People in general want to build somebody up and then try to knock them down. They always root for the underdog.
"Q&A WITH Wayne Gretzky : He's on the Ice, Feeling Fit Again : Hockey: His back is sound and the Kings are getting better. And people who say he's the Average One motivate him to continued greatness". Interview with Steve Springer, articles.latimes.com. September 13, 1990.