RSS Top 10: The Top 10 Most Hated Teams in Sports

The RSS Top 10 is back with our 10 Most Hated Teams in Sports. Duke's win last night got us thinking - where do they rank among the most despised of the disliked teams? The answer: pretty high. These teams are the most hated for a number of reasons, but a common theme is dominance at the top of their respective sports. Of course, since we're all about peace and love here, we don't endorse or promote real hate... only the good, healthy, fun kind of sports hate. It's good for the soul don't you know.

10. Chelsea and Manchester United - Soccer

-We start our list by looking worldwide across the pond to the top two teams in the EPL - Chelsea and Manchester United. Both teams are hated because of their recent dominance on the field, but mostly their billionaire owners off of it. Chelsea's Roman Abramovich has gone Steinbrenner on the soccer world trying to buy a Champions League title, but hasn't done it yet. Man U's owners, the Glazers of the Tampa Bay Bucs, have ridden the club with so much debt that the fans are showing up to games in green and gold scarves (above) instead of the traditional red to protest. Love United Hate Glazer signs can be seen all around Old Trafford. But, the hate doesn't have to stop there. Man U's manager Sir Alex Ferguson makes Coach K seem humble with the whining he does to the officials. For Chelsea, John Terry is the most hateable player in world soccer after his affair with the WAG of ex-teammate Wayne Bridge.

9. USC - College Football

-Maybe USC's sins are about to catch up with them, but since they're such an established powerhouse and cash cow, don't count on it. And that's why S.C. makes our list, they get to play by their own set of rules. From the nefarious recruiting scandals that have hovered over the program, to their hiring of the sleaziest Snake Oil Salesman of them all, Lane Kiffin, the Trojans are the antithesis of a program centered around student athletes. The favorite sons of Colin Cowherd and the West Coast elites don't get a pass from the majority of America just because they think they're cooler than everyone else, Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell not withstanding. At least we were one of few that noted Pete Carroll being a hypocrite last season. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, USC did have the 2nd best team in college football in the last 50 years in 2005 according to ESPN's "experts"...too bad nobody told Texas. Yeah, maybe having USC shoved down our throats for an entire month added to their hatred around the country just a little bit.

8. SEC - College Football

-Many fans hate the SEC because of the perceived preferential treatment and fawning towards the conference from the media. Granted, the SEC has won 6 of 12 BCS Championships, but that only adds to the conference's hateability factor. Start with the sweetheart deal ESPN hatched with the SEC to help them start their own network...objectivity anyone? Add to that a healthy dose of some of the most dislikable and polarizing figures in sports: Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and on and on, case in point:

Not just that, it's the fact that the SEC still acts like it has a chip on its shoulder, even though it's already so accomplished. Maybe someone should tell the almighty Southeastern Conference that its champion doesn't have a rite of passage to the BCS title game forever.

7. Los Angeles Lakers - NBA

-Pardon the pun, but the Lakers have been the gold standard for NBA hatred for much of their existence. Sure, they started out humbly as the Minneapolis Lakers behind gentle giant George Mikan. And from the championship standard of greatness set by the Showtime 80s to the current Kobe incarnation, it seems the Lakers always strive to be the best. Which is commendable, if they weren't so arrogant about it. From Jack Nicholson complaining about calls while wearing his trademark sunglasses indoors (real cool, Jack), to the surliness of Kobe and Phil, everything about the Lakers reeks of arrogance. The fact that most of their Hollywood fans go to their games to be seen rather than see a game is a big put off too. I don't think the old Forum was filled to capacity by Dustin Hoffman and his stupid camera or Dyan Cannon and her newest Botox injections between those championship eras, was it? That's why it's easy to hate the Lakers, they're the ultimate front-runners.

6. New England Patriots - NFL

-The Patriots are relative newbies to the most hated teams list, but they've entrenched themselves with the evil mastermind Bill Belichick running the show. Pre-hoodie, Belichick was a below average head coach with Cleveland, but for some reason he founded a dynasty in New England. He also became a surly, unlikeable figurehead for the Pats. There's also his QB Tom Brady, who gets the trophies and the supermodels. Men everywhere can be envious of that. But how did the Patriots become winners? We heard about the "Patriot way" for so many years and that this team did things the right way. Then... well, then the Spygate scandal tarnished the Patriot dynasty and made everyone skeptical of the Belichick Era. What followed was a bitter team running up the score for an entire season on their way to 16-0. Fortunately for Mercury Morris, there weren't many unhappy fans outside New England when the Giants ended their unbeaten hopes in SB XLII.

