Hate to Love

Last week, I asked if anyone had any blog bat-around ideas and Chris (The Collector) suggested that I write a post about my favorite players on my least favorite teams.  As soon as I read his comment, I was into it.

Back in the early years of this blog, I actually had a series called "Players I Hate to Love"... which essentially covered this topic.  Unfortunately I haven't added to that series in over eight years.  I considered resurrecting this series... but I've also considered ranking my least favorite sports franchises for several years.  So this gives me a chance to kill two birds with one stone.

But before I reveal my picks, there are a couple of things I wanted to clarify:

#1:  With the exception of the New York Yankees, my least favorite teams are very fluid and constantly change.  My selections are based on how I'm feeling today.  If I did this again next month, they might not be ranked the same way.

#2:  I originally wanted to focus on current players and avoid adding retired players to this list.  Unfortunately, I struggled with this when it came to the sports outside of baseball.  In the end, I decided any player who I actively rooted for during my lifetime was fair game, but retired guys who played before I was born were off limits.

So without further ado... my favorite players on my least favorite teams:


5th Least Favorite Team:  Los Angeles Dodgers

When you're the best team in baseball, you're gonna receive some hate.  I honestly don't hate the Dodgers.  I've actually rooted for them on occasion since they represent my home state.  At the same time, they stand in the Padres way to the World Series, so they make this list.

My Favorite Dodger:  Fernando Valenzuela

1988 Fleer Baseball MVP #40

I went back and forth between The Tornado, El Toro, and The Claw.  Three aces from three different eras.  Today I'm going old school and picking Fernando.  I vividly remember Fernandomania from my childhood and pulling for him, because he was a fellow lefty.  If I didn't already have too many player collections, I'd probably start one of him.


4th Least Favorite Team:  Houston Astros

Although I was bummed to hear about the Astros banging on trash cans, I didn't loathe them like some baseball fans.  I'm one of those guys who assumes that most teams are cheating on one level or another which stinks... but is part of baseball.  What put them on this list was the fact that it took some of the players almost a month to come out and apologize to their fans.  Like I tell my students... when you make a mistake... take responsibility for your actions... learn from it... and move forward.  I'm not one to hold grudges, so the Astros may or may not be on this list again in the future.

My Favorite Astro:  Jose Altuve

2019 Topps Chrome Negative Refractor #20

Altuve has been one of my favorite players for a few years now, because of his ability to hit.  Plus he's a fellow member of the "Short Guy Club".  I hope he can leave the scandal behind him and go out there, play hard, and not repeat his mistakes.


3rd Least Favorite Team:  Dallas Cowboys

I've never liked the Cowboys.  I can't think of a single time I've ever rooted for them and can't think of a scenario where I would.  In fact, picking a favorite player from this franchise was really the only one I struggled with.

My Favorite Cowboy:  Emmitt Smith

1992 Pro Set Ground Force #150

I always rooted for Barry and Thurman over Emmitt back in the 90's.  But pulling an Emmitt rookie, parallel, or insert always brought a smile to my face.


2nd Least Favorite Team:  San Francisco 49ers

Now that the 49ers are Super Bowl contenders again, Niners Nation have dusted off their jerseys and are loud and proud.  Unfortunately... that means I have to hear about it on a regular basis from friends and family.  If there's a season and they return to the Super Bowl, there's an outside chance they'll hop into the #1 spot next year.

My Favorite 49er:  Jerry Rice

1997 SPx Gold #1

As a Bay Area native who grew up in a 49er household, I had the pleasure of watching him play on a weekly basis... even if I was always rooting for the other team.  The guy was in a league of his own... and definitely made life easier for guys like Montana and Young.


Least Favorite Team:  New York Yankees

I was pretty scarred by the trade that sent Rickey Henderson to the Yankees back in 1984.  I'm not sure if I hated the Yankees before then, but I didn't like them either.  "Stealing" my favorite player took things to the next level.  The thing that shot them to #1 was their success from the mid 90's through the 2000's.  These days I'll root for any team that's playing against them.

My Favorite Yankee:  Ron Guidry

1978 Topps #135

Are you surprised that I didn't choose Rickey?  Well... I didn't root for him while he wore Yankee Pinstripes.  I did root for Guidry.  Like Fernando, he's a fellow southpaw.  Plus I think it's pretty cool when a player spends their entire career with the same franchise.

Okay, it's your turn...

Who are your favorite players on your least favorite teams?

Feel free to leave your responses in the comment section below... or better yet... write a post and share a link instead.

