2.
Dom Perron
Dom Perron watched the Whalers from his bunker at Civic Center. |
Dom Perron may be the most hated man ever to grace New England's sports scene. Fans universally blamed the cantankerous curmudgeon for the ruination of their beloved Whalers.
Like most autocratic leaders, the controversial Whalers owner made a host of bad decisions during his reign of mediocrity. Often, it seemed, those moves were made with spite and the bottom line � not winning � in mind.
Perron constantly feuded with media, he impulsively fired coaches, humiliated employees and traded players on a whim regardless of talent or popularity.
A prime example of Perron's irrational decision making came in 2007. With the Whalers struggling to earn a playoff spot Perron, and against the will of his team, fired popular coach Wayne Gretzky. Two days later, Perron reversed course and asked Gretzky back, but he demanded the coach wear a paper bag over his head on the bench to hide his identity. Gretzky did not return...
Et voici l'original
2. Harold Ballard
Harold Ballard watched the Leafs from his bunker at Maple Leaf Gardens. |
Harold Ballard may be the most hated man ever to grace Toronto's sports scene. Fans universally blamed the cantankerous curmudgeon for the ruination of their beloved Maple Leafs.
Like most autocratic leaders, the controversial Leafs owner made a host of bad decisions during his reign of mediocrity. Often, it seemed, those moves were made with spite and the bottom line � not winning � in mind.
Ballard constantly feuded with media, he impulsively fired coaches, humiliated employees and traded players on a whim regardless of talent or popularity.
A prime example of Ballard's irrational decision making came in 1979. With the Leafs struggling to earn a playoff spot Ballard, and against the will of his team, fired popular coach Roger Neilson. Two days later, Ballard reversed course and asked Neilson back, but he demanded the coach wear a paper bag over his head on the bench to hide his identity. Neilson did return, sans bag.
The Leafs weren't the only sports franchise to crumble in Ballard's care. In 1978, he bought the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He sold the team 11 years later after losing $20 million.
VIVE L'AUTO-DESTRUCTION ET LE POWER TRIP !
HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHA !
Dom Perron DG
