasn’t a jerk” thread. Who were the great athletes who were genuine good guys?
One player can and does make a difference. If you don’t think so, watch Willie Stargell in the 1979 series. He literally put that team on his back and carried it to a title.
True, he didn’t pitch, he didn’t catch all the balls. But at the plate, he took care of business.
Bonds, on the other hand, had a long reputation for failing when the pressure was the greatest. He blew three straight playoff series in Pittsburgh in the early 90’s, and he failed to throw out Sid “I’m running on bone because the cartiledge in my knee is long gone” Bream scoring from second base on a single at home plate from short left field. (ok, I’m still bitter)
These are things the stud player does. Derek Jeter makes that diving catch in the stands. He makes the flip to Posada to get the runner at home. He has clutch hits when the pressure is on. That’s what I’m talking about.
Bonds has incredible numbers, no question about it. He was one of the most feared hitters of all time (especially in his late 30’s, when he discovered HGH and 'roids.) But he never delivered a championship anywhere. I understand he can’t do it alone, but a clutch hit, a defensive play, whatever, makes all the difference. I’d take Jeter any day over Bonds. Bonds choked everywhere. I think he had a good WS with San Fran, but they still lost in 7.
(yes, I hate Barry Bonds. What a prick)
And it’s good to hear that Steve Carlton is a decent guy off the field. That was the first story I heard about him that was positive. Maybe he just doesn’t like to be in the spotlight.
Stan Musial.
For an Atlanta Braves fan, Dale Murphy.
This jibes with everything I’ve ever heard about Murphy. I’m not a fan, but every account of the man’s character that I’ve heard has been glowing.
A guy who worked a pro golf tournament for a while told me some golfers are not that friendly. He thought it was because golf is not a team sport , it was everyone looking out for #1. They don’t need to hang out with other golfers. There are a few team events like the Ryder Cup but they are a small part of the sport and most guys don’t go to those events.
Some have said that the reason the Europeans have done so well in the Ryder Cup is that they do hang out together (or at least did until making the big bucks) and it does foster a team spirit. They travel together from tournament to tournament and share hotels, whereas the Americans fly in and out in their personal jets and there is much less camaraderie.
Honestly, this is crap.
There’s some argument to be made that Bonds let the pressure get to him in Pittsburgh; in his days in San Francisco he carried that team as far as a single position player could. Does anyone still think Dusty Baker is a genius manager?
He was awesome down the stretch in every pennant race San Francisco contended in, and if anyone’s had a better postseason than Bonds in 2002, I’d like to see it.
I mean, no one goes around calling Tony Gwynn an underachiever, and where are his rings?
Marty McSorley gets plenty of T.V. time. He hit a guy in the back of the head with a hockey stick. That’s assault with a weapon.
From experience: Scottie Pippen was a lousy tipper.
Good point. He’s always struck me as profoundly unpleasant. And any player who’s REFUSE TO GO IN in the waning seconds of a playoff game can’t be described as a good guy–unless he saves a baby from a burning building or something.
In the early 1980’s Pete Rose would come to Santa Maria, CA to appear at a Community College fundraiser because an ex teammate of his was the coach.
My brother attended one of the events with his son and he said afterward as he was walking to his car, there was Pete, all alone, walking to his rental car. My brother ran over to him and said “Pete, Im one of those guys who used to boo you at Dodger Stadium back in the day”
He said Rose laughed and said , “hey you paid for your ticket , you were entitled to boo.”
He said he couldn’t have been nicer and there he was, all alone, doing a favor for an old friend, in a small town 3 hours from Los Angeles.
Well put. (Game Six was just on MLB Network. I’m hard up for baseball but there’s no way I was going to watch that.)
And yes, he’s a a prick, but he’s our prick.
Tony Stewart used to get in trouble pretty regularly for beating up people trying to interview him. Everything else I’ve heard about him off the track has been positive though.
Maybe people stopped trying to interview him :eek: