Top 25 Athletes You Would Love to Punch in the Face
By Connor Muldowney
@Connormuldowney
25 Athletes You'd Love to Punch in the Face
The sports world right now is stronger than it ever has been before. Fans are becoming more and more interactive with the way technology and everything has advanced and it seems like everyone these days is a fan of a certain team or sport. By growing in popularity over the past few decades, sports have accrued an immeasurable amount of attention.
With all of the attention that sports are getting these days, it seems like a good time to talk about the athletes that not many people or fans like due to the amount of negative attention they receive. Although not all the negative attention is necessarily their fault, they do give off a poor vibe based on their poor decisions made on and off the field of play.
If you don't have that one player from your favorite sport -- or just any sport -- that you want to just punch in the face, then you might not even be a true fan. Not all fans are going to like every player. Heck, some fans hate basically every player.
Whether the athlete did something dirty or grimy against a team and the fans of that team now hate him or just give off a bad vibe by being verbose on and off the court -- in a bad way -- every fan thinks about that one player who they would take a swing at if they had a chance -- without a swing back, of course.
It might be pretty over-the-top to want to punch an athlete in the face, but aren't most fans a bit over-the-top anyways. Heck, if Metta World Peace -- then Ron Artest -- can hit innocent fans in the face while running into the stands, why can some fans get some payback on hated/dirty athletes?
Let's take a look at the list of the top 25 athletes you may want to punch in the face and make sure to let me know who I've missed.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
Honorable Mention: Jose Valverde
So, you're going to celebrate like you won the world series every time you get a save, but then blow like 10 saves per year. I'm sure your old fans want to punch you in the face, too.
25. Taylor Lewan
Oh, so you like smashing opponents heads into the ground, pulling facemasks and just flat-out playing dirty? BAM.
24. Metta World Peace
Man, it's not cool when you run into the stands and beat on defenseless fans. Nor is it cool to be one of the biggest jerks in the NBA on a consistent basis. KAPOW.
23. Jadeveon Clowney
You deserve a punch in the face because you have so much talent, but you've hurt your draft stock so much by being a moron this year. Sitting out games for no reason and being pulled over for excessive speeding twice? Come on, man.
22. Todd Bertuzzi
Okay, you get one for a good reason, Todd. You nearly paralyzed a player for a cheap shot punch to the face. It's your turn.
21. Grant Balfour
Grant, stop talking trash and using your "rage" and just play the game. One more word from your mouth and you get socked in the face.
20. J.R. Smith
Untie my shoe one more time and see what happens.
19. DeMarcus Cousins
Sometimes you have the maturity of a 10-year-old. That doesn't fly in the NBA, man.
18. Philip Rivers
Most likely a bully in grade school, you, Philip, need an attitude adjustment and some major chill pills. This is for all the nerds you picked on back in the day.
17. Johnny Manziel
Your money celebration makes me want to gauge my eyes out, but punching you in the face will do.
16. Bryce Harper
Young, talented and just flat-out cocky. If there is one young player that needs to be put in his place, it's you, Bryce.
15. Riley Cooper
Riley, don't you dare use those words in public again -- or just at all, for that matter. You deserve two punches in the face.
14. Rajon Rondo
Rajon, I'm sick of you trying to be an instigator. Also, bumping into refs and trying to intimidate them? What's that all about.
13. Ryan Braun
Oh, so you did take steroids? You lied to me and everyone else. I thought we were friends, Ryan.
12. LeBron James
Your whining and flopping all the time has infuriated fans everywhere. Act like the 6-foot-8, 250-pound man that you are.
11. Dwight Howard
You might be the biggest baby in all of sports. You got a couple coaches fired, asked to be traded and then hated where you were traded to and signed elsewhere. You, sir, are a drama queen. Fans would surely punch you if they could reach your face.
10. Cristiano Ronaldo
As the most hated soccer player in the world, how fun is it being you? Oh your rich and you get whatever you want? Okay, you still get an eight-punch combination.
9. Chael Sonnen
You sound too much like a salesman and not as much of a fighter, Chael. It's far too annoying for anyone's good.
8. Lance Armstrong
You literally tore the hearts out of all Americans. You were a national hero for winning the Tour de France more times than not and you took performance-enhancing drugs -- and lied about it. I'm pretty sure the video below describes exactly how we all feel about you.
7. Kevin Garnett
Kevin, you need to stop being such a dirtbag on the court and start being a bit more personable and likable. I'm sure every player who you ever started something with wants to punch you in the face to this day.
6. A.J. Pierzynski
A.J., no one likes you. That is all.
5. Tom Brady
Your cashmere sweaters and designer clothes -- oh, and the UGGs -- are just too much "style" for any man to wear. You need to tone it down. Oh yeah, and you were voted the least liked quarterback in the league.
4. Alex Rodriguez
You, Alex, are the biggest scumbag out there.
3. Marshall Henderson
If there was ever a situation in which a cocky player could get on my nerves enough to punch him, it'd be Marshall Henderson. Stop acting like a clown and taunting players and fans and just play the game.
2. Ndamukong Suh
One thing you need is a punch to the face. And then another. And another. And another. Well, just a ton because you have done something dirty or scummy every game. Dirtiest player in football.
1. Aaron Hernandez
Do I really need to say why you need to be punched in the face? I think I'm being too kind.
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