Thanks Chris for sharing this awesome topic.  It'll be fun reading everyone's responses.

Happy Thursday and sayonara!

Players I Hate to Love #4: Niklas Lidstrom

Certain teams bug the heck out of me and the Detroit Red Wings are one of them. Since I became a San Jose Sharks fan back in the early 90's, the Red Wings have never missed the playoffs and have won four Stanley Cup Finals. In my mind, they're the New York Yankees of hockey.

Which is why you won't usually see this particular Sharks fan cheering for anyone wearing a Red Wings' jersey But Niklas Lidstrom is the exception. Actually, I can't say I've ever rooted for #5. But over the years, it's hard not to respect what he's done for his team and for the sport itself.

See for yourself. Here's a list of his major accomplishments:

12x NHL All-Star (Did not attend 2009 All-Star Game)

10x NHL First Team All-Star

7x James Norris Memorial Trophy Winner

2001-02 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner

4x Stanley Cup Champion

2006 Olympic Gold Medal Winner (Team Sweden)

1,564 NHL Games Played (Most w/One Team in NHL History)

878 Assists (21st in NHL History)

+450 Plus/Minus (10th in NHL History)

So when I read about his retirement on ESPN earlier today, I was relieved, sad, and happy... all at the same time. I'm relieved that Lidstrom will no longer be helping his teammates light up the lamp against the Sharks. On the other hand, it's sad knowing that his amazing NHL career is officially over. The good news is he's retiring on his own terms and there's no doubt he's one of the greatest to play the game.

Enjoy your retirement Mr. Lidstrom. You deserve it!

Players I Hate to Love #3: Paul Kariya

I love the San Jose Sharks.

They've been my team since they entered the league twenty-one years ago. And over the years, I've grown to really dislike certain teams: the Detroit Red Wings, the Dallas Stars, and the Anaheim Ducks.

I can't stand the Red Wings, because it feels like they win the Stanley Cup every other year... and since the Sharks have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals... a piece of me dies everytime they win another championship.

My hatred for the Stars revolves around one player: Ed Belfour. Thanks for everything you gave to the organization, Mr. Eagle.

And then there's the Ducks. There are so many things I can't stand about the Ducks. Annoying mascot. Division rivals. Two Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Teemu Selanne. Their 2008-09 Quarter-Finals victory over the Sharks in the season they brought home the Presidents' Trophy.

So what I'm about to tell you... is pretty hard to admit. But today is his birthday... and he officially retired in June, so he can no longer hurt the Sharks. You might want to sit down for this. Are you ready? Okay, here it is...

I'm a closet Paul Kariya fan.

I've collected his cards since the mid 90's when the hobby was booming and he was a budding superstar.

1991-92 Upper Deck Czech World Juniors #50

Remember when this card was on fire? It's one of his first officially licensed cards and were originally distributed in Eastern Europe.

But I didn't actually start liking the guy until I attended one of the Ducks Casino Nights in the late 90's. Why was I attending a Anaheim Ducks event? Well... my buddy sent me to collect autographs for him. The deal was... he paid for the trip and got to keep most of the autographs... while I had the opportunity to walk around, meet NHL players (who were the dealers at the event), and collect signatures. Oh... he also let me keep a few of the autographs I acquired... including this 8x10 photo with Guy Hebert & Teemu Selanne:

Anyways... it was a pretty cool experience. Most of the players were really nice. But the Kariya experience stood out because he was a superstar. He must have signed five to seven photos/pucks for my friend that night... and each time he did it with a smile.

Later in his career, I discovered that he's part Japanese... which meant that he'd fit nicely into my Japanese athlete PC.

But the thing I like about Kariya the most isn't his heritage or the autographs he signed... it's the way he played the game. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy twice in his career for exhibiting good sportsmanship. He was amazing to watch on the ice and has always been known for his work ethic and humility.

It's a shame that he never wore a San Jose Sharks jersey... because there's no doubt in my mind that the city would have embraced him. Happy Birthday Paul!

Here is today's question:

Who are some of your favorite athletes that are known for demonstrating "good sportsmanship"?

Alright... it's time to get ready for some football. Less than ten minutes to get my game face on. The Seahawks are on a bye... so I'll only be cheering on the Packers this week. Sayonara!

I love the 80's (Baseball Edition) #6: Kirk Gibson

Topics often fall into multiple categories. Kirk Gibson is no exception.

I had difficulty deciding if I should put him into the "Players I Hate to Love" category or adding him to my "I Love The 80's" collection.