5. Boston Red Sox - MLB

-Red Sox Nation. Let me stab my eyes with a burning pitchfork. As Boston drew closer and closer to a World Series, the "Nation" came into the spotlight with such a "lovable" team and fanbase. There were parties, sappy stories, books, and even the predictable Jimmy Fallon/Drew Barrymore movie. Puh-lease. The Red Sox won their World Series and then a funny thing happened. The world figured out that the Red Sox were just as evil as the Yankees! The Sawx spend just about as much money and are just as privileged as their Northeastern neighbors. I know the comeback - at least the Sawx have Papi and Pedroia and Youk and Theo! Gag. With the Sawx 2nd World Title in 2007, they officially crossed into hateville as the Nation became insufferable. What makes your fanbase a "Nation" anyways? What does that even mean?? Do you walk into Fargo, ND or Mobile, AL and expect to see Sawx jerseys? Does Nashville Predator Nation exist yet? The Red Sox earn their spot because they think they're the little guy and everybody should love the Nation when really, they are as hateable as the dreaded Yankees (more on them in a bit).

4. Dallas Cowboys - NFL

-It was over 30 years ago when the Cowboys were christened America's Team. Sure, they maybe were the most popular team in the NFL back then, but that was before the Jerry Jones Era. Well, maybe Jerry's new billion dollar Palace in Dallas, with its Gladiator-esque doors and 8,000 foot videoscreen scream America more than anything. Seriously, how many starving children could that videoboard feed? The Cowboys make our list because they still think they're America's Team, even though no team is bigger than the NFL these days. Heck, the most watched TV program in history was just played between the Colts and the Saints!! From Michael Irvin and Primetime to Tony & Jessica and TO, the players haven't been easy to love either. Even their best player, Emmitt Smith, referred to his last year in Big D as being a "diamond surrounded by trash." Stay classy.

3. Notre Dame - College Football

-Perhaps more of an old school choice, Notre Dame still makes our list because their hatred is so deep-seeded around the country. Especially here in the Midwest, you either love or hate the Irish, there's no middle ground. The sad thing about Notre Dame is that they don't realize time has passed them by. They still think they're the best in the sport because of Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen and Lou Holtz...but their last national title was 1988! They've won one bowl game, one, since 1994! It doesn't matter any more that the Irish have their own TV network to prop them up (NBC) or that they see themselves as above joining a conference. If they didn't have these false pillars of strength, they'd be forgotten. But because they're the Irish, and only because they're the Irish, they are the still a part of the national conversation, which is why they're still hated with a passion by people who just wish they'd go away!

2. New York Yankees - MLB

-The Evil Empire, doesn't that say it all? They spend more than everyone else, think they're better than everyone else, and expect the world to revolve around them from March to November. Their owner isn't just George Steinbrenner...he's the Boss! His son and apparent heir Hank seems as if he hasn't fallen too far from the tree either. Check out this gem:

"Red Sox Nation?" What a bunch of [expletive] that is," he said in an interview with The New York Times' Play magazine. "That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. "Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

I guess I forgot to wake up this morning and pledge my allegiance to the Yankees. I also forgot that MLB only had two teams you could root for, the Yanks or the Sawx. That's the worst part about the Yankees and their fans...it's like there's something wrong with you if you're not a fan of the mighty Yankees or consumed by their war with the Red Sox. Little do they know, there's a big wide world outside little old New York City, which also includes other professional baseball teams! It's so easy for anyone (say, LeBron James) to thrown on a Yankees cap, claim to be a lifelong fan, and show themselves as a phony bandwaggoner. Perhaps no other team on this list has such a rich history of hatred from other fans. Although I guess 27 World Championships will do that, as sickening as it is. I mean, how many teams have a play written about the hatred for them...it's surprising Damn Yankees isn't the longest running show in history, it could sell out across the country 12 months a year!

1. Duke Blue Devils - College Basketball

-Maybe a surpise choice, but with their soul-crushing defeat of Butler last night, it's only fitting that the Dukies claim the top spot in our countdown. Come on, anyone can hate the Yankees. We detailed 5 reasons why it was ok to hate Duke here last week, and those reasons apply here. It could be stories of how arrogant Coach K really is (he said he was most excited about 2 private schools playing for the title, huh?), the arrogant players that have come through the pipeline like JJ Redick, Dick Vitale, or the fact that they never get any calls... except the ones they always get. Hey, who else but Duke could win a title and then directly have F&#k ____ as a Twitter trending topic.

