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Showing my age ... Larry Bird. Hated him growing up, because I was a Magic fan. Couldn't stand Bird. Today, I appreciate his greatness and his work ethic. Maybe it's less of Bird winning me over and simply time making the rivalries of those days less heated.
On a less dramatic scale, I'll go with Eddie Kennison. He seemed like a non-good punk when he was bouncing around the Rams and Saints, then he become a Bronco and quit on the team. I was very displeased when the Chiefs signed him, and so were a lot of other fans.
His rehabilitation was slow here, but he never appeared to quit and lolly gag the way he did at some other stops. He also got involved with the community, and became one of the go-to guys on what was happening with the team and if you wanted a player to do something for the community. He addressed the transgressions earlier in his career, and truly became a fan favorite, to the point that last month the Chiefs signed him to a one-day contract so he could retire as a Chief. Nice happy ending to a career with a lot of ups and downs.
Chad is winning me over. The stunts early in his career and the name change made him seem like a punk. Now he's seeming more as a fun-loving guy with a sense of humor. If he keeps up his effort and keeps playing hard, he'll win me over.
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