I chose the latter, because his iconic performances stir up baseball memories (albeit mostly painful) that were generated from one particular era: the 80's.

His career lasted 17 seasons in which he played for four different teams (Tigers, Dodgers, Royals, and Pirates). During that time, he collected over 1,500 hits and 250 round trippers... the majority of these were accomplished during the 80's... a decade in which Mr. Gibson was a pain in my butt.

In an interview with Steiner Sports, he said "I was an average player in my career, but I did some exceptional things at some really important times". He went on to talk about his home run off of Goose Gossage during the 1984 World Series against my favorite team: The San Diego Padres.

Gibson went 3 for 4 with two home runs in the fifth and final game of the series... knocking in 5 runs... and single handedly clinching the game for the Tigers.

And of course... there's one of the greatest moments in World Series history. Gibson was not expected to play because of injuries to his left hamstring and his right knee. But with a runner on base in the ninth inning... down 4 to 3 to the Oakland Athletics (my other favorite team)... with two outs... and Oakland's all-star closer (& ALCS MVP) on the mound... Tommy Lasorda called Gibson's number and he went in to pinch hit.

Dennis Eckersley started off strong and quickly got an 0-2 count. But Gibson fought back and eventually worked his way back to a full count. He sent the next pitch over the right field fence with one of the most painful (for both him and me) walk-off homeruns I've ever witnessed.

Gibson and the Dodgers erased the 4-2 lead, Jose Canseco's second inning grand slam gave them... and never looked back. They won the 1988 World Series in five games and for the second time in a decade... he had ripped out my heart with clutch performances.

As sports fans... we've all experienced heart breaking moments in sports. Sometimes it's when your favorite player is traded to a team you hate... Rickey Henderson (1984).

Maybe it's when your favorite quarterback throws a crucial interception in overtime during the NFC Championship Game, which leads to a game ending field goal for the other team (Brett Favre - 2008 - last season with the Packers).

It could even be when your team gets eliminated from the playoffs (year after year after year after year) after working so hard to get there (the San Jose Sharks).

What are some of your painful sports memories?

C'mon... I know it's hard to talk about... but it's time to open up and let us help you heal.

Okay... time to get ready for the big game... the Women's World Cup Final game between Team USA and Nadeshiko Japan. This is exactly the finals matchup I hoped for. Nationality vs. Ancestry.

Ironically... there hopefully won't be any painful memories for me today. I'll be pulling for Wambach, Solo, Rampone, and the rest of Team USA. A win today would wrap up an amazing tale that climaxed with an amazing fairy tale win over Brazil last Sunday. Talk about greatest sports memories and heartbreakers (if you were cheering for Brazil)... do yourself a favor and watch this video:

If you're strapped for time... skip to the 5 minute mark and watch the historical play develop right before your eyes. The video was shot from a fan's perspective and gives you the feeling that you were actually there. Hopefully today's game will be just as exciting with a similar outcome.

However if Japan pulls off a miracle, I won't be too disappointed. After seeing the damage the tsunami caused earlier this year... they can use a little positive mojo in their lives.

Have a great day... and sayonara!

Players I Hate to Love #2: Derek Jeter

Congratulations Derek Jeter on becoming the 28th member of MLB's 3,000 hit club.

I'm the furthest thing from being a New York Yankee fan, but I admire the fact that Jeter has played his whole career in Yankee pinstripes. Which is why Jeter fits the definition of a player I hate to love.

Over the years, I've come across my share of Jeter cards. Most of them I have either sold or traded away. But every now and then I'll pull a cool card of his and decide to keep it. Here are the cards I've decided to hold onto over the years... along with a very special card I recently picked up off of COMC.

The final card in my Jeter collection arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. It's a 1998 Zenith "Z-Silver" #17 Derek Jeter. If you're not familiar with the 1998 Zenith product, I encourage you to pick up a pack if you're able to find some. (IMO) It's one of the most underrated products from the 1990's and was well ahead of it's time.

Pinnacle's slogan for the product was "Dare to Tear", because you got three 5x7 cards in a pack and each of these cards had a regular sized card embedded inside of it. If you've ever seen someone with a Topps Treasury or Allen & Ginter RIP card, then it's exactly the same concept. The collector had to decide, do they keep the 5x7 intact or do they risk tearing it open to see what regular size card was hidden inside. I never bought any of the baseball product, but I did build both the 5x7 and regular issue sets of 1997/98 Zenith hockey.

FYI: Panini has included Dare to Tear box toppers in this year's Zenith hockey release.

