Hewitt in top 10 'most hated' US poll

By Andrew Hunter
ninemsn

Hot on the heels — or should we say, injured ankle — of his controversial exit from the Australian Open, Lleyton Hewitt has notched another black mark next to his name, as the 10th most-hated athlete in the USA.

Hewitt was the only non-US athlete to make list, published by GQ magazine, which featured another Australian, Heath Ledger, on its cover.

While the magazine pokes fun at Hewitt’s renowned obsession with the Rocky movies, it was the South Australian’s alleged racist remarks during his 2001 US Open tie against African American James Blake that "sealed the deal".

After being foot-faulted several times by a black linesman, Hewitt approached the chair umpire and said "Look at him and you tell me what the similarity is".

"It was a terrible act," the magazine quotes tennis writer Bud Collins as saying. "Everybody knew what he meant".

Blake later forgave his opponent and Hewitt has always maintained he meant the "similarity" was that the same linesman kept foot faulting him.

The magazine quotes Argentine player Guillermo Coria saying Hewitt is hated by every other player on the circuit and insinuates he deserved being spat at by another Argie Juan Ignacio Chela.

Hewitt isn’t even popular in his native Australia, the writers conclude, quoting an Australian newspaper saying, "Many regretted [the spit] did not find its target".

US athletes filled the other nine places on GQ’s list, with popular golfer Phil Mickelson ("He annoys everybody") coming in eighth and basketballer Kobe Bryant listed fifth most hated ("He’s never been the type to do things that would endear him to his teammates").

Controversial footballer Terrell Owens tops the poll for his inappropriate touchdown celebrations and threats to teammates and management.

If only the Americans knew about rugby league.