"Being a sports fan is a complex matter, in part irrational but not unworthy; a relief from the seriousness of the real world, with its unending pressures and often grave obligations.” – Richard Gilman

This quote in many ways sums up why sports fan spend so much time reading about sport, watching the sport and talking about it after it is done and concluded as well. It’s a certain obsession about every aspect of sport, from the player’s personal lives to what they do on the field. This very obsession has left many sports fans surprised when they met some of their favorite athletes in person.

Some athletes have a persona about them that you think you might like, but when you meet them in person they’re just rude. On the other hand, you might meet a sports person that has a terrible on field ‘way of doing things’ but when you meet them, there are the nicest person. This always happens because fans put athletes on a certain pedestal and expect them to be perfect in every way, and when they are not it’s basically the end of the world.

There is a trend however that you can sort of pick up how athletes are in real life. Some athletes that appear distant on the field or courts are often like that in real life as well; cold and unfriendly to fans. Many athletes on the other hand that appear to be rude on the field just use that to fuel their competitiveness. When you meet them in person, it is a pleasant surprise.

20 Unfriendly: Maria Sharapova

If ever there was a paradox of a female tennis player, then it would have to be Maria Sharapova. She is loved by many, and equally hated by many as well.

Sharapova just gives off a vibe that is hard to make her as likeable as some of the other female stars on the WTA circuit. The five time grand slam champion is known for isolating herself form the tennis fraternity – at least those were the words of Chris Evert. She seems to not make a lot of friends both on and off the court.

In fact, in one tennis match, it can be heard that she asks the fans to ‘shut up’, screaming at them loudly and in anger. This is in contrast to the teenager who broke out onto the tennis circuit and was seemingly praised by everyone after winning her first Wimbledon.

Additionally, her failing a doping test did not help to the persona already existing and shadowing her. She said she was unaware or that she did not see the email, which by many pundits seemed a bit careless and distasteful.

19 Friendly: Petra Kvitova

A fierce competitor on the field, Petra Kvitova’s definitely has two sides to her.

On court she is absolutely fierce, none so better displayed than her demolishing of her opponent in the 2014 Wimbledon finals. Kvitova never plays with half the effort. She is always in your face and absolutely smashes the ball when she gets the chance to do so.

It might then be surprising to many that she is described, in the words of Madison Keys, “one of the nicest people I have ever met’. This was also echoed by Carole Wozniacki, as well as many players on the WTA circuit.

The thing about Kvitova is that she is genuinely friendly. If you watch her after tournaments, she always spends time with the fans, signing their merchandise with the utmost of patience. She is also friendly on social media, and regularly takes time out to bring people into her life.

Kvitova underwent a terrible incident when she visited her home town in the Czech Republic, where she was stabbed in her hand. The outpour of love and support from female and male tennis players and the fans on social media surprised many, as to how popular she was but also went to show the type of person she is.

18 Unfriendly: Michael Phelps

Aruably, the most decorated athlete of all time, Michael Phelps is one that is hard to hate, but hard to love as well.

He is known for his antics in the swimming pool which is favorable and unmatched by anyone that ever competed in Olympics swimming. He is someone that came back from retirement and was still king of the pool he swam in. He has that Kobe ‘mamba’ mentality in the way he approached swimming. This is one of the reasons he is so celebrated.

On the other hand, he can be quite a ‘rude’ person to fans and to the press as well. If you Google Phelps, you’ll see constant partying pictures as well as his history with banned substances is well documented. This has made him a distant figure with the media and he has created a persona of being impersonal. Many fans are known to have encountered Phelps and did not get such a ‘nice’ response from him.

17 Friendly: Serena Williams

Serena Williams makes about every list in sport there is. The toughest women, greatest sportsperson of all time, most accomplished player, inspirational players of all time – and even this one.