Unfortunately, I think the size of the cards and the fact that the baseball product didn't contain any true rookies turned collectors off... because I don't come across these very often. So when I found a few over at COMC at reasonable prices, I swooped them up. And this Jeter was definitely the one I wanted the most.

As you can see from the photo on COMC, the card look to be in good condition. In fact, when I used my scanner it looked like this:

But when you're holding it in your hand... it's obvious that this card is DAMAGED!

I know I shouldn't overreact, since it only set me back the price of a 16oz Jamba Juice. But I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't disappointed. At first I was upset at the seller for not mentioning it... then I was mad at COMC's scan of the card... but in the end there's nothing I can do anyways... except add it to my Damaged Card PC.

In case you're new to my blog... I save every single damaged card (valued over $1) and hold onto it, so nobody else has to deal with them. Cards under a buck, go straight into the trash or I'll give them away to my students.

What about you... what do you do with the damaged cards you receive in trades, purchases, box/pack breaks, or gifts?

Bonus question (worth 1 extra point):

With the exception of non-mint vintage cards (which I consider "aged"... not damaged... unless of course it has a mustache drawn on it), what's the nicest damaged card in your collection?

Hats off to Derek Jeter and his accomplishment. It's even sweeter that his 3,000th hit was a home run.

I hope everyone has a safe weekend. Sayonara!

Players I Hate to Love #1: Mike Modano

This morning I read an article on Yahoo about Detroit's decision to bench Mike Modano tonight when they face off against the San Jose Sharks. It mentioned that this could possibly be the end of the career that has so far lasted 21 seasons.

Modano spent twenty seasons with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars and after they decided not to resign him last summer, he signed a one year contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

Now here's where my newest idea for a blog post comes into play. After reading the article, I started to realize how much I admired Modano, which conflicts with my extreme dislike for the Dallas Stars and the Detroit Red Wings. Simply put... neither of these teams are division rivals, but it doesn't change the fact that I can't stand them.

My dislike for Dallas is complicated. It started when the Sharks traded for Ed Belfour during the 1996/97 season giving up Chris Terreri, Michal Sykora, and one of my favorites at the time... Ulf Dahlen. But at the time, I'll be honest... I was excited about getting one of the premier goalies in the league.

Ed Belfour: A Player I Love to Hate

Unfortunately, after playing just 13 games for Team Teal, Belfour signed with the Dallas Stars for what was rumored to be the same amount of money the Sharks offered him. Ironically, Belfour is a the opposite of Modano... he's a player I love to hate.

That season he helped Dallas eliminate San Jose from the playoffs. And the following season, they would win the only Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history... all with the amazing goaltending of Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour. Now you know the background on why I hate the Stars.

As for the Red Wings... it's a lot simpler. They're the New York Yankees of hockey. Free agents who want to win a ring, head over to Detroit to get one... and that's frustrating. They have made the playoffs twenty years in a row. Over the past 16 seasons, they've gone to the Stanley Cup Finals six times and won four of them.

But even though I can't stand the two teams he's played for... I still have a lot of respect for Mr. Modano.

On the ice, he's an 8x all-star and a Stanley Cup Champion, who has over 500 goals, 800 assists, and 1300 points during his NHL career. He holds the record for most goals and points scored by an American-born player. In addition to skating for the Stars and Red Wings, he's also represented his country on numerous occasions including helping the United States win the gold medal at the 1996 World Cup and a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

When he's not on the ice, he's the vice president of the Mike Modano Foundation, which "raises funds to improve the quality of life for at-risk and under-served children in the Dallas, Texas area. As a middle school teacher who works with students who sometimes fall into this category, I respect and admire Mr. Modano for his contributions to his community.

Plus he's appeared in the kids movie: The Mighty Ducks.

And last, but not least... he's married to the smoking hot... Willa Ford.

When you put all of this together... you get the first athlete in my new "Players I hate to love" series. It sucks that he's a Red Wing, but ultimately... I can't deny... Mike Modano is the man!

And now it's official... the Red Wings have just beaten the Sharks and avoided being eliminated from the playoffs... so maybe... just maybe... Modano will get another chance to strap on his skates, which would be awesome for Mike and all of his fans. A small part of me wants to see him on the ice at least one more time... but I'm not going to lie... I hope the Sharks can finally eliminate him and the rest of his Red Wing teammates on Sunday at the Shark Tank.

What about you...

Are there any athletes that you shouldn't like... but when it comes down to it... you do?

Happy Friday everyone. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay safe & sayonara!