He has yet to actually be announced as Ryan "Master" Bader, but has indicated that he thinks it would be hilarious to hear Bruce Buffer announce him by that name prior to a fight. 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. As such, and owing to his oftentimes tumultuous off-field life, the wide receiver is much more commonly called "Bad Moon," for which he can thank ESPN anchor Chris Berman. He hit the ball very hard, very often, and it earned him this nickname with his teammates. In this article, we will give you the five greatest NBA players who have worn the number in their careers. His self-assigned nickname has become a fan favorite, as Lynch is one of the most difficult NFL players to tackle and can also run faster than most of those trying to bring him down. "The Sultan of Swat" (George Herman "Babe" Ruth) 3. Mitch Richmond is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and played 14 seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, and LA Lakers. When Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal took the NBA by storm in the mid-1990s, everyone termed them "Shaq and Penny." Sound familiar? The 170-pound netminder is now a goaltending coach for the Stars, naturally sharing his wisdom and resiliency with the new crop. His actual first name is Earvin, but "Magic" is his widely accepted name these days. If your team was playing against Horry, had a two-point lead late in the game and his team had the ball, you were rightfully petrified. 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." Whