This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
BYU quarterback Max Hall wasn't shy about his hate for the Utah Utes program in 2009 and it appears even five years later, Utah sports fans dislike him just as much.
Hall garnered 35 percent and 673 of nearly 2,000 votes in the Tribune's "Most Disliked Utah sports figure" poll, which you can continue voting for above. Here's the entire list:
1. Max Hall, Former BYU Quarterback (673 votes)
It appears the wound is still fresh for a large amount of Ute fans in regard to Hall's comments after guiding the Cougars to a 26-23 win over Utah in 2009. In response to reported attacks on his family in BYU's 48-24 loss to Utah the previous season, Hall said: "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything. It felt really good to send those guys home."
2. Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder Point Guard (302 votes)
Fisher was a bit of a surprise being this high on the list, but his place shows how much Utah fans loathe the Los Angeles Lakers. After playing one season in Utah, Fisher asked for his release in 2007 to find better health care for his daughter, who had recently been diagnosed with eye cancer. He returned to the Lakers, where Fisher had played for eight seasons and won several championships. Some fans saw it as a ploy to get out of Utah and return to Los Angeles, with ugly chants and vitriol directed at the point guard whenever he returns to Salt Lake City to this day. Regardless of his motives to get out of his contract, it seems that Utah fans will never really forgive him.
3. Michael Jordan (235 votes)
The push-off, need we say more? Utah fans still hold the grudge that Jordan "pushed off" of Jazz guard Bryon Russell on the game-winning jumper in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals. Push or no push, Russell tumbled to the floor and Jordan provided an iconic NBA Finals moment, sinking the shot and sealing the title for the Chicago Bulls. The jumper ended Utah's two year reign in the NBA Finals and was the icing on the cake for Jordan's legendary career.
4. Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets Point Guard (203 votes)
Williams left Utah on the worst of terms and is seen as the player that pushed beloved coach Jerry Sloan into retirement. Sloan retired the day after a reported argument with Williams during a game in February 2011 and was quickly shipped off to the Nets for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, two first-round picks and cash. Favors signed a contract extension with Utah last year and one of the picks became Enes Kanter, while Williams has helped lead the Nets to back-to-back playoff appearances.
5. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls Forward (194 votes)
Boozer is another former Jazz man that Utah fans love to hate. Boozer signed with Utah as a free agent in 2004 and went on to have a successful career, leading the Jazz to the playoffs four times, including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2007. However, injury questions, as well as desire for a big contract rubbed fans the wrong way until Boozer was sent to Chicago in a sign-and-trade in 2010.
Best of the rest: Former Runnin' Utes coach Jim Boylen (146 votes), former Jazz player Mark Jackson (103 votes)
Best of the "other" votes: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (6 votes), former Jazz player Greg Ostertag (4 votes)