But, what places Duke above the rest is that you and I, average sports fans, are told by everyone else that we shouldn't hate Duke. That sentiment in the media is exclusive to Duke on this list. We're told we should love Duke because they play the right way and go to school amongst other courageous activities. How could anyone hate such a fine program? If anything makes you want to hate a team even more, it is people telling you that you can't hate them. So hate away Duke haters... there's always next year.

Honorable Mention: Ohio State (football), Michigan (football), Boston Celtics (NBA), Canada (Olympic Hockey), Mexico (Soccer), North Carolina (basketball), Kansas (basketball), UConn (women's basketball), Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR), Jeff Gordon (NASCAR)

Top 10 Stories of the Decade - #9 The Patriots Dynasty

Our #9 Sports Story of the Decade may be the most unlikely of all dynasties in sports history. From a retread coach, to the 199th pick to one of the most obscure rules in football, the Pats seemed to rise from the ashes. The word dynasty is thrown around loosely now in the hyperactive 24/7 sports media, but with 3 Super Bowl wins, 4 Super Bowl appearances, and a 16-0 regular season, the Patriots are the closest thing to it in the NFL. How did they get to this point, and how did almost come crashing down? Take a trip down memory lane, here at RSS!

In the year 2000, the Patriots were going nowhere. After a Super Bowl appearance under Bill Parcells, the franchise was stuck in neutral throughout the late 90's. Pete Carroll had been fired at the conclusion of a typically medicore 8-8 season in 1999. Owner Robert Kraft decided to replace Carroll with Bill Belichick to lead his team into the next decade. On one front, the move made sense. A disciple of Bill Parcells, Belichick seemed to have all the tools to be a successful head coach. But, in his only other head coaching stint, Belichick amassed a 36-44 record in his 5-year stint as head coach of the Cleveland Browns in the mid-90's. Not only that, the Patriots had to give up a first-round draft pick to pry him away from the New York Jets, who hired Belichick to replace his mentor Parcells. The move smacked of desperation from the beginning for a franchise that had never truly tasted success. The 2000 season seemed to confirm the doubters, with the Patriots going 5-11.

But, behind the scenes, Belichick was slowly changing the franchise from the bottom up. The personnel department was overhauled. Belichick also began stamping his trademark defensive aggressiveness on the team. But, something was still missing. Then, the hit that would change the course of a franchise occurred on September 23, 2001. Jets LB Mo Lewis knocked out Pats starting QB Drew Bledsoe.

Enter 2nd-year QB Tom Brady, the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. Sure, Brady came from a high-profile program in Michigan, but no one expected anything from him. But, somehow, Brady blossomed and led the Pats to a division title and an 11-5 record. All the while, Belichick was assembling the bedrock of his defensive foundation. Players like Seymour, Vrabel, Law, and Bruschi turned the Pats into a dominant defensive force.

The Pats had made the playoffs, but they certainly weren't seen as a Super Bowl contender. In their divisional round game against the Oakland Raiders, many still saw the Pats as an underdog. Then, we all became familiar with the tuck rule. The highlights are below, and as the legend of Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri grew, the Pats made it all the way to the Super Bowl.

In Super Bowl XXXVI, the Pats would face the Greatest Show on Turf, the St. Louis Rams, already winner of one Super Bowl themselves. With the nation's sentiments on the side of the underdog Pats in the aftermath of 9/11, the game always seemed to have a different feel to it. In the pregame intros, the Pats were introduced as a team, instead of individually. This set the tone for a day where the overall team scheme devised by Belichick, and the late-game heroics of Brady and Vinatieri would defeat the heavily-favored Rams to win the Super Bowl 20-17.

Tom Brady would vault overnight from virtual unknown to one of the best quarterbacks of all-time. He began racking up Super Bowl MVP's, NFL MVP's, Pro Bowls, endorsement deals, and celebrity galpals. Bill Belichick went from maligned Parcells disciple to an even greater coach in the eyes of history than his mentor. Then again, 3 Super Bowls in 4 years will do that to your reputation as the Pats defeated the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. But, just as the mystique of the Patriots dynasty was reaching a head, it almost came crashing down at the hands of a former entry-level scout, Matt Walsh.

