# Which sports personalities do you like and dislike? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 13, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744 "2020-05-13T20:29:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/21 "2020-05-16T02:58:48Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I went to FSU when he was there. The talent is amazing, just always rubbed me the wrong way So did I\*. The call-your-shot return against Clemson was…one of the greater moments in FSU sports history. I’ve also met him twice in non-media-related situations. In person, he’s a charming, funny guy. Just don’t call him Neon. 🙂 - I knew you were a 'Nole when I posted. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/22 "2020-05-16T14:23:10Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > So did I\*. The call-your-shot return against Clemson was…one of the greater moments in FSU sports history. I’ve also met him twice in non-media-related situations. In person, he’s a charming, funny guy. Just don’t call him Neon. 🙂 > > - I knew you were a 'Nole when I posted. Ms. P was at FSU then as well. She didn’t follow football, though. The only sports personality I really don’t care for is Pete Rose. I didn’t like him even before the gambling thing. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/23 "2020-05-17T02:17:47Z")
I dislike Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, both stained baseball, but you have to say that both of them are legendary to listen to explain the steroid era of baseball. The LaRussa Athletics 1988-1992 club is tainted. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/24 "2020-05-17T02:35:53Z")
Formula One is going to be WAY less fun when Kimi Raikkonen retires (which I sense is going to happen within the next couple of years.) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/25 "2020-05-17T03:14:17Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Formula One is going to be WAY less fun when Kimi Raikkonen retires (which I sense is going to happen within the next couple of years.) Damn straight! Have you read his book of poetry? Priceless Kimi. Seb Vettel runs me wrong for some reason. I’m sure he’s a super nice guy off track. But he’s been super whiny about all his own fuck ups. I love murray Walker, Martin Brundle, steve Matchet, David Hobbs (met him irl, super nice guy) I hate whatever that annoying weasely fuckface’s name was who did the pit interviews for NBC sports. I think he announces f2. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/26 "2020-05-17T19:59:46Z")
My favorite moment of last year’s F1 season, by far, was [Kimi and the groundhog.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLPyZPQJsFA) I mean what other driver would not just get on the radio to announce the presence of “that animal running around”, but also wonder out loud what the animal is supposed to be called? Every time he gets on that radio it’s a guaranteed quote for the ages. Edit - it just occurred to me, what other sport do we get to hear the participants constantly talking, during the competition itself? It’s one of the things that makes racing more immersive than most other sports, to me at least. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/27 "2020-05-17T20:51:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “Taking my talents to South Beach” succeeded, in six words, in turning off a few million fans. That was bad. I am also still waiting for him to ‘educate’ me as to why supporting Hong Kong pro democracy protesters was bad. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/28 "2020-05-20T03:34:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Because he is a cheater, and even then, if not, people just naturally abhor someone who is 100% cunning and finds every possible way to beat you. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something admirable about someone who wins so often and is so extremely dedicated to defeating opponents, but it makes one’s skin crawl too. His persona just makes him too Star-Wars-villain-ish. > > I’ve read he is a strict and stiff type of person, but he never really struck me as a dislikable type. But then again I was never a Jags or Giants fan. > > Sometimes you just win too much, but also, he is perceived as having an ego to match or exceed his talent (which I think is unfair, he actually seems a decent guy.) Then also, when he joined the Heat, and when asked how many titles they would win together, said “Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six…” > > Absolutely not, as a Spurs (and somewhat Mavs) fan, he is Public Enemy No. 1. > > Well, after Ray Allen and Derek Fisher and Draymond Green… Welker certainly is describing New England as a place where it’s hard for players to be themselves. As a media member, I can vouch that New England’s locker room usually doesn’t offer much insight or personality. Players appear reluctant, and almost afraid, to say anything worthwhile about an opponent, injury or an upcoming game. It comes from the top with head coach Bill Belichick, who simply wants to coach football and views anything else as a distraction. Belichick doesn’t like distractions. He is old-school to the core. ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/29 "2020-05-21T14:48:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Sometimes you just win too much, but also, he is perceived as having an ego to match or exceed his talent (which I think is unfair, he actually seems a decent guy.) Then also, when he joined the Heat, and when asked how many titles they would win together, said “Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six…” Lebron is hated by many fans for many reasons: - Anointed “The Chosen One” before he actually won anything or proved his worth - Running away from Cleveland to hide under Pat Riley’s skirt because winning a championship is hard and he was looking to get as many chips as possible while playing on easy mode. - Conspiring with friends to change the structure of competition in the eastern conference so he (and they) could have an easy path to the finals every year. - His “Decision” has created an era of NBA competition where the best players in the league no longer want to compete against each other. Instead they prefer to team up and create professional AAU squads that go around beating up on obviously weaker opponents. - Declaring himself the GOAT after championship #3. One good finals series is not enough of an accomplishment to even be considered in the GOAT discussion - Pundits putting forth bullshit argument after bullshit argument, regardless of resume, about how Lebron is the best to ever do it regardless of how many times he has failed or fallen short. > [@Velocity](#): > > Absolutely not, as a Spurs (and somewhat Mavs) fan, he is Public Enemy No. 1. > > Well, after Ray Allen and Derek Fisher and Draymond Green… As a Laker fan I am happy to see D Fish make the list! I’ll just leave this right here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSnAvhvfniw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSnAvhvfniw) _Fisher with 0.4sec…_ ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/30 "2020-05-21T14:56:12Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > True but I think that hate has waned over the past 10 years. He went back to Cleveland and did right by the city winning the title, and has done some good work in the community. All of the criticism of Lebron revolves around basketball. I don’t think anyone would argue against the fact that Lebron James is an excellent human being. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/31 "2020-05-21T23:51:36Z")
> [@BeagleJesus](#): > > All of the criticism of Lebron revolves around basketball. I don’t think anyone would argue against the fact that Lebron James is an excellent human being. True. He is a better human being than Michael Jordan ever will be. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/32 "2020-05-22T14:38:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’ve read he is a strict and stiff type of person, but he never really struck me as a dislikable type. But then again I was never a Jags or Giants fan. > > . For Coughlin, most of the negative reaction is from former players. He’s known to be really strict and hand out harsh punishments for really minor infractions. > **[Coughlin out as Jags' executive VP of football ops](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28329810/jaguars-fire-tom-coughlin-just-days-nflpa-warning-players)** > > Jaguars owner Shad Khan said his decision to fire Tom Coughlin immediately instead of after the season came "in recent days." ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/33 "2020-05-22T15:03:00Z")
> [@BeagleJesus](#): > > All of the criticism of Lebron revolves around basketball. I don’t think anyone would argue against the fact that Lebron James is an excellent human being. I admit my bias to hating him in high school due to the hype, the Hummer, and his obnoxious mother. I completely agree this is beyond petty on my behalf. However, I lived in Ohio at that time and helped out in sports bar. His mug was all over tv. I swear even the channel 10 weather forecaster would mention Lebron. When it was slow during the day, we’d keep one of the TVs on the Food network, these two elderly ladies would often come in and want to see something besides ESPN. I think that was my only escape from Lebron. ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744/34 "2020-05-22T15:46:15Z")
Love for Kimi Räikkönen has already been posted, but I have to back it up some more. In a field of extremely polished, professsional drivers who do double-duty as advertising executives, his no-bullshit, mumble-it-like-it-is attitude has been a breath of fresh air. I wish his team was more likely to get him on the podium so he could be interviewed more. He’s also really aware of how awkwardly presents himself (which I’m told by Finnish friends is within normal Finnish parameters), and is happy to play along with people poking some fun at his attitude. One of the more amusing clips I’ve seen is where, as a sergeant, he was drilling his squad. Everybody present was crisp but had a very hard time keeping a straight face. And for heaven’s sake, he owns a karaoke bar. Can you imagine Kimi singing? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-personalities-do-you-like-and-dislike/853744.md?page=1)