On the one hand, there are several clips which dismisses the fact that Serena Williams is friendly. She was even booed by her own crowd at the US Open. Sloane Stephens even was quoted says” "They think she’s so friendly and she’s so this and she’s so that; no, that’s not reality!” On several occasions Williams has also been ejected form games for arguing with referees and being a bit cheeky in the media about fellow opponents (ala Maria Sharapova).

It might surprise you then that she still appears as friendly to the broader tennis fraternity. Tennis fans often live in a bubble where they know everything and every quirk of every tennis player. However, people outside of this bubble absolutely love Serena Williams as she always makes time to meet the fans, and pose for a photo!

16 Unfriendly: Phil Mickelson

The well-known nickname given to Phil Mickelson is “Figjam”.

That tells you all there is to know about how Mickelson was as a person. For those of you who don’t follow golf very closely, Figjam was given to Mickelson during the early 1990s in his career.

Figjam means “F*** I’m good, just ask me”. Needless to say, such a nickname is not derived by being a popular person or by being ‘liked’. Mickelson was a bit of a hotshot during his early years, and the public knew he was a hotshot because he often stated so himself. He was really disliked by fellow professional golfers as well as golf fans.

He’d walk around with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, which rubbed golfers and public the wrong way. To this very day, he still carries that title. In a 2008 poll, he appeared on a list as one of the most hated golfers.

Considering how gentlemanlike a game like golf supposed to be, he has to be pretty unlikeable to get onto such a list.

15 Friendly: J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt is one of those players who has truly embraced the city he plays for and has gone the extra mile. Following Houston suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey, J.J. Watt set up a relief fund and with an initial goal of only thousands of dollars, the fund soared into the millions thanks to Watt's work.

It's also the little things Watt does for his fans that truly make him a special person. Last year, Watt paid a surprise visit to a teacher for her retirement party.

A few years ago, Watt wrote a letter to a fan's boss on her behalf so she could take a day off work and attend Watt's charity function.

Every time the Houston Texans hold a practice, or are warming up, you'll always see Watt taking the time to sign autographs and chat with fans. Watt really goes the extra mile for his fans.

14 Unfriendly: Brock Lesnar

If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Brock Lesnar, you better hope it's at a WWE sponsored event where he's obligated to be there, or you really have to catch him in a good mood. While the WWE and former UFC star has occasionally accommodated fans' requests for pictures and autographs, the majority of fans who dare to approach him have often come back with negative experiences. Lesnar is a very private person who enjoys living away in seclusion up in Saskatchewan, Canada so whenever he's in crowds or finds himself approached by strangers, he tends to get very uncomfortable. Besides, it's not like someone's going to challenge him if he tells a fan to back off, right? Be wary of the beast.

13 Friendly: McKayla Maroney

For someone who has been through as much as McKayla Maroney has, she deserves a lot of credit for showing love to those who have supported her. Maroney of course went through a terrible ordeal of abuse when she was competing for USA Gymnastics, as she's revealed in recent months, but fans have had pleasant experiences when interacting with her in a respectful manner. Maroney has playfully posed with fans doing her famous "unimpressed" face and she rolls with the punches when she's given semi-serious marriage proposals.

Maroney has retired from competitive gymnastics, but obviously she still has quite the fan following considering how she's blossomed and embraced the spotlight. It's good to see Maroney hasn't taken out her frustrations on how USA Gymnastics treated her on her fans.

12 Unfriendly: Kobe Bryant

If your nickname the “Mamba” is derived from a snake, you can be rest assured that you will be disliked by many.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most celebrated NBA players of all time, and was recently named the greatest LA Laker of all time. Not an easy title to get considering the wealth of talent that played there before (Shaq, Magic Johnson etc.).

His killer instinct and drive to win is what made him at times disliked by the fans. Kobe is again one of those strange characters. During interviews and appearances in front of the media, he is seen as Mr. Nice Guy and is very smooth and charming. However, it’s that competitive switch in his mind which can flip any situation around.

Even during the NBA all-star games, he stated he wanted to go out there and win at all costs, during a game which is usually semi-competitive. He often was also known as a ball-hogger, which fans did not appreciate especially when the games were on the line.

