Most Hated Tiger-Cats: #1

The moment you have all been waiting for, the naming of my #1 Most Hated Tiger-Cat. Before I unveil my top villain, the man who wore the Black & Gold jersey and inspires anger in almost every Ti-Cat fan, I'll recap the first four entries on my list:

#5: Brock Ralph
#4: Jesse Lumsden
#3: Mike O'Shea
#2: Adriano Belli

All those guys are more than deserving of being placed on this list, especially O'Shea and Belli, but there can only be one person at the top. Now without further ado, my #1 Most Hated Tiger-Cat is...

#1: Anthony Calvillo
Numero uno on the list, and it's not even close. Anthony Calvillo is easily the most hated player ever to wear a Tiger-Cats uniform. If you wonder why, we shall just look at the stats.

Calvillo was selected #1 overall by the Ti-Cats in the CFL Dispersal Draft that occurred after the U.S.-based teams ceased operations in 1995. He was expected to be the future at the QB position for the Cats. What he did here in his three seasons hardly qualifies. In 1995, Calvillo threw for 2831 yards, 19 TDs and 21 INTs. In 1996, he threw for 2571 yards, 13 TDs and 13 INTs. In his final season, Calvillo managed only 2177 yards, 12 TDs and 11 INTs. As you can see, each year Calvillo regressed from the season before.

In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Montreal Alouettes, where initially he backed up Tracy Ham. Once Calvillo took the reins of the team, a legend was born. The same guy who couldn't win a football game if his life depended on it in Hamilton – the team went a combined 18-36 from 1995-1997 – suddenly turned into one of the greatest QBs in CFL history.

Since going to Montreal, Calvillo's achievements mark him as one of the best ever:

• Two-time Grey Cup champion (2002, 2009)
• Three-time Most Outstanding Player (2003, 2008, 2009)
• Four-time CFL All Star (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009)

Calvillo also ranks second in almost every significant statistical category for QBs. He is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer, and when all is said and done, he might be considered the greatest QB to ever play in the Canadian Football League.

WHERE THE HELL WAS THIS WHEN HE WAS IN HAMILTON!?!?

Calvillo was a bum when he played for the Tabbies, and miraculously morphed into who we see today as soon as he left. It is for that reason that I have selected Anthony Calvillo as my #1 Most Hated Tiger-Cat.

Just like I did with the "Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime" list, I turn to you, my readers. Do you agree with Calvillo as #1? Is there someone on this list that shouldn't be or someone who isn't that should be? Sound off in the comment section below. If you have a Top 3 or 5 or 10, feel free to share it. I stand by my list, but I am not above hearing from my loyal readers on if they agree or disagree. Let 'er rip.

PREVIOUS: Adriano Belli (#2)

Most Hated Tiger-Cats: #2

#2 Adriano Belli
Jerk. The only word I can use for Adriano Belli is jerk. I can't stand this guy. His bark has always been bigger than his bite, and his off-field antics have always overshadowed his on-field production.

He was a menial player in Montreal and turned that into a big free agent contract with the Tiger-Cats. He spent his years here alienating fans with his belligerent behaviour, and overall piss-poor attitude.

Rumours surfaced near the end of his tenure with the team that he had quit trying in an effort to get then-Head Coach Greg Marshall fired. Marshall was fired, and Belli escaped to Toronto.

I say good riddance to bad rubbish. Only one player who ever wore Black & Gold makes my blood boil more than Adriano Belli. The difference is, I at least respect the other player. Belli, on the other hand, is someone I don't respect. As much as I like seeing the Argos lose, I doubly enjoy watching them lose now that Belli is on the team.

For many, many, reasons Adriano Belli comes in at #2 on my list.

PREVIOUS: Mike O'Shea (#3)

Most Hated Tiger-Cats: #3

#3: Mike O'Shea
The original turncoat. Mike O'Shea is the first player I can remember who left the Black & Gold for the Double Blue. That alone makes him eligible for this list. In fact, that's the only reason he makes this list.

He played for the Cats for 3 years, from 1993 to 1995. He signed with the Argos in 1996 and became public enemy #1 in Steeltown. That in and of itself secures him a place on this list.

What's worse still, is that he was traded back to Hamilton in 2000...and then went back to Toronto when he became a free agent after the season! Not only was O'Shea a turncoat, but he was a double turncoat! I guess that's apropos seeing as he left the Tabbies for the Double Blue Blew.

