
(Nathaniel S. Butler)
(Nathaniel S. Butler)
There aren't a lot of athletes everybody loves. No matter how distinguished a career they may have led. Just ask a RED SOX fan about DEREK JETER, or a FLAMES fan about WAYNE GRETZKY, or a DODGERS fan about WILLIE MAYS. But if we can all agree on anything, it’s that TIM DUNCAN is totally cool. (I know what you’re thinking – didn’t referee JOEY CRAWFORD hate TIM DUNCAN? No actually, and stats don’t lie.) Celebrated trash-talker DRAYMOND GREEN couldn't figure out how to get under DUNCAN’s skin. (Not that GREEN didn't have his own problems to worry about MONDAY.) As the BIG FUNDAMENTAL drew the curtain MONDAY on his impeccable NBA career, it was as classy and understated as his entire career. Here’s hoping he’s not overshadowed by the more self-centered KOBE BRYANT at their upcoming SPRINGFIELD inductions... There aren't a lot of athletes everybody hates. PETE ROSE will never have to pay for a drink in CINCINNATI (not that he’d try), LAWRENCE TAYLOR can still count on a standing ovation when he goes to a NEW YORK GIANTS GAME, and MICHAEL VICK is probably going to get another job in the NFL. But CRISTIANO RONALDO is about as unpopular as it gets when it comes to FIFA. His club supporters at REAL MADRID fans get fed up with their goal-scoring wonder from time to time. Hell, even insects hate RONALDO. Okay, so maybe there’s a lot of the “he’s too rich/handsome/successful/lucky-with-supermodels” jealousy that TOM BRADY also knows so well, but RONALDO somehow really pushes those buttons, with his pouting and sulking and diving and diving. When RONALDO left the Euro Championship game SUNDAY in the 25th minute after a tough knee injury, PORTUGAL instantly gained a lot of fans and even the local moths took advantage of the opportunity to taunt him. Sure enough, BILL SIMMONS’ notorious “EWING Theory” went into effect, and the QUINAS rallied around their less respected talent to pull out a 1-0 stunner against FRANCE. Everybody wins, except maybe RONALDO... That said, RONALDO’s probably still not as bad as A-ROD.