As a Boston Red Sox fan for more than 20 years, it took me a long time to narrow down my list of reasons to hate the Hankees (my nickname for them). There are so many to choose from.
1) At the top of any list like this involving the Hankees is one word: arrogance. From the Steinbrenner family to the fans to the players, they all act as though everyone else should bow down to them just because of the 'NY' on their hats and the stripes on their shirts. They seem to be expecting some kind of reward just for allowing people to be near them. Must we all stand and applaud if they pass by, too? This sense of entitlement that surrounds the franchise gives off a disgusting odor.
1a) The previously-mentioned Steinbrenner family that runs the team is a huge reason to hate you-know-who. The arrogance begins at the top, since they take the approach that they can buy whichever free agents they want by outspending everyone else. The salary tax instituted by Major League Baseball a few years ago was all about George (just like everything else in his world), but it hasn't fixed this problem entirely. Now they just take advantage of the small market teams by taking their star players and giving up a few lame prospects who may not even reach the majors.
2) Derek Jeter: Here comes that 'A' word again. On the field, he has had a decent career, but he is not the megastar he is made out to be by people in and around New York. He would not be thought of as an "all-time great" if he played for most of the other MLB franchises - and he likely would not be on a list like this, either. Sadly, Jeter will probably go into the Baseball Hall of Fame one day. Too many people who have fallen for that "megastar" garbage are allowed to choose the HOF class each year.
3) Scare tactics: The fact that other players and teams, and even MLB officials for that matter, seem to be intimidated by the Hankees gives people another reason to hate them. There are too many times when it seems like they have a set of rules different from everyone else's. The star players-for-lame prospects trades that get approved every year about this time is a perfect example. Other people look foolish when they start tripping over themselves to do things they normally would not do, just because New York is involved.
4) Let's not forget the fact that anything New York players or team officials do is thrown into the public spotlight for all to see and read - whether they want to or not. Things that happen every day all across America (divorces, fights, haircuts, etc.) are blown out of proportion so much that a person unfamiliar with the situation might think the world was about to end. If only we could tune out the constant soap opera that is the Hankees.
There are many other reasons to hate the Evil Empire, but listing everything is not necessary; the message has been sent. Some of the greatest players in baseball history (Ruth, Gehrig, Dimaggio, etc.) called themselves Hankees, and the team has won more titles than any other. But those things are not nearly enough to keep the franchise from being the most hated in all of sports. With the Arrogance, Steinbrenners and Scare tactics, it is easy to see why.