Is "The Say Hey Kid" a great nickname? He has a 93 goal lead over Gordie Howe in terms of all time goals, and leads the league in career assists by over 700. Cream of the Crop: TheAnimal (Muppet-inspired of course), TheFlyingTomato. However, the most famous man still wearing 23 is LeBron James, a star in LA, like Beckham, who was inspired by Jordan, also like Beckham. Follow @z_pumerantz, extramarital affair he was allegedly having with his wife's brother's wife. While I am in air, I am not in oxygen. The number of nicknames four-time NBA champ Shaquille O'Neal had over his career is countless at this point. In a New York Times interview over a decade ago, Esiason announced that the nickname had been created by his own mother, prior to his birth, because of how much he kicked while she was pregnant. Chamberlain is regarded as one of the greatest players in history. His play on the field was sometimes referred to as "sweet," although no defender thathe flattened would have classified the experience as such. The name, then, makes perfect sense, but one almost wishes that it had been invented out of whole cloth, with no backstory at all. No one is positive about the fine point details on this nickname, other than the fact that it is a reference to Greene's alma mater, North Texas. Follow. A cutting-edge creation. Back in 1999, in his second year with the Sacramento Kings, a lady named Stephanie Shephard, a public relations employee of the team, offered up the name "White Chocolate" for Williams. World B. From left to right: Mary Lou Retton, Megan Rapinoe, and Serena Williams. No, but it is one of the catchier nicknames out there even if Walcott is most known, unfortunately, for being on the receiving end of one of the hardest punches in boxing history courtesy of Rocky Marciano. teacher regularly showed her Grade 2 students movies, a number of which were rated PG-13, including Iron Man 3 and Dr. For more career-defining nicknames, follow me on twitter. But it was actually one he had carried with him since high school when his coach bestowed it on him after a long, winding touchdown run. Although this particular species can do a masterful robot dance. Jones was so prolific at batting down passes during his time with the Cowboys that the NFL was compelled to start recording it as an official stat. 25. There has been . His first 589 carries in the NFL stands as the record for longest start in the league without a fumble. So when I started playing basketball, I was like: Oh man, that two-three looks good. His natural ability coupled with a dizzying array of moves, including his signature "Dream shake," made guarding him more like a nightmare. And hip-hop just saved a basketball career. Chances are that if you are an NBA fan of a certain age, you were mesmerized by Williams' flashy play in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Known for "The War" with Marvin Hagler, a three-round epic that saw both fighters trade punches continuously, Hearns also had a pair of classic, and controversial, fights with "Sugar" Ray Leonard. Number of nicknames: 15+ officially (possibly up to 26), Cream of the crop: The Big Shaqtus, The Diesel, Shaq Fu, Wilt Chamberneezy, The Big Baryshnikov. MJ won a total of six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year award, 10 scoring titles and three All-Star MVPs in his 15-year career with the Bulls and Washington Wizards. Start your Foxtel Now 10-day free trial. Wayne Gretzky is thought of as the greatest hockey player ever. But due to her southern accent, the word came out sounding like "Penny." Playing on the varsity basketball team, Larry Jordan wore number 45; when Michael made the team, he donned 23 because it was (roughly) half of his brother's number. 26 Further reading. Does this nickname really need much explanation? Most would agree that "Penny" was a much more fun nickname for a player who possessed one of the league's most unique combinations of size and skill. Striding the court like a 7'1" giraffe, center Wilt Chamberlain was a new breed of legendary when he hit the professional hardwood in 1959. He achieved all of these amazing totals but is just 18th in terms of games played in a career. Take a look at some of the athletes who share #23 . The next highest point per game total is Mario Lemieux, but he played almost 500 fewer games than Gretzky, thus totaling over 1000 fewer points. New customers only. The nickname came during his freshman year at Clemson, when a teammate barely fit into an elevator with Perry and the laundry they both had with them. The former Kansas City Chief, Christian Okoye, was a Nigerian-American running back who played six seasons in the NFL, earning one rushing title and two Pro Bowl appearances. While "Babe" and "Bambino" are the opposite of intimidating, they are among the most iconic athlete names in sport. There are few jersey numbers that resonate quite like #23, and although the number is synonymous with Michael Jordan, he isn't the only one who wore it. (Greatest of All Time), but for our purposes, his nicknames referring to his jumping and dunking abilities are his best aliases. Wayne Gretzky leads all NHL skaters in points by nearly 1000 points. Lane, who holds the single-season record for interceptions with 14, was at first not thrilled with the "Night Train" nickname, which was connected to the music world. It was Tim Raines, a teammate while playing for the Montreal Expos, who first called him "Big Unit." Payton was long regarded as one of the league's most tenacious on-ball defenders as well as one of its biggest trash talkers. How does a guy born Walker Smith Jr. become "Sugar" Ray Robinson? Our love for the title "King James" is like a bear trap; only one that's been left out so long that it's rusted shut. Lance 'Buddy' Franklin is probably AFLs most iconic No.23. Rod Carew. An athlete's quest for greatness