The Most Hated Athletes of 2006 - Bruce Bowen

Every sport has one - the player that almost nobody likes. From Monday to Friday, you'll read about the most hated athletes in the NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL. Today, we tell the story of a player who rose from NBA obscurity to become the defender everyone hates to face.

Bruce Bowen is an unusual example of a hated player because he’s not as universally infamous as the upcoming candidates in the NFL and Major League Baseball (take a couple of wild guesses who they are) but he is most definitely the guy that more NBA players would like to punch out.

A journeyman for the first half of his career – when he played for four different teams over six seasons, including three separate stints in Miami – Bowen finally found a home in San Antonio in the 2001-02 season where he established a reputation as one of the toughest and most tenacious defenders in the league. If you think basketball isn’t a “physical” sport, you obviously haven’t seen Bowen at work.

Bowen’s specialty is using superior footwork and sheer hustle to get in the face of the other team’s offensive star and prevent him from getting easy scoring opportunities. His teammates and Spurs fans claim that he’s simply hard-nosed and the only reason people hate him is because he’s good at his job. Several NBA stars have a different perspective.

In particular, Vince Carter, Ray Allen and Steve Francis have all complained of being victims of one of Bowen’s patented moves – where he slides his foot under a jumpshooter so they land awkwardly and potentially twist an ankle. Considering the importance of ankle stability in any pro athlete, it’s easy to see how this type of move could get under people’s skin.

Of course, the fact that he gets away with his questionable play is the biggest reason of all why opponents hate him. He’s a master of the swift kick to the leg, the blink-or-you’ll-miss-it tap on the shooter’s elbow. NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson finally saw fit to serve Bowen with a warning to after he undercut Francis in November.

After three straight appearances on the NBA All-Defence Team and back-to-back second-place finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting, I have a feeling that Jackson’s warning won’t serve as much of a deterrence.

Link?

Sean Avery and Terrell Owens round up the list by MSN

http://sports.sympatico.msn.ca/NBA/C...2006BruceBowen

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After three straight appearances on the NBA All-Defence Team...

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I think that Bowen has been on the All-Defense Team for six straight years, but I assume the writer meant first team.

The most hated player in the entire NBA? Who is the writer, whiney butt VC's PR guy?

Bowen is a great example of a Dirty Player with a smile.

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Originally Posted by KB24

Bowen is a great example of a Dirty Player with a smile.

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Bring something to the board, nitwit.

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Originally Posted by smeagol

Bring something to the board, nitwit.

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:king

Kobe is a great example of a certified CRIMINAL who still plays the sports.

and your an example of a certified GAYASS whos still posting comments on this board....

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Originally Posted by PhaQ

and your an example of a certified GAYASS whos still posting comments on this board....

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:jack

Anyways, I'm not surprised by Bruce being the most hated in the sport, considering all the sissies with high influences on teams like Seattle, Denver, NY, and NJ, among others.

Bruce is far from the most hated player in the NBA. And, doesn't Kobe really respect Bruce? Why are you two dick-riders hating on two players that actually respect each other?

I think the most hated player in the NBA is probably Stephon Marbury, and it likely stems from his comment on how he was the best point guard in the league and then proceeded to suck balls since. Not to mention the fact he gets paid over $200,000 each game he plays this season...maybe more if he fakes some injuries.

Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant are probably up there as most hated in the NBA, depending who you're asking.

But, while some players are annoyed by what Bruce Bowen does defensively, and while he might be a little dirty in his tactics, I doubt he's anywhere close to being the most hated NBA player.

Bowen is a dirty bitch!

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Originally Posted by Fillmoe

Bowen is a dirty bitch!

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Originally Posted by Fillmoe

Bowen is a dirty two time NBA champion!

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corrected

Oh my gosh. The Spurs might be thought of as "dirty"?

What century is this?

what sucks is the article is wrong. francis didnt complain, on the contrary, he defended bowen, as tons of other players and coaches have, including kobe (apparently some of his groupies here arent aware of that)

really the only guys to make public, negative comments are allen and carter, two of the biggest cry babies in the league.

someone should give this guy a visit and slide there foot under him :D

Bowen gets picked on a lot. He shouldn't be singled out like this.

:lol

All we need now is for Ray Allen to claim that his latest ankle injury is the result of Bruce lingering in his head.

one of Bowen’s patented moves – where he slides his foot under a jumpshooter so they land awkwardly and potentially twist an ankle."

That's what a couple of people accuse him of. If he was habitually and deliberately trying to trip someone up in a 'patented' move, the refs would spot it. Tripping is a foul.

What he actually does is move toward the offensive player as he jumps for the shot and goes up with him with a hand up. That's what a defensive player is supposed to do.

Now some offensive players move forward as they jump, hoping to get a cheap foul on the defensive player. Or maybe it's just the way they learned to shoot jumpers.

Either way, It's inevitable that when both players are moving toward each other that their feet may get entangled occasionally. They both are coming down in the same contested territory. Frankly, Bruce could get hurt just as easily as the offensive player if the guy comes down with all that force on Bruce's foot or ankle.

I liken the malice -- both in the press and on the court -- against Bowen to the steroid accusations directed toward Lance Armstrong. It's the whole mentality of "He is doing what we can't so therefore he must be cheating." Their opponents completely discredit the fact that they work harder, and longer, in order to achieve such standoffish levels of greatness -- one in playing defense, the other in dominating the Tour de France.

Whatever. People are stupid. I've found it's easiest to just let them be that way.

I love Bruce on D... I still think bout the time he straight up jump kicked Wally Z in the face when he was takin a jump shot a few years back, that was fuckin great

my vote goes to Ray Allen.

what a douche.

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Originally Posted by ObiwanGinobili

my vote goes to Ray Allen.

what a douche.

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:toast

im glad bowen's on the spurs team, lol, i agree:
most hated athlete - ray allen

I think it's a travesty that Bowen has not yet won the DPOY award.

Another inane writer who does not give an email or forum to respond to.