When he states in interviews that he does not play the game to ‘be liked by fans' then you already know what kind of person Kobe is.

11 Friendly: Heather Watson

Great Britain Tennis player, Heather Watson admitted that when she tours she often feels ‘lonely and does not fit in’.

Watson is more the victim of the nature of tennis. It can at times seem a bit cold. The locker room is filled with players that are going through their own routines and mimics to focus their attention on their opponent. Watson stated that her only actual friends on the circuit is fellow British Star Laura Robson and New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic whom she plays doubles tennis with.

It’s largely this situation which has led to many people seeing her as distant and cold, where in fact she is very friendly. She’s never shy from giving an interview with the media. Watson also often travels with her mother, and seeing that relationship has often won the hearts of many fans. She calls her mom a ‘good luck charm’. Over and above, Watson is always complimentary of her opponents as well.

Just goes to show, things are not always as they seem.

10 Unfriendly: Floyd Mayweather

There seems to be a common theme with players that are disliked. With the nickname of Floyd “Money” Mayweather, you already know what kind of character he will appear to be.

Mayweather was always discussing money, power and girls which often frustrated purists in boxing and fans that were avid watchers as well. The fact that Mayweather seemed to ‘choose his opponents’ was also what rubbed fans the wrong way.

It’s also in the test of the eye. When Mayweather gives interviews, as much as he appears to be friendly, deep down there is something just not likeable about him like the great boxer Muhammad Ali. Mayweather is so disliked, that despite holding the all-time boxing record, pundits would not rate him as the greatest boxer of all time because of how he is as a person. Know that’s a knockout blow that Mayweather can’t do anything about.

9 Friendly: Dennis Rodman

Tattoos and piercing galore gives Dennis Rodman an outer impression that he is crazy, and wild.

That is exactly true! Rodman is one of the NBA’s most colorful and scariest players of all time. But what might surprise you is that he is actually a friendly bloke when you bump into him, wherever you may be.

People close to Rodman actually described him as a shy person. He would not have much engagement with teammates or opponents, but always had a soft spot for kids. He would often make turns to talk to kids who would help around the courts, whether it is cleaning or picking up laundry.

To top it all off, he is now friends with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. If that is not a testament to the friendliness of Dennis Rodman, then I surely don’t know what is!

8 Unfriendly: Danica Patrick

Now that she's retiring from competitive racing, perhaps Danica Patrick will mellow out a little in her fan interactions, but there have been several incidents in which Patrick revealed an uglier side to her. For example one time she was overheard rudely responding to a fan's autograph request by quipping "Am I obligated to?" Patrick also tended to behave a lot differently coming off a loss as compared to a win, which undoubtedly was a turn off for some fans who met her at those times. As we said, Patrick is now focused on her post-racing career so we'll see how she interacts with fans going forward, now that she doesn't have the stress of a race to worry about.

7 Friendly: Conor McGregor

Now, to be clear, if a MMA fan approaches McGregor and starts bad mouthing him, chances are he's going to trash talk right back. But if you're a fan of McGregor and see him roaming around in public, odds are he'll stop for a picture and have a friendly chat. McGregor of course gives off the impression of a rude, obnoxious fighter, but that's all part of the persona that helps sell tickets and PPVs and in turn has made him a very rich man. McGregor has no problem being friendly with his fans though, who are among the most passionate in all of sports. Seriously, say one bad word about McGregor and you're gonna hear an earful from all of them. In any event, meeting McGregor tends to be a positive experience.

6 Unfriendly: Ronda Rousey

The most famous female MMA fighter of all time is Ronda Rousey. However, her fame does not is not equated to her actually being liked.

Rousey was essentially the first breakout female UFC fighter which is why she became so famous. It’s also the fact that she was always in the public eye and on reality TV shows. As a result, everyone got to see her quirks and pin point what they like or disliked about her.

