Top 5 Most Hated, and By Whom: Hockey

I love hockey, both the game and it's history. I believe that it is my favourite sport to watch simply because it's athletes and front office guys can seem, at one moment to be bigger than life, while at the next come of as being just one of the guys. They say that if the hockey pool is 1000 feet wide, it is only 1 inch deep, in that, every single person within the game knows each other. The same can be said of the fans. Almost every single hockey enthusiast that I know has a story about an NHLer that has to be told (apparently goaltender Kevin Weekes can stick his dick in his own ass). Any fan can become emotionally attached to their favourite player, as their on-ice vision becomes your on-ice dream.

With this in mind we can also see why some people attached to the hockey world are seen as pariahs, but are not viewed as such by all. Here is my list of the top 5 most hated characters in hockey, and whom they are hated by:

5) Eric Lindros vs. The People of Quebec City

Drafted first over all by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Lindros' relationship with the of Quebec city was rocky from the get-go. 'The Big E' refused to report to the Nordiques training camp, instead opting to eat peanut butter sandwiches in his mother's basement and spending time with his brother Brett who suffers from Down Syndrome. Many cite Eric's (Bonnie's) decision, not to play in Quebec, as one of the main reasons that the Nordiques moved to Colorado.

Check out the draft footage here.

4) The Legacy Of Harold Ballard vs. Leafs Nation

Legend has it, that Harold Ballard won control of the Leafs during a late night drinking contest with Stafford Smythe at the 'Hot Stove Bar' located in the old Maple Leaf Gardens. While Ballard turned the Maple Leafs into a financial juggernaut, the on-ice product was destroyed in almost irreversible ways. No friend of the fans, Ballard traded leaf favourite, Lanny McDonald in 1979 as a way to demoralize Darryl Sittler. In return he received Wilf Paiement from the Rockies. Paiement was forced to wear #99 by Ballard upon his arrival, a move Ballard thought would convince the fans that they were getting a very special player. In another controversial move, Ballard had a large portrait of Queen Elizabeth II removed in 1968 to make room for more seats. When asked about it by the media Ballard replied, "She doesn't pay me, I pay her. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play?"

Ballard was convicted on 48 counts of fraud in 1972, and spent 1 year in Millhaven maximum-security prison. He was later used as the basis for a Tragically hip song.

3) Ulf Samuelsson vs. The People of Boston

In 1991 Ulf Sameulsson injured Cam Neely with what is considered a borderline check by most hockey fans, but in Boston it was considered an attack against the city itself. As a result of this check, Neely developed 'myositis ossificans' in the injured area a condition were an injured muscle calcifies and essentially turns to bone. Neely would return to the NHL, but would ultimately retire because of the injury. Since his retirement in '96, the Bruins have not made it pat the first round of the playoffs.

Here is footage of the hit, and an awesome newsreel of the lead up to game 4 of the series.

2) Bill Wirtz vs. The People of Chicago

Have you ever sat back and tried to imagine life after you have died? How people would react to your passing? Or what would be your lasting legacy? I wonder if the former owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bill Wirtz, could have guessed that a packed house at the United Center would boo his memorial service and cat call all the way through a moment of silence in his honour. There are several reasons for the Chicago faithful to hate him, some with reason, others without. A legendary miser, Wirtz is blamed for the losses of Denis Savard, as well as trading away Ed Belfour and Jeremy Roenick in their prime. The biggest thing Wirtz will be remembered for is his refusal to broadcast Blackhawk home games, stating that it would be unfair to season ticket holders. Now with Wirtz out of the picture Chicago fans finally have something to look forward to, both at the United Center, and on their T.V.'s.

Checkout this fan made video from Bill Wirtz's Memorial, as the fans boo relentlessly.

1) Claude Lemieux vs. The People of Detroit

A vicious bodycheck from behind sparked one of the most violent rivalries in the modern era. In the '96 playoffs Claude Lemieux lined up Kris Draper from behind and unleashed one of the dirtiest hits in NHL history. 76 stitches later, Kris Draper and the wings returned next year to square off in a memorable rematch that saw a brutal line brawl and the infamous Lemieux-McCarty 'Turtle Incident'. After much big-talk from the Detroit media and fans, Lemieux stepped up to the challenge and cleaned McCarty's clock in his return to Joe Louis arena. The rivalry continued several years after Lemieux's retirement on an episode of Spike T.V.'s 'Pros vs. Joe's' when Lemieux knocked 2 teeth out of a contestant, and avid Red Wing's fan's mouth.