His nickname is more a basic description of the entity he embodies than a catchy alter-ego. However, it was as a fullback that got him his alias, and it would stick with him long after his playing days were over. The tall glass of water is a solid shooter, and therefore, the gun jokes just flow. 24: Alworth, . Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia With arguably the most famous nickname in the history of media, Dwayne Johnson is built like a rock and wrestled like a rock. No. Also known as simply "A.I.," Iverson became known as "The Answer" in his first tour of duty with the Philadelphia 76ers. While most think the successful Alabama Crimson Tide coach was named "Bear" for his personality, it was actually given to him as a child. Venus Williams has seven grand slam titles, of which 5 are at Wimbledon, making her one of the best in the game. In the realm of all-time nicknames, it is definitely sweet, but it hits the countdown towards the back, because there isn't much back story here, and he's not actually a hitman. Full list of Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps. He is also one of the most dominant. Very few athletes have earned their nickname quite like Dominique Wilkins. WIZARDS OF CRICKET. ), "The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Inductees". Williams is perhaps best known for giving up the game-and-World Series-winning home run to Joe Carter and the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Smith spent 11 years in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings (19871990),Atlanta Hawks(1990),Houston Rockets(19901996),Detroit Pistons(1996),Orlando Magic(19961997) andDenver Nuggets(1997). Players could put whatever name they wanted back there, and Smart's "He Hate Me" was the best of them all. Following legal troubles, Camacho retired from professional boxing and has since proclaimed himself to be a "born again Christian.". "Hammerin' Hank" played 23 seasons and recorded 755 career home runs and 3,771 hits. the bat to Trumper. However, he is also known as "Wild Thing" for his unusual delivery to the plate. The NBA big man grew up in the small community ofGans, Okla., and attended Oklahoma State University. He played professional football in the NFL with theAtlanta Falcons(19891993),San Francisco 49ers(1994),Dallas Cowboys(19951999),Washington Redskins(2000) andBaltimore Ravens(20042005). However, "His Airness" seems to be the most creative, citing his incredible leaping ability. . He earned the moniker "The Little General" for his leadership abilities on the court and also his fiery, competitive nature as a player. The #7 shirt at Liverpool has a long and storied history that has seen some of the clubs best players wear the number. Whether they describe physical appearance, a catch phrase, or an extreme and unique ability, these nicknames follow their host, even beyond the grave. The running back/receiver was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. His #99 is retired throughout the NHL, never to be worn by another player again. Eighty-eight years ago this week, the New York Yankees became the first professional sports team to permanently wear numbers on their uniforms. 2 - Secretariat. It has spawned other nicknames involving athletes with the last name "Rodriguez," including the current record holder for most saves in a season, Frankie "K-Rod" Rodriguez. There are so many famous AKAs in the world of sports, and many deserve their place at the top of the heap. Mo Farah. "Apparently, White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson tagged Thomas with the nickname "Big Hurt" because that's exactly what he does to opposing pitchers. Not every player to wear the #7 has found success with the club, but it has been donned by icons that have had a lasting impact on the beautiful game. By the 1930s numbers on uniforms were standard practice for Major League Baseball teams and were common in other sports like football and hockey. Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. His stellar play as a defensive lineman, along with his faith, helped him earn his nickname as "The Minister of Defense.". He played in the NFL as well as the NBL . "The Glide" is a member of the Hall of Fame and captured the 1995 NBA championship with the Houston Rockets. Joe was never a stranger to the media, providing plenty of quotes and controversy in his days, and "Broadway Joe" seems fitting despite the limited experience in actual theatre. 88. Wilkins played 11 seasons of NBA basketball with the Atlanta Hawks and was a nine-time NBA All-Star. Drexler has had his nickname since his days at the University of Houston, named for his speed and athleticism on the court and his pleasant and easygoing nature in his private life. Salley was also a co-host for "Best Damn Sports Show Period," alongside Tom Arnold and Chris Rose. Often considered the greatest boxer, Ali made a name for himself with his quick footwork, skills, and trash-talking persona. John Cena is number 9 in our list of the top 10 most famous athletes in the world. Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the best hockey player ever to play the game, in the same conversations with Gordie Howe and Brett Hull. His nickname prompted fraternity members to rename the commonly-practiced act, involving a passed-out friend and a head shaver. From Quiz: American Sports Nicknames. 1. Jeter was the cornerstone of the Yankees during their tremendous success in the 1990s and 2000s. The Rams and Jets QB also did several endorsement commercials during his playing days, including this one for pantyhose, no joke. He is best known for his unusual running style, which some say he developed running cross legged over four square cement sidewalk blocks in his home town. Quite possibly the athlete with the most nicknames in sports history, Shaquille O'Neal seems to be a fan favorite wherever he goes, and his outgoing personality has earned him numerous sponsorships and TV/Film appearances. When he was not allowed to play with his friends on the peewee team due to his size, he was told he must play with older kids. Ranker Sports. New York Mets fans began referring to Dykstra for his "tough-as-nails" approach to the game, and it was later shortened to just "Nails.". He retired with the most wins of any quarterback in NFL history (which would later be broken by Favre, Brady, and Manning). No. Nash led the league in assists five times. Derek Lowe (Boston Red Sox) 6. Full Site Menu. Each time he reached a new team, he would shout out "Say hey, man" in order to get his teammates attention, and the name stuck with him wherever he went. He used the technique of crouching with his left arm out to fight opponents, and experienced many successes. 1. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). Johnson can now be considered one of the most successful athletes of all time. "The Snake" was a nickname given to him after the likeness of professional wrestler, Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, Adam "Pacman" Jones received his nickname as a young child, when it was noted that he could drink his milk as fast as the video game character. 31.April (Latin origin) meaning "open". Stan "The Man" Musial wore the number during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. "While doing the research on why someone would name their child "Eldrick," it was discovered the nickname "Tiger" was given to him by his father. 25 References. As far as boxing nicknames are concerned, "The Executioner" isn't very imaginative but still intimidating. The legendary coach lived to be 99-years-old, passing away last June. Famous for wearing the number 23 jersey throughout the entirety of his career, Murphy achieved much while playing, including . 3 Kids seem to believe that stardom carries with it certain "perks," such as that famous athletes get special treatment if they break the law (34%; 39% of teens and 25% of 10-12 year olds) and are The Yankees great still holds the record for consecutive games with at least one hit with a 56-hit streak in 1941. Newton was the prime example of how munchies can have devastating effects on your weight and physical appearance. During and following his boxing career, Tyson is known for his unusual and often frightening quotes and taunts and also several run-ins with law enforcement. A list of the greatest athletes to wear the number 22 would be incomplete without one of the NHL's most prolific scorers of the late 1970s/1980s. It has been said that Floyd actually fell asleep several times during games in his career, and his hooded eyelids certainly didn't help refute the claims. Due to his legal troubles, Jones has requested he now be known simply as "Adam Jones" in an effort to separate his new under-the-radar personality from his past troubles with the law. It's one of the more unique and popular nicknames of the modern era.". Still yet another story says he was named "Satchel" simply for the immense size of his feet, looking like two satchel bags on the end of his ankles. Rodman was a king on the court when it came down to getting into his opponent's physche. Along with Aaron's power, his longevity also is worth noting. The countdown has begun for when the New York Yankees will retire the #2 of their recently retired shortstop, Derek Jeter. The best players to wear 18 as their jersey numbers are sprinkled across all major sports. The multi-sport star was perhaps one of the biggest self-promoters the sports world has ever seen but also a very talented individual. Numbers are now considered a common feature for uniforms in every team sport. A lot of these athletes have worn other numbers as well. In many other sports, numbers of club legends are retired from use and placed in the rafters to be revered by generations of fans. Twenty-three is the number . Fred Stabley Jr. of theLansing State Journal, gave him themoniker, despite protest from Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, who claimed it was sacrilegious. Steve Nash - Jackson is No. The Hall of Famer battled through segregation to become one of the greatest left-handed hitters in Major League Baseball history. He also played for the New York Yankees of the American Football League for just one season before they absolved into the NFL. Wagner recorded over 3,400 hits in his career with theLouisville Colonels(18971899), andPittsburgh Pirates(19001917), in a time known as the "Dead Ball" era when pitchers reigned supreme. The iconic hitter earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" in his playing days for his speed and nationality. Over the course of his prolific career, he wore the #80 for three different teams, but is best remembered for wearing it in the red and gold of the San Francisco 49ers. 99 (he originally wore the No. This nickname isn't creative at all, but is so synonymous with the Yankees third baseman it deserves a mention on the countdown. He currently weighs 220 pounds and it's no longer a good past-time to poke fun at his weight, just all the loose skin that now must hang from his neck, arms and thighs. Coincidentally, Roberts adapted his nickname from former Oakland Raiders QB Ken Stabler, who was nicknamed "The Snake" for his ability to slither through opponents when scrambling. In the News: Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady. Kansas City-Omaha Kings ( 75) Jerry McKee. Nothing more creative for a boxer than "Hitman?" Birth Year: 1913. If the Cuban pitcher ever wanted to sue the founder of Pilates, he may have a solid case. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. David Ortiz has his regular season heroics, but Jeter owns October. "Go ask Mister October", he said, giving Jackson a nickname that would stick. However, he only made one broadway appearance, covered here by Wikipedia: "he made his only appearance on Broadway as a cast replacement in a revival ofThe Caine Mutiny Court Martial. James has worn different numbers throughout his career but is probably tied together most with the number 23. He has worn the iconic #7 for Manchester United as well as the Portuguese National Team and his current club Real Madrid. The ability to play both QB and WR gave Stewart the nickname "Slash," as in quarterback/(slash)receiver. Professional sports seems to be the perfect breeding ground for bizarre and hilarious nicknames for athletes. 