Ranking the top 10 villains in Boston sports history originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Kyrie Irving has solidified himself as one of the greatest villains in Boston sports history, and that’s saying a lot.
Irving added to his case Sunday in Game 1 of the first-round NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. The ex-C’s guard gave the middle finger to fans at TD Garden and responded to their loud boos with profane language.
Bean: Deep down, Irving and Celtics fans are perfect for each other
It’s fair to say that currently, no athlete is more villainized in Boston than Irving. But over the course of the city’s storied sports history, there have been plenty of sports figures who received the same vitriol from Boston fans, if not even more.
Here’s a look at the top 10 villains in Boston sports history, a list that surely will raise the blood pressure of diehard Boston fans.
10. Bernard Pollard
Pollard became an enemy in New England when he infamously hit Tom Brady in the knee in 2008, tearing the then-New England Patriots QB’s ACL and ending his season. But that isn’t Pollard’s only incident with one of the Patriots’ stars.
The former safety also is responsible for injuries to Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker, and Stevan Ridley. With a history like that, you won’t make many friends around these parts.
9. Jack Tatum
In a 1978 preseason game, Tatum delivered a dirty hit that permanently paralyzed Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley. To make matters worse, Stingley claims the former Oakland Raiders safety never reached out to apologize or check in on his well-being.
8. Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan made a lopsided Patriots-Jets rivalry feel like… well, a real rivalry.
The former Jets head coach got a kick out of roasting Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Patriots through the media. That made game days more interesting, and Ryan did earn one big win against the Pats in the 2011 AFC Divisional Round, but the Jets for the most part were no match for New England. That…