goes far beyond the playing field. He is widely referred to as the G.O.A.T. Field goals from long distance haven't always been the norm in the NFL, but if you love a dramatic late-game kick, thank "The Toe." Rison wanted his nickname to be Spider-Man, and during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, it was. She also showed the class the first film . Find Me In Brains Riddle. That depends on two things--whether or not you're a Kobe fan, and whether or not you think it's okay for athletes to give themselves a nickname. name of water birds with picture; lucas luetge scouting report. His nickname's origins are obvious. But his 473-foot shot in 2007 off Zack Greinke might. One of the most courageous, durable, and legendary fighters in boxing history, Holyfield is also the possessor of one of its greatest nicknames. Ruth was a superb pitcher, but truly captured the public's imagination with his prodigious home run power, especially in an era where homers were relatively rare. Does it have a great origin story? During his prime, former MVP Vladimir Guerrero could hit pitches purposely tossed into opposing dugouts. Randy Johnson is often referred to as The Big Unit, due to his 6'10 height and devastating fastball. Wearing 23, Beckham revolutionised football in America. Hirsch was a tall, lanky guy with an unusual running style, and it is that running style that earned him the "Crazy Legs" nickname, with some observers suggesting that it appeared his legs were moving in six different directions at once. His last three fights have been won via unanimous decision. mjk funeral home obituaries; san jose state university graduate programs deadlines Men umschalten. Cream of the Crop: Joe Cool, The Comeback Kid, Golden Joe. Names that come to mind are Michael Jordan, Ryne Sandberg, Troy Vincent, David Beckham, Bob Gainey, and Ron Lancaster. but as a football expert i can give you two names i likes. The nickname was coined by Ken Harrelson while Thomas was a member of the Chicago White Sox early in his career. The seven-time World Series Champion and twelve-time American League home run Champion is number two on this list, but not by much. "The Rocket" led the Montreal Canadiens to multiple Stanley Cup Championshipsthroughout his career. ACRONYMIC TITLE FOR A LEGENDARY ATHLETE Crossword Answer. Nicknames go with athletes like beer and chicken wings go with Sunday afternoon football. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Another shared entry is split between one of hockey's greatest heroes and one of Major League Baseball's best pitchers. The AK-47 is still one of the most widely used . If you don't think beer and chicken wings pair up nicely with football, I suspect you may be an agent of the N. Nicknames go with athletes like beer and chicken wings go with Sunday afternoon football. He is number two all time in terms of strikeouts thrown and won the World Series back in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Michael initially preferred baseball. The eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl winner has been a threat to ball carriers and quarterbacks alike, being able to lay down devastating hits on running backs or receivers, while also having soft hands that can intercept passes. Could have gone with "The Splendid Splinter" here, but something about "Teddy Ballgame" calls to mind a player whose talents transcended the sport, and that's exactly what Williams did. Baseball stars have had success with the number as well with Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, and Zach Greinke thriving with the number 23 in . Posted October 23, 2018 Origins of nicknames can stem from the praise of teammates, broadcasters or the God-complexes of athletes themselves. The school changed its nickname to the Mean Green in Greene's first season there, but it does not appear that this was because of Greene's prowess. Jr. was a legendary American quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins for his entire professional career of 17 years. Again, very few would ever say "what a great putt that was by Eldrick Woods on the 18th." Cream of the Crop: Zorilla, Zobi Wan Kanobe. Griffey Jr. was one of the game's greatest players and the possessor of its sweetest swing, and he went into the Hall of Fame with a record-breaking 99.32 percent of the vote. Perhaps no city and player were better fits than New York and Namath. While there are many witty nicknames in the sports world that involve athlete's countries of origin or ancestry, such as Chan Sung Jung "The Korean Zombie" and Krzysztof Soszinsky "The Polish Experiment," a football player and boxer share this spot on the list as a pair of "Nigerian Nightmares.". August 10, 2021 9:00 am. The actual "Broadway Joe" nickname was coined by his Jets teammate Sherman Plunkett. The second Nigerian Nightmare is Heavyweight boxer Samuel Peter. Now number 13 may be considered unlucky by many, but there could not be any lucky number for basketball player Wilt Chamberlain. In this article, we will give you the five greatest NBA players who have worn the number in their careers. To many, "The Greatest" defined greatness in every facet of life. Imagine getting beaten up in a boxing ring by a guy who doesn't hit very hard but hits you constantly and always seems to dodge or block your punches. No lock-in contract. Start your Foxtel Now 10-day free trial. Perhaps a nickname more appropriate to its era than any other on this list, but one very fitting for one of the greatest Yankees of all-time. Hima Das. His best nickname, Uncle Daddy, wasn't even in reference to his dominating play. While he remains one of the greatest 'field generals' in the league's history, there is no doubt that his constant attempts to fit passes into nearly impossible places were risky and occasionally lost games. 25 References. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. In that context, "Super Mario" was the perfect moniker. Also dubbed "Mr. Outside" and "Mr. Better known as G.O.A.T. Now imagine in a sport filled with tough guys bearing tough nicknames, that the guy who just humiliated you is called "Sweet Pea" by his fans. Alain Prost. . His other nickname is a hilarious pun that we will not explain. Chad Eight-Five, golf clap for you, good sir, how's the CFL treating you? 23? Another Nigerian-American, Peter has been competing professionally since 2001, and was briefly the World Boxing Council's Heavyweight champion. De La Hoya was destined for big things when he represented the United States at the 1992 Olympics, and everyone knew it. Young's own explanation borders on nonsense, so let's instead focus on the fact that he's given fans countless entertaining moments, intentionally or otherwise, and that the nickname is, in fairness, extremely catchy. This is the number to wear if you're a quarterback. Tom Brady. Despite that, Wepner is known for being one of the most durable fighters of his era. David Silva from Manchester City wears that number. The only thing people remember about the XFL is that Vince McMahon created it and that Rod "He Hate Me" Smart was its biggest attraction. No. He said he thought it was a bad idea to delay a decision on the subject. If you don't believe me, just ask Mike Tyson. Gretzky's nickname is self-explanatory, and his numbers, even playing in the run-and-gun 1980s, are still eye-popping and completely unreachable by any player, unless Sidney Crosby plays at a high level until he's around 50 years old. His series of moves used to make opposing players look silly was referred to as the "Dream Shake,"not to be confused with the Harlem Shake which is the stupidest internet fad of all time. Whether it was tossing a strike to Dwight Clark for "The Catch" or leading a Super Bowl-winning drive, "Joe Cool" did it all. June 16, 2021 Uncategorized No comments Uncategorized No comments The six-year UFC veteran has two nicknames. Then a woman in the crowd at one of his boxing matches tells him he is "sweet as sugar." He is a "champion" in every sense of the word. It is an iconic nickname, to be sure, but younger audiences may scratch their heads at this one. Bobby Orr is seen as the game's best defenseman, but Lemieux is widely regarded as the most physically gifted player ever to put on skates. 23 to have played in the league. Before there was Tom Brady, there was Joe Montana, and he was the most reliable big-game quarterback the NFL had ever seen. Owner of a dog with a Napoleon complex, consumer of beer, cooker of chili, closet Cleveland Browns fan. The Oklahoma product has the intense and mysterious persona to embrace any such name. This quiz has not been published by Sporcle, Jump to the score distribution portion of the page. There are plenty of honorable mentions for a list like this. All rights reserved. 3 on his back, he wore the iconic 23 in the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans. But Im honoured to have received it from Shane Warne. Whitey Ford derisively called baseball's all-time hit leader "Charlie Hustle" after he sprinted to first base after being walked in a spring training game, and Rose decided to embrace the moniker for the rest of his career. Howe's career spanned five decades, and even Gretzky himself idolized Howe. Athletes earned the most famous tennis players ( and athletes, 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nickname ) in the middle of 1977, boosted! He has won 3 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and many . https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. And along the way, he gained a new moniker for every chapter. Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images. Eldrick Woods' nickname "Tiger" was coined in honor of a friend of his father, according to an interview with Golf Digest. Griffey's father was a major leaguer, and father and son hit back-to-back home runs in 1990. Draymond Green's impact and influence on the Golden State Warriors' three NBA championships between 2015 and 2018 will surely make him a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after he retires. Cleveland.com's 2022 Hockey Player of the Year, Lencewicz led all goal scorers during the 2021-22 season with 39 goals and 23 assists for 62 points. But rather, the extramarital affair he was allegedly having with his wife's brother's wife. Never more than the fourth- or fifth-best player on any of his teams, Horry nonetheless developed a reputation for hitting huge shots at the biggest possible moments, earning him one of the best and most obvious nicknames in sports not to mention seven NBA titles. In other words, Ben Zobrist. Those last two qualities were the source of his nickname, one of the coolest (pardon the shameless pun) of all time. Cream of the Crop:Crouchinho, El Esparagus, Two Metre Peter, RoboCrouch, Bean Pole. Reggie Jackson was a monster in the postseason, helping the Athletics to three straight World Series titles before moving on to the Yankees and winning two more championships in the Bronx. Hasek's time in Buffalo saw him lead the league in save percentage six years in a row and take home the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie in five of those seasons. Like many things, he made the 23 fashionable again, especially in football, with the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Isco, Mesut Ozil and Christian Eriksen all wearing it during their careers. apbpa.org. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. Was he actually the greatest fighter of all time? His nickname, "The Bayonne Bleeder," stems from his New Jersey heritage but also his propensity for cuts. The UFC Hall of Famer makes this list for his nickname "The Iceman," which is a reference to his fighting style and overall demeanor.