20 of the Most Evil Athletes in History

By Jacob Kornhauser

20 of the Most Evil Athletes in History

Aaron Hernandez Court Appearance — Whether it be because of things they did on the field or off, some players are just evil. At the very least, there are many athletes who are hated. Some of the athletes on this list committed actual crimes, while some have just gotten on our nerves, but all 20 are pretty evil.

20. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez Celebrity Deathmatch New York Yankees

20. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez Celebrity Deathmatch New York Yankees — A-Rod is a liar and a cheater and he thinks that he can keep getting away with it. He can continue apologizing for his actions all he wants, but nobody should accept them anymore. While he's one of the elite talents to ever play baseball, not too many people are going to be upset when he's out of the league.

19. Claude Lemieux

Claude Lemieux

19. Claude Lemieux

Claude Lemieux — Lemieux was the definition of a dirty NHL player back in the day. He really got going in the 1990s when he helped fuel the fire that was the Colorado-Detroit rivalry. This skater was just one of those players that got under the skin of opposing fans and made them hate him forever.

18. Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh

18. Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh — Suh has gained the reputation as the NFL's dirtiest player and for good reason. He routinely takes cheap shots at opposing players and seemingly tries to injure others. Add to that, the fact he's one of the best defenders in the game and people just naturally hate him.

17. Richie Incognito

Richie Incognito Miami Dolphins bully meathead

17. Richie Incognito

Richie Incognito Miami Dolphins bully meathead — Incognito is your classic meathead football player that thinks he can just bully others to get what he wants. He really doesn't seem to care about others as long as it benefits him. That's the way it's been his whole career and that's why he's seemingly hated by the entire NFL.

16. Michael Vick

Michael Vick

16. Michael Vick

Michael Vick — No matter whether or not he learned from his mistakes, the things that Michael Vick did to dogs during the days of his dog fighting ring were absolutely disgusting. He abused countless dogs and killed plenty more. It's such a shame that a great career will always have the blemish of a sickening dog-fighting reputation attached to it.

15. A.J. Pierzynski

St. Louis Cardinals v Milwaukee Brewers

15. A.J. Pierzynski

St. Louis Cardinals v Milwaukee Brewers — Pierzynski is the most hated player in Major League Baseball and for good reason. Really, he's just downright annoying and tries to stir things up for no reason at all. He just finds a way to get on everybody's nerves.

14. Bill Romanowski

Subway Fresh Fit 500 Practice

14. Bill Romanowski

Subway Fresh Fit 500 Practice — Romanowski was one of the baddest guys to ever play the game of football. Off the football field, he's not all bad, but when he strapped it up, he could be a truly intimidating dude.

13. John Rocker

Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves

13. John Rocker

Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves — The former Braves pitcher was one of the true villains of baseball back in the day. Sometimes it was entertaining how much opposing fans hated him, but in the eyes of most non-Braves fans, he was evil.

12. Nyjer Morgan

San Diego Padres v Cleveland Indians

12. Nyjer Morgan

San Diego Padres v Cleveland Indians — If he's not playing on your team, you probably hate Nyjer Morgan. Even though he can be pretty entertaining at times, he tries to get under the skin of fans and players and it usually works pretty well.

11. Brandon Phillips

Cincinnati Reds v St. Louis Cardinals

11. Brandon Phillips

Cincinnati Reds v St. Louis Cardinals — Phillips is just a mean and cocky dude. That's usually not a good mix and it's a big reason why non-Reds fans generally despise the second baseman.

10. Tiger Woods

143rd Open Championship - Round Four

10. Tiger Woods

143rd Open Championship - Round Four — Tiger knows exactly how good he is, or at least how good he used to be, and that's not good. It allows him to be extremely cocky, which can be annoying at times. He also routinely yells at bystanders on the golf course, which needs to come to an end.

9. Diego Maradona

Interreligious Match For Peace

9. Diego Maradona

Interreligious Match For Peace — Even though he's a hero in Argentina, people from other parts of the world remember the soccer star's bad side. He could really be a jerk at times and that certainly rubbed some people the wrong way.

8. Lance Armstrong

Oprah Interviews Lance Armstrong

8. Lance Armstrong

Oprah Interviews Lance Armstrong — Not only did Armstrong cheat and lie about it for years, but he attacked innocent people verbally who accused him of cheating. There are a few people's lives who were turned upside down all because he was in denial about the fact that he didn't win in the right way.

7. Ray Rice

Baltimore Ravens v Cincinnati Bengals

7. Ray Rice

Baltimore Ravens v Cincinnati Bengals — Unfortunately, domestic violence is more prevalent in sports than we realize. Even though there have been several players involved in domestic abuse, Rice is the only one whose act got caught on tape. Because of that, he will be made an example of by the NFL and sports in general.

6. Tonya Harding

Tonya Harding weighs in

6. Tonya Harding

Tonya Harding weighs in — It's clear someone's pretty evil when they try to take out a competitor in their sport. Ordering to have a fellow American hurt so that her chances at the Olympics would be better was despicable.

5. Barry Bonds

Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants

5. Barry Bonds

Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants — Bonds continues to lie to the public and himself about his steroid use. All of his records deserve an asterisk next to them. Still not convinced that Bonds was juiced? Read "A Game of Shadows" and see if you still feel the same way.

4. Ty Cobb

ALCS Game 4: Oakland A's v Detroit Tigers

4. Ty Cobb

ALCS Game 4: Oakland A's v Detroit Tigers — One of the meanest players to ever play baseball, Cobb would be arrested for assault nowadays for some of the things he did on the field in the early 1900s. At one point, he punched an umpire and only got a 10-game suspension. That would warrant a season-long suspension in 2014.

3. Rae Carruth

Rae Carruth #89

3. Rae Carruth

Rae Carruth #89 — Carruth is a despicable human being. He had a hit ordered on his ex-wife and the reason was so that he didn't have to pay child support. If that doesn't tell you enough about his character, or lack thereof, then nothing will.

2. O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson Seeks Retrial In Las Vegas Court - Day 5

2. O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson Seeks Retrial In Las Vegas Court - Day 5 — He may not have been convicted, but the evidence seemed pretty clear that Simpson murdered his wife and her lover. However, even ignoring that, he is now in jail on kidnapping charges among other things. What a far fall from grace for one of the best running backs in NFL history.

1. Aaron Hernandez

AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens v New England Patriots

1. Aaron Hernandez

AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens v New England Patriots — It seems clear that Hernandez killed a family friend execution style and will probably pay with life in prison for it. With other formal charges on the horizon, we may find out that Odin Lloyd wasn't the first man he murdered in cold blood. Of course, Hernandez is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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