1 - Oscar Robertson. Hall of Fame linebacker got the nickname Mad Stork for his gangly frame (6-7, 220-pounds). 99. As far as nicknames go, this one isn't much fun, but at least it's better than "Baby Shaq.". https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. Best Athletes by Number: 66-99. Emmitt Smith. He has been inducted into the Pro and College Football Hall of Fames as well as the Atlanta Falcons ring of honor. In the postseason, no one is more dominant in baseball than Jeter. Rices legendary hands were developed throughout his childhood, when he worked as a brick mason. He played his entire career from 1995-2001 with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Michael Jordan (23) We bet you see this coming. April Holmes has one gold medal and two bronze . In his playing days, Jerome was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. Cosentino, Frank. The Celtics' big man averaged 22.5 rebounds in his career; between his mastery of the . The longtime Dallas Cowboy was caught with nearly 400 pounds of marijuana combined in two separate incidents. He then cemented his status as a hockey legend when he secured ownership of the Penguins and stopped them from moving to Kansas City. Before these famous images went viral, Oscar De La Hoya was boxing's "Golden Boy," a heavy-hitter with a squeaky-clean image. Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. Lemieux also overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, which caused him to miss the entire 1994-95 season. Kemp retired in 2003 and now the only thing falling from the sky in Kemp's world are illegitimate children, as he has 11 of them from nine different women last time we checked. Paige is considered one of the best pitchers to play baseball, and it is a crying shame he didn't get a chance to enter the Major Leagues sooner than he did. Answer: Jack Nicklaus. As time passes, these athletes will be remembered for the accomplishments achieved while wearing their preferred numbers. He became known as "The Ryan Express" when he came into games because of his fastball that easily topped 100 mph on a routine basis. Payton's defense is the stuff of NBA legend. After nearly 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, the team traded him to the Bucks for the remainder of the 2003 season. Namath's nickname "Broadway Joe" was given him bySherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate. The legend became the Baseball Hall of Famer in 1962. Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. Sorry Derek Jeter fans, but Big Red was the best thoroughbred race horse of all-time. Aside from being a vegan, Salley is known for several other odd mannerisms and goofy antics. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". However, his nickname doesn't rank very highly on a list of originality and creativity. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine NFL seasons, led the league in rushing eight times, and earned four MVP awards. Rickey Henderson. Elway retired following two consecutive Super Bowl wins and appeared in five Super Bowls. Jim Browns career in the National Football League only lasted nine seasons, but his impact on the game has lasted through history. This May, he earned his second UEFA Champions League title and scored in the Final against Atletico Madrid. Rick Helling (Texas Rangers) 9. When the Bears needed a short yardage gain, there was "The Fridge," banging through the line and stumbling into the end zone. Hall of Famers by Jersey Number. Lemieux was rewarded for his efforts with a third Stanley Cup, which he won as the owner in 2009. The over-sized running back looked like a bus carrying opponents on his back while being dressed in yellow and black. Jon Lieber (Chicago Cubs) 7. Sanders played professional baseball with theNew York Yankees(19891990),Atlanta Braves(19911994),Cincinnati Reds(19941995, 1997, 2001) andSan Francisco Giants(1995). 23 Other. Standing just 5'10" tall, Johnson has enough attitude packed inside his small frame for the rest of us. Can you imagine trying to pass through airport security with his full name on a passport? LISTING OF PRIMARY NUMBERS IN CAPS; Secondary Numbers in lower case. Johnson once said toDave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar," and the nickname stuck. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". The best player on the greatest dynasty in professional sports was Bill Russell. He was often compared to film character Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (played byCharlie Sheen) in the1989David S. Wardfilm Major League. Gervin would go on to be a nine-time NBA All-Star and be elected to the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. In modern sports, athletes are valuable assets that are the centerpiece of advertising campaigns and the faces of their organizations. 2. Jeter is an iconic figure from a club renowned for outstanding players and has stood out among the games all-time greats. Bill Russell, another legend of the sport, also wore No. The durable fire-baller still holds the MLB record for career strikeouts and still fields questions about the day he plunked Ventura and subsequently pummeled him after getting him in a head-lock on the mound. 4: Brett Favre, QB Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers , New York Jets , Minnesota Vikings In less than a decade, both MLB catchers will be Hall of Fame members. "Sugar" Ray Leonard owes his legendary moniker-alias toSarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Jim Umbricht (Houston Astros) 10. William Perry was a fan favorite with the Chicago Bears from 1985-93, and the team used him on both sides of the ball. He began to garner the nickname "Iron" for his toughness and seemingly total resistance to go down. The two sport star wore #21 on both the football field and baseball diamond, and holds the honor of being the only athlete to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title.
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