At the beginning of the 2007 season, the Patriots became embattled by allegations of cheating. As videotaped evidence began being leaked forward, the clandestine operation run by Belichick began to be looked at with scrutiny for the first time in the decade. Had the Patriots obtained their success by illegally taping the opponent's defensive signals? Was Belichick just a brilliant cheater, instead of a brilliant coach? All of these questions remain unanswered. The Boston Herald retracted a story of the Patriots taping the Rams Super Bowl walkthrough, but the rumors and doubts still persist.

Belichick was found guilty of violating league rules, fined $500,000, and was forced to forfeit his 1st round draft pick in the following 2008 draft. But, no concrete "cheating" has ever truly been proven. And despite the best efforts of ambulence-chaser Sen. Arlen Spector and Commish Roger Goodell, no clear resolution was found in the Spygate case. Much like many of the hysteria-inducing stories of the decade, it slowly faded away in the background of the game itself.

Nevertheless, the whispers of cheating only seemed to spurn the Pats on to greater heights. Tom Brady and newly acquired WR Randy Moss would set single-season records on their way to leading the Patriots to only the 2nd undefeated regular season in the modern era. And although they lost the Super Bowl to the underdog Giants (see our recap here), there wasn't any doubt the Pats were in firm control of the NFL once again heading in to the end of the decade.

But now, as we bring the decade to a close, the Patriots once again are vulnerable. Gone are the stalwarts of a once vulnerable defense. Gone is the aura of the secretive mastermind Bill Belichick. After his season-ending knee injury in early 2008, even Tom Brady has come under fire for his perceived lack of grit and determination. For the first time in nearly 10 years, it seems as if it's all slipping away from Bill Belichick. Much like the desperation shown at the beginning of the decade, the moves made by Belichick, both on the field and off, show signs that maybe it's beginning to slip away from the Patriots. The greatest example of this manifested itself in Belichick's now dubious decision to go for it on 4th and 2 against Peyton Manning's Colts earlier this season.

After all, nothing in the NFL lasts forever. Maybe it's time. Perhaps we are currently witnessing the beginning of the end of this Patriots dynasty. But, without question, when fans look back at the 2000's, the sentiment will be unanimous. Much like Lombardi's Packers, Landry's Cowboys, Knoll's Steelers, Walsh's 49ers, and Johnson's Cowboys, the Team of the Decade in the NFL of the 2000's was Belichick and Brady's Patriots. And despite the questions SpyGate aroused, that label can never be taken away from the unlikeliest of all the dynasties in NFL history.

Follow us on Twitter by clicking on the upper right hand part of the page and check back for our #8 Story of the Decade! We'll be back later with our picks and a preview of the NFL action at RSS. Bye for now...

Top 10 Teams of the Decade

The Decade Series is back! This week our list focuses on the Top 10 Teams of the Decade. These aren't single-season teams, but rather the best franchises of the past 10 years. These teams have a "Commitment to Excellence" that Al Davis would be proud of, if he's still awake. To make such a prestigious list you have to have won multiple championships and be the epitome of greatness in the sports world. These franchises are simply the best.

10) Pittsburgh Steelers - Winners of SB XL and XLIII, 5 Division Titles, 6 Playoff Appearances

With first Bill Cowher and now Mike Tomlin at the helm, this is the model of a stable, successful franchise. Behind the QB play of Ben Roethlisberger and heroics from Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes, they won 2 titles this decade. Something only surpassed by a team later in the countdown. Throughout the decade, they have consistently been at the top of the NFL and have one of the nation's largest fanbases. In a league of supposed parity, the Steelers are always good.

9) San Antonio Spurs - 2003, 2005, 2007 NBA Champions, 10 Playoff Appearances

If there is one team on our list that can have a beef, it's San Antonio. 3 titles in a decade is quite the accomplishment, not to mention making the playoffs every single year in the 00's. Led by the unflappable Big Fundamental Tim Duncan and Coach Pop, the Spurs are the epitome of a consistent winner. But, if there is one thing holding back the Spurs it is there utter lack of interest, pizazz, or excitement which makes them the most boring team in the countdown.

8) #48 Jimmie Johnson - 2006, 2007, 2008 Nascar Champion, 2006 Daytona 500 Winner, 2006, 2008, 2009 Brickyard 400 Winner

Wait a minute, a racecar driver... that's not a team! Oh contraire mon frere as the French say. Jimmie Johnson's success is in large part due to the fantastic team around him. As has been documented here before, car owner Rick Hendrick is perhaps the best owner in all of sports, and Crew Chief Chad Knaus has been with Jimmie through every step of his likely 4 straight titles. The #48 team never puts a foot wrong seemingly, and the entire crew deserves credit.

