Greatest Sports Nicknames

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The Gretzky/Mario thread made me think of this one: Which star athlete (in any sport) has the greatest nickname. The few I love are:

The Great One -- Gretzky
Michael -- Michael Jordan
Johnny Hightops -- John Unitas

― cramedog, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael was really his name!

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I KNOW michael was his name, but most any sports enthusiast would tell you that you mean Michael Jordan when you say "Michael". That is why it's an amazing nickname.

― cramedog, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

it's MJ

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

and don't you remember "Air"?

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

The imagination that must have gone into coming up with such memorable nicknames such as "the great one" and especially "michael" beggars belief. How do they do it?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

What about Michael Irvin?

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Human Highlight Film". wait that's kind of lame actually.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Al "Singles" Barr.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"Big Unit"

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Obviously Martin "Chariots" Offiah owns this thread.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

ailsa the ailsa watson

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Walt "No Neck" Williams - journeyman outfielder, one-time Yankee.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think John "boy" walton wins. Although if we're excluding sports people to "atheletes"....

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Rollie Fingers, the name too cool to need a nickname

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"Pistol Pete"
"The Splendid Splinter"

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Maurice Richard = The Rocket
Henri Richard = The Pocket Rocket

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Magic" Johnson

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought...

Ronnie O'sullivan = The Rocket
Graeme Dott = The Pocket Rocket

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Bayonne Bleeder"

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

not imaginative at all, but someone once noted in the '70s that the fact that everyone in both leagues knew who you meant if you said "Lefty" meant Steve Carlton was damned good

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Human Highlight Reel was a great nickname actually. Dominique Wilkens really was amazing.

And I agree about Rollie Fingers being the best name not to need a nickname.

― cramedog, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

jimmy white the whirlwind
the hurricane alex higgins

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Gary Payton - The Glove
Stacey Augmon - Plastic Man
George Gervin - The Iceman
D. Sanders - Prime Time and Neon
"The Fridge"
Mean Joe Greene

― D Aziz (esquire1983), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Mike Hargrove: The Human Rain Delay (for being notoriously slow at the plate)

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The Galloping Ghost
The Georgia Peach
Whizzer
the Chicoutimi Cucumber

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Slippery Rock Joe Mullen (for no known reason)

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:33 (twenty-two years ago)

OIL CAN BOYD

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:35 (twenty-two years ago)

good call on Red Grange.

"Iron" Mike Ditka/Tyson
Craig "Ironhead" Heywood

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"Smokin'" Joe Frazier

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Black Assassin"

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Big Hurt"

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Earl "the pearl" Monroe

― metfigga (metfigga), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

TS: Mookie Wilson vs Mookie Blaylock

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Walt "Clyde" Frazier
World B. Free (I guess he changed his name to this)
Sam "I Am" Cassell
Stevie Franchise
Clyde "the Glide" Drexler

― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

demented bike rider who is a goon - george w bush

― Duncan Goodhew, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sultan of Swat"

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Terry "Tub of Goo" Forster

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Cool Poppa Bell
Satchel Paige
Bill "Miller" Mueller

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sweetness" - Walter Payton
"L-Train" - Lionel Simmons

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Will "Neuschler" Clark

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

FUCK YOU FOR SAYING DICK "NIGHT TRAIN" LANE BEFORE I HAD THE CHANCE, LEE! Also Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins rules the world.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:54 (twenty-two years ago)

While not as poetic as "Chocolate Thunder", the simple "A-Rod" has a certain panache and seems to have inspired a whole new trend that works well with just about any name.

― briania (briania), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Any name that starts with Rod you mean.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Nope. First initial + abbreviation of last name (e.g., Dick Cheney = D-Chain). Try it!

― briania (briania), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyway it's probably Jennifer Lopez's fault more that Alex Rodriguez's haha

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Samurai" Mike Singletary.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Bill "Spaceman" Lee

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson--mid 80s Piston 6th man,

― robots in love (robotsinlove), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Henry "Boom-Boom" Mancini
Charles "Round Mound of Rebound" Barkley

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Have we said Hakeem The Dream?

― TheNewJMod (JMod), Thursday, 27 May 2004 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was thinking of you when I said Night Train, Alex. *winky*

I don't really like the JLo/ARod/CWeb etc nicknaming, they're all easy, no originality, and don't do anything to spin myth or describe the athlete.