She was exceptionally rude to Miesha Tate, and even refused to shake her hand after the fight at the MGM Grand Garden arena. No one will also forget her defeat to Holly Holm, which many then started to question how tough Rousey really is. She then also had a humiliating defeat to Amanda Nunes, which left another mark on her career.

It’s not so much that she loss, but also the way she did. There was a lack of grace displayed, and she didn’t seem to care. It’s much reflective in the way fans interact with her outside as well, where there is a bit of a distance between them.

5 Friendly: Luis Suarez

It’s the funniest thing to think that a man that consistently bites soccer players can be seen as friendly as he is.

That is what is so surprising about Suarez! He has done just about the craziest things you can do on the field. He blocked a shot with his hand in the 2010 quarter final against Ghana and got a red card for doing so. He refused to shake Patrice Evra’s hand in a rival match against Manchester United when he was playing for Liverpool. He also bit Branislav Ivanovic in 2013 on the shoulder. He has a history of biting people, and this was just one such incident.

On the other hand, Suarez has a very humanistic side to him off the field, and you might surprise yourself if you bump into him. He handed his training top to a young girl after hitting her in the face with a football (purely accidentally of course). He also played football with a bunch of youngsters in Uruguay on a dry pitch, letting them win.

4 Unfriendly: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is one of the hardest athletes to approach, past or present, as he presents such an intimidating figure and the more stories fans have heard about Jordan in recent years, the more hesitant one would be with the chance to meet him. There are stories of MJ demanding money from fans before agreeing to sign an autograph, and servers who were badly undertipped after serving his airness. Jordan was admittedly a jerk to former teammates and opponents, but because he was also the greatest basketball player many had ever seen, it didn't matter. Jordan has since been able to become a billionaire in retirement, so obviously his ego hasn't dwindled one iota. It's probably best for a fan's dream of meeting MJ to stay a dream.

3 Friendly: Shaquille O’Neal

Towering at 7 feet 7, weighing about 360 pounds this is Shaquille O'Neal. A physical specimen of note, someone that could crush anyone in his way.

Shaq was a dominating NBA player, leaving opponents helpless with his size and pure athleticism. He backed it up as well on the court, with a pretty mean demeanor and a type of “in your face” basketball that many did not like but fans of the game appreciated.

It was however a surprise then of how friendly Shaq was off the court, even during his younger years through to his prime. He always played with a smile on the field and was always a bit of a joker off the field. It’s the contradiction that makes Shaq on this list – big men in the NBA was not supposed to be likeable!

What makes Shaq amazing is that he played for six NBA teams and nobody would dare call him a traitor or a glory hunter. It’s just his general jolly persona that makes it a pleasant experience for anyone that would have interacted with him.

2 Unfriendly: Ashley Cole

One of England’s most accomplished soccer defenders, Ashley Cole has a bit of a reputation around him which does not favor him at all.

Let’s take a look at why. He cheated on Cheryl Cole! That’s more than enough reason for him to be disliked Cheryl Cole is one of the sweetest celebrities and stars, and Ashley Cole cheated on her on numerous occasions.

It’s his outside persona that you would not want to come in contact with as well. He has moved from rival club Arsenal to Chelsea, which was one of the biggest traitor moves at the time. He also spewed hatred and would often respond in rude terms on Twitter to fans that would troll him.

Then also he shot a fellow co-worker with an air rifle, is a bit of a party animal and also is known to have a ‘foul mouth’. This is one football star you would probably not want to meet in person!

1 Friendly: P.K. Subban

P.K. Subban may not be universally liked within the NHL, but there's no doubt the Predators' star defenceman appreciates his fans and they are showered with love whenever they request a picture or an autograph with him. Subban is a lot more animated and outgoing than the average hockey player so he'll seek any opportunity for a positive interaction and in turn share it with everyone.

Subban also committed $10 million to the Montreal Children's Hospital while he was a Montreal Canadien and despite being traded to Nashville, he has kept the commitment, even popping in for surprise visits whenever he makes his way back to the city he started his career in. Hockey sure could use more Subbans.