Let's face it, sport fans needs a scapegoat, especially in the NBA nowadays. They need somebody to blame for all the mishaps that occur in the world and somebody to boo at during the entire season. In 2011, it was LeBron James. Now in 2012-2013, it is Dwight Howard.
Howard is the new face of the ever popular Los Angeles Lakers, but is quickly becoming the new face of hatred.
Both sides agreed to a trade on Friday night that sent the young center to Hollywood, joining forces with two of the NBA's greatest current players, and arguably of all time, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
Fans yelled finally! Reports were even relieved for two seconds before having some solid information to write down on Howards final decision that took far too long.
The Orlando Magic never solidified Howard with the right tools for another championship run and the center wanted out.
Yeah, championships are important to players' careers, but Dwight singlehandedly turned a whole franchise upside down.
Here is Howard, an elite basketball player, complaining about getting a move, making things complicated for teams and destroying relationships along the way.
Will Magic fans greet Howard with love when he visits Orlando? I would not.
It should be considered a miracle that a franchise like the Lakers even bothered getting Howard. Yeah, they have dealt with Kobe's whining in the past, but it is better to take grumbling from a proven champion than from a star that is merely good in the regular season.
Let's remember LeBron James.
His fall began when he agreed to the ESPN interview. At first, I didn't disagree with it. Hell, why not make your decision in front of millions? You are one of the most popular players in the league and after Kobe retires the NBA will be all yours!
Then after months of contemplation, I came to terms that, indeed, it was a bad move. Bad for the sport. Bad for the fans and as we found out soon after, bad for James' reputation.
The publicity spilt over to fan bases around the NBA. They called James all sorts of things and people acted like they knew him personally, similar to how Kanye West gets criticized for his public antics, leading fans to hate his music.
The Heat lost in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
Have you ever seen the face of the Grinch go from somber to a smile from cheek to cheek as the hairs on his head uncurl? Well that's what happened to James Haters following the Heats' loss.
James is talented, but a choker. Many thought his move to Miami was pointless since he had lost and many thought he would ever win a championship.
Apparently, they forgot he was only 26, meaning that he had plenty years ahead of him. However, he did not waste any time capturing his first NBA Finals ring, becoming a champion in 2012.
The LeBron hatred has ceased. Fans now tease him by comparing him to Michael Jordan because, although James has been on a tear in the 2012 season, he still does not have half of the accolades possessed by Jordan.
LeBron will take a seat in the back row for now as far as the hatred is concerned. The eyes have fallen upon the latest NBA star on the move from a small market to a big market team.
Dwight Howard is the new face of hate that fans will detest.
Never mind his personality. Never mind his stats and dominance in the paint. If Howard does not win a championship with the Lakers, the mockeries will pour in as fans will find a new player to direct all their venom.