According to the latest surveys by California-based E-Poll Market Research, these 10 sports figures rank lowest on the public's likability scorecard. Candidacy was limited to active athletes, coaches, managers, owners, agents and broadcasters. A 10% minimum awareness level with the American public was also a prerequisite.
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Michael Vick
Philadelphia Eagles
Percent Dislike: 69%
A year removed from his dog-fighting troubles, Vick's image rehab was probably slowed by his sparse playing time in Philadelphia. More time in the public eye could move things along.
Al Davis
Oakland Raiders
Percent Dislike: 66%
A football owner who's always walked to the beat of his own drum. Davis has signed renegade players and yanked his team back and forth between Oakland and Los Angeles, spurring lawsuits and run-ins with the league. And his "Just win, baby" mantra hasn't been working in recent years.
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers Percent Dislike: 57%
Accused of but not charged for sexual assault (twice), not long after a motorcycle accident, Big Ben's wild ways finally caught up to him. At 28, it's probably time to stop partying with the college set.
Tiger Woods
Golfer
Percent Dislike: 53%
Tiger's tabloid year has taken its toll. Crisis management types believe he's taking the right road back--apologize and get back to the course--though it figures to be a long road.
Jerry Jones
Dallas Cowboys
Percent Dislike: 53%
Like Oakland's Al Davis, Jones is known as a maverick owner who has clashed with the league and with his coaches. Outside the home market, where winning tops all, fans don't generally take to boat-rockers.
Mark McGwire
St. Louis Cardinals
Percent Dislike: 48%
Baseball's steroid stigma still needs some time to pass, apparently. McGwire's recent tearful interview with Bob Costas got mixed reviews--he came across as genuinely sorry but refused to acknowledge the 'roids pumped up his home run total. Luckily hitting coaches spend little time on the field during the game.
Terrell Owens
Buffalo Bills
Percent Dislike: 47%
The wide receiver diva's antics are polarizing to the public--T.O. is the type people love or hate. But as his skills erode, the public grows less tolerant. At 36, he's now a free agent looking for an NFL gig.
Alex Rodriguez
New York Yankees
Percent Dislike: 45%
A-Rod is down five spots from last year, when steroid talk dominated the conversation and his (championship) ring finger was still bare. Then again, Tiger and Roethlisberger did plenty to jump ahead of him since then, while McGwire only became eligible this year after taking the Cardinals' hitting coach job.
Allen Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers
Percent Dislike: 45%
Returning to Philadelphia this season after a brief stop in Memphis didn't work out--Iverson left the club in February, citing his daughter's health. Some sports industry insiders say Iverson's tattoos, cornrows and sometimes brash nature give him a "bad boy" rep he doesn't deserve.
Gilbert Arenas
Washington Wizards
Percent Dislike: 44%
A highly publicized bout with guns in the Wizards' locker room got Arenas a hefty suspension from the league and two years' probation from the law. With $80 million left on his contract, the club may want to consider buying out Arenas as it gets set to take a new franchise player with the first overall draft pick, likely to be Kentucky's John Wall.
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Michael Vick
Philadelphia Eagles
Percent Dislike: 69%
A year removed from his dog-fighting troubles, Vick's image rehab was probably slowed by his sparse playing time in Philadelphia. More time in the public eye could move things along.
Al Davis
Oakland Raiders
Percent Dislike: 66%
A football owner who's always walked to the beat of his own drum. Davis has signed renegade players and yanked his team back and forth between Oakland and Los Angeles, spurring lawsuits and run-ins with the league. And his "Just win, baby" mantra hasn't been working in recent years.
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers Percent Dislike: 57%
Accused of but not charged for sexual assault (twice), not long after a motorcycle accident, Big Ben's wild ways finally caught up to him. At 28, it's probably time to stop partying with the college set.
Tiger Woods
Golfer
Percent Dislike: 53%
Tiger's tabloid year has taken its toll. Crisis management types believe he's taking the right road back--apologize and get back to the course--though it figures to be a long road.
Jerry Jones
Dallas Cowboys
Percent Dislike: 53%
Like Oakland's Al Davis, Jones is known as a maverick owner who has clashed with the league and with his coaches. Outside the home market, where winning tops all, fans don't generally take to boat-rockers.
Mark McGwire
St. Louis Cardinals
Percent Dislike: 48%
Baseball's steroid stigma still needs some time to pass, apparently. McGwire's recent tearful interview with Bob Costas got mixed reviews--he came across as genuinely sorry but refused to acknowledge the 'roids pumped up his home run total. Luckily hitting coaches spend little time on the field during the game.
Terrell Owens
Buffalo Bills
Percent Dislike: 47%
The wide receiver diva's antics are polarizing to the public--T.O. is the type people love or hate. But as his skills erode, the public grows less tolerant. At 36, he's now a free agent looking for an NFL gig.
Alex Rodriguez
New York Yankees
Percent Dislike: 45%
A-Rod is down five spots from last year, when steroid talk dominated the conversation and his (championship) ring finger was still bare. Then again, Tiger and Roethlisberger did plenty to jump ahead of him since then, while McGwire only became eligible this year after taking the Cardinals' hitting coach job.
Allen Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers
Percent Dislike: 45%
Returning to Philadelphia this season after a brief stop in Memphis didn't work out--Iverson left the club in February, citing his daughter's health. Some sports industry insiders say Iverson's tattoos, cornrows and sometimes brash nature give him a "bad boy" rep he doesn't deserve.
Gilbert Arenas
Washington Wizards
Percent Dislike: 44%
A highly publicized bout with guns in the Wizards' locker room got Arenas a hefty suspension from the league and two years' probation from the law. With $80 million left on his contract, the club may want to consider buying out Arenas as it gets set to take a new franchise player with the first overall draft pick, likely to be Kentucky's John Wall.
