Earlier today, we wrote about the 10 most irrationally loved people in sports. Now, in the interest of fairness, here are the 10 most irrationally hated people in sports. They may not be the most charismatic or likable people, hey maybe they did something wrong that deserves some of the hate, but not to the degree that fans hate them. Again, the important thing is that we all calm down.

10. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez is an alleged user of PEDs, a by-all-accounts strange guy, he gives a terrible interview, and he's the guy who took this photo.

I would say ARod it's time for you to look yourself in the mirror – but you already did that in a creepy way http://t.co/8SOW0qeHpz—
Eric Macramalla (@EricOnSportsLaw) February 07, 2014

That being said, he's one of the greatest hitters ever, was an incredible shortstop, and even moved over to third base when he joined the Yankees out of deference to Derek Jeter, who was one of our most irrationally loved players ever. A-Rod isn't all that bad. (Then again, he's number 10 on this list because he totally deserves some of the hate.)

9. Josh Smith

You might not have a problem with Josh Smith, but you also might not know what Basketball Twitter is. Basketball Twitter is a collection of basketball bloggers and fans who stay up late at night watching Bucks games on League Pass and making jokes about it. They're mostly fun and positive, expect when they turn on someone.

Basketball Twitter hates Josh Smith. They hate him more than you and I hate anything. They might occasionally offer up something about how he "isn't that bad" or "he does some things well" but don't be fooled, they hate him. Whenever he signs a new contract or gets traded for anything more than a bag of used towels they lose their minds.

Smith has poor shot selection. He isn't a great teammate, I get it. But no man deserves the wrath that Josh Smith gets from Basketball Twitter.

8. Tony Romo

Tony Romo is, if you just look at the numbers, an above-average NFL quarterback. He's been turnover-prone in big moments, and to people who think the most important thing is WINNING, that makes him everything that's wrong with football.

Hate on Romo all you want, I can think of 15 NFL teams that would love to have him as their starter.

7. Christian Laettner

If Christian Laettner had gone to any college other than Duke, he would be remembered fondly. But he went to Duke, and no one likes Duke, so no one likes Christian Laettner. So it goes.

6. Sergio Garcia

Golf fans hate Sergio Garcia because he takes too long, and because he can get ticked off at fans, and he can seem moody at times. Some of these critiques are warranted (he does take too long) but Garcia has proven, time and time again, to be a funny guy and great golfer. Other guys on the tour seem to like him. We all did dumb stuff in our 20s. Let the guy live.

5. DeMarcus Cousins

Boogie Cousins is awesome. This is not subjective anything. I take it as objective fact. Cousins makes me happier than any NBA player, because he's awesome at scoring and shows emotion and because he probably thinks defense is for nerds.

Defense is for nerds. Everyone who hates on Cousins because he's brash and isn't the best help defender needs to get over it. Long live Boogie.

4. Sonny Liston

I don't know if people still hate Sonny Liston, but for a while there they really did. Liston did little wrong except not be as charismatic as Muhammad Ali, who was probably the most charismatic athlete of all time. There are talk show hosts who aren't as charismatic as Muhammad Ali.

Ali made up a Liston character, and was so good with the press that the idea of the character stuck, and then everyone hated Liston. That stinks.

3. Pete Rose

Listen, if you take away the whole gambling-on-the-games-and-getting-banned-for-life thing and the crazy-competitor-who-injured-a-guy-in-an-All-Star-game thing and the spent-his-later-years-selling-any-piece-of-merchandise-he-could thing, Pete Rose was objectively awesome at baseball.

2. Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh is really, really good at basketball. He is the perfect defender to make Miami's complicated scheme run and he can shoot from anywhere on the floor, which made him the perfect big man to compliment LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. He's a perennial All-Star and an awesome rebounder and passer to boot.

But because some people think he's soft, or something, tons of NBA fans hate him. That's ridiculous.

1. Sidney Crosby

I'd write a long thing here about how good Sidney Crosby is, but it's unnecessary. He's amazing. You know it. I know it.

I have no idea why so many hockey fans hate him. It's one of the mysteries of the world I don't care to try and figure out.