7) Ferrari F1 - 6 Drivers Championships (2000-2004, 2007) and 7 Constructors Titles (previous and 2008)

Wait, 2 racing teams! But of course! In the world of racing, only the legendary red cars of Ferrari can match NASCAR's #48 team. Their dominance in the early part of the decade led by Michael Schumacher is one of the most impressive runs in sport across the world. They then showed in 2007 and 2008 that they weren't totally dependent on Schumi's excellence by winning a Team title in 2008 and Kimi Raikkonen's triumph in 2007.

6) Boston Red Sox - 2004 and 2007 World Series Titles, 6 Playoff Appearances

The Red Sox make a ceremonial appearance on the countdown due to their 2 World Series triumphs in 2004 and 2007. The '04 title win that broke the curse of that one guy is enough to put them on the list, but the comeback against the Yanks will be talked about forever. Even though the Yankees might have won more division titles this decade, the Sox won most when it counts - October. But, if the Yanks go on and win the 2009 World Series, consider this Sox/Yanks decision reversed!

5) Florida Gators - 2oo6 and 2007 NCAA Bball Titles, 2006 and 2008 BCS titles

In the college realm, Florida has been Titletown USA. Their 2006 Football and Basketball titles is an unprecedented accomplishment that might not be seen again in major college athletics. Stars such as Noah, Brewer, Tebow, and Harvin have led the Gators on the field while Billy Donovan (the Magic flirtation aside) and Urban Meyer have provided outstanding leadership for each program. Florida football might even add to the trophy cabinet in January, would that count for this decade or the next though.... ummm... next?

4) UConn Basketball - 5 NCAA Championships (2000, '02-'04, 2009) 39-0 in 2002 and 2009

The UConn Women's basketball team is the best. The program that Geno Auriemma built in Storrs won their eternal rivalry with Tennessee this decade. They had 3 more NCAA titles and also an incredible feat of 2 perfect 39-0 seasons 7 years apart! The only reason UConn isn't at the top is the total lack of depth in Women's Bball. Every year there might only be 6-7 teams capable of winning a title and one of them is UConn. I guess that's not Geno's fault though...

3) Manchester United - 12 Total Trophies including 5 EPL Titles, 1 Champions League, and 1 Club World Cup

We go back to the world stage for our #3 team and the most accomplished soccer club in the world. Glory, Glory Man United indeed. Their trophy rack has increased greatly this decade with 5 EPL titles (now in a tie with Liverpool for the most ever) and their unique international double of winning the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup. Throughout the decade, Fergie's troops have been the most consistent soccer power throughout the world, and they show no signs of slowing down.

2) Los Angeles Lakers - 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2009 NBA Champions, 2004 and 2008 Finals Appearance

If only Kobe and Shaq were kept together! They would be a solid #1 on our list, but the breakup of the LA dynasty meant they only won 4 titles this decade, yea, only 4. The 2004 team beating the Pistons would have easily put the Lakers at #1, but that was instead the end of an era. Kobe, Shaq, and Phil broke up and the Lakers were never the same... at least until 2008. Surprisingly, Phil came back as Kobe was the lone wolf in leading LA to a 2008 Finals appearance and a 2009 victory.

1) New England Patriots - Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX Champions, 16-0 regular season in 2007.

The team of the decade. However, their image has gone from that of underdog heroes in 2001 (remember the team introduction at the Super Bowl?) to obnoxious, cheating villains with guys like Belichick and Brady that you love to hate (don't forget Spygate either). Nevertheless, their acheivements this decade are unmatched in sports. They are the dynasty in a dynasty-proof league. Plus, they are only the second team in league history to have an undefeated regular season, don't ask about what happened in the Super Bowl that year though. With their unmatched success, this team has been the flagship bearer in the world of sports throughout the 2000's.

That's our list, what's yours? Don't forget to leave us your feedback (you can be critical, or positive... don't forget you can actually agree!) on the Top 10 Teams of the Decade. Who's #1? Who belongs and who doesn't? Who would you move up and down the list or on and off the list? The decade series will return with our extended countdown and profiles of the Top 10 Games of the Decade. Till then, it's bye for now!