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 04:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Gene "The Stick" Michael.

― briania (briania), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Neil 'Disa' Pointon.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm giggling because my favorite for several years has been fred mcgriff, the 'crimedog', and the person that started that started this thread is 'cramedog'. is this an accident?

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Larry "The Basketball Jesus" Bird

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Darts own this thread.

The Crafty Cockney
Phil "The Power" Taylor
"Big Cliff" Lazarenko

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Bob The limestone cowboy Anderson

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Power"? Does it really take a lot of power to throw a dart?

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

mental power mate, mental power

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:42 (twenty-two years ago)

The Great Alan Cork (Sheffield United) "Upside-down head"

― ___ (___), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

More proof darts ownz:

Ted "The Count" Hankey
Andy "The Viking" Fordham
Les "McDanger" Wallace
Richie Burnett "Prince Of Wales"
Rod "Prince of Style"
Steve Beaton "The Bronze Adonis"

and my two favourites

Robert Wagner "The Meat Eater"
Mervyn "The King" King

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm giggling because my favorite for several years has been fred mcgriff, the 'crimedog', and the person that started that started this thread is 'cramedog'. is this an accident?

Yes, total accident. freddy mcgriff and I are not the same person, however I once walked through the Tampa Stadium parking lot after a buccaneers game and realized about halfway to my car that I was following fred and his wife/girfriend/mistress. He got into a very small porsche. my friend I was with said, "Hey, that was the crimedog."

― cramedog, Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Vince Carter "Half Man, Half AMAZING!"

― js, Thursday, 27 May 2004 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

my friend I was with said, "Hey, that was the crimedog."

The greatest thing about nicknames is when people just use them in place of the players name even for like, nobody players. Like this one time I overheard some guy on a phone recounting a Detroit Lions game to his buddy some years ago, he goes "Yeah, Mitchell got hurt, so they had to bring in the Majik Man." Referring to the ex-Green Bay QB and then-current Lions backup, Don "Majik Man" Majkowski. I dunno, it just cracked me up. The idea of sad-sack journeyman Majkowski being in any way "magical", that is.

Anyway, somebody already mentioned my main man VJ, the "microwave", so lemme run down the rest of the "Bad Boys":

John "Spiderman" Salley
Dennis Rodman - "the Worm"
James "Buddha" Edwards
Isiah Thomas - "Zeke"

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 27 May 2004 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Vince Carter "Half Man, Half AMAZING!"

The real Half Man/Half Amazing is on the And 1 Tour. VC stole his nickname.

― TheNewJMod (JMod), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Wally "World" Sczerbiak

― metfigga (metfigga), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, i forgot

Mark Aguirre "the Wrath of God"

haha! Just kidding! I made that up. Wouldn't that have been great, though?

and how could we have gone this far without mentioning those Cowpokes, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson and Randy White - "the Manster" ??

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

HE HATE ME

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

John "The Count" Montefusco
Kevin Youkilis, "The Greek God of Walks"

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Leeee! What about Kenyon Martin? He's K-MART! That says so much...

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I rue the day when a Wally Martin makes it to the NBA.

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I like The Outlaw Joey Swail.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Larry "The Basketball Jesus" Bird

Dude, Larry Bird was THE HICK FROM FRENCH LICK!!

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"Samurai" Mike Singletary

yes! how could i forget. oh 1985 bears, how i miss you all.

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

German luge-star, Georg Hackl: "THE FLYING WHITE SAUSAGE"

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

The Magnificent 7

The Kaiser (there's a few of those)

Iron Mike

"That wee cunt" Lennon :-P

Daniel "Limpin'" Prodan

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

British Ski-Jumper: Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

davie dodds the elephant man
davie dodds the elephant man
davie dodds the elephant man
davie dodds the elephant man

(singalong now...)

― zappi (joni), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I said HE HATE ME

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 27 May 2004 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Frannie Jeffers - The Fox in the Box
Wayne Rooney - Roonaldo

― Joe Kay (feethurt), Friday, 28 May 2004 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Linford "lunchbox" Christie

Or maybe that was only in my own head.

― penelope_111, Friday, 28 May 2004 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

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