Mike O'Shea belongs on this list, and up until recently he would have been #1, but he has since been surpassed by two other players. For now he resides at #3.

PREVIOUS: Jesse Lumsden (#4)

Most Hated Tiger-Cats: #4

#4: Jesse Lumsden
A Hamilton boy, well Burlington actually. A skilled Running Back. Star player for McMaster. Everything was shaping up for Jesse Lumsden to go down as one of the greatest and most beloved Tiger-Cats of all time.

In 4 years with the Tabbies, Lumsden played in 7, 5, 10 and 9 games in each season. You can't be a franchise player playing in just 43% (31 of 72) of the team's games. The guy just couldn't stay healthy.

The worst part? He was highly productive in his limited playing time. In 10 games in 2007, he had 743 yards on only 98 carries. In 9 games in 2008, he had 584 yards on only 87 carries. It's clear that Jesse Lumsden has the skills to play football at a high level in the CFL.

It also didn't help that the guy seemed like a bit of a jerk. I always felt that he had this feeling of superiority to him that, to be honest, rubbed me entirely the wrong way. Even when he was rushing for TDs, I still didn't like him. Maybe it's my UofT roots that make it hard for me to like a McMaster alum, but I don't hate Ray Mariuz, so it can't be that.

There is just something about Jesse Lumsden that I don't like. For that reason, and for his injury problems, he lands at #4 on my list.

PREVIOUS: Brock Ralph (#5)

Most Hated Tiger-Cats: #5

#5: Brock Ralph
Brock Ralph had all the tools to be a great WR for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, with one major exception: the guy couldn't catch. The clichéd phrase "couldn't catch a cold" can be used to describe Ralph. In two full seasons with the Tabbies all Ralph could muster was a measly 91 catches for 1178 yards and 6 TDs.

What the hell kind of production is that? This guy was supposed to be a #1 WR and all he could average was 45 catches for 589 yards and 3 TDs per season? What a waste.

Ralph only comes in at #5 because, well, it's hard to truly hate a guy who is this bad. Just look at the picture I posted. He's dropping the ball! When you Google "Brock Ralph" you get an image all Ti-Cat fans should be familiar with.

Brock Ralph's tenure in Hamilton was an unmitigated disaster, mostly due to his inability to provide anything to a team that sorely needed a spark. I was never a fan, and I continue to not be a fan. When the Bombers come to town – the team that unfortunately employs Ralph now – I take great pleasure in watching Ralph drop pass after pass. Brock Ralph, my #5 Most Hated Tiger-Cat of All Time.

PREVIOUS: My Most Hated Tiger-Cats of All Time (Introduction, Criteria and Honourable Mentions)

My Most Hated Tiger-Cats of All Time

With the popularity of my "Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime" series, I figured I could go in the opposite direction and give everyone the list of my "Most Hated Tiger-Cats of All Time." I will restrict this list to 5 players. These aren't merely the worst players to play for the Tiger-Cats, but they make the list because of what the did during and after their tenure here. It's not just about bad play, but about various other, unquantifiable factors that every Ti-Cat fan will understand. When these players' names get mentioned, scorn and anger are usually etched on the faces of the people of Tigertown.

I understand that this list can seem a bit crass, but these are the players that I love to boo and love to hate. Some might say that I am only upset because these players went on to greater things elsewhere, but mostly it's because I just hate these players. Turncoats and busts populate this list.

Starting tomorrow, March 29, 2010, I will unveil one player per day for the entire week, culminating with me naming my Most Hated Tiger-Cat of All Time. I hope everyone enjoys this list as much, or more so, than my Greatest Tiger-Cats lists.

Before I get started with the list, and much like with my Greatest Player list, I'll start off with some honourable mentions.

Bo Smith
Bo Smith is only an honourable mention because I hated him for only one season. Attending every Tiger-Cat game last season allowed me to see Bo Smith in person, and boy did he suck. He had to be one of the worst DBs I have ever seen. Big TDs were always scored on Bo Smith. His "coverage" was terrible at best, and atrocious at worst. He made some plays, but for the most part he was the weak link of the secondary.

Casey Printers
Even though I wrote an entire article defending Printers, every self-respecting Ti-Cat fan hates Casey a little. I won't go into details, since I already did in my previous article, but I don't hate Printers the way that others do. I only slightly dislike him, and that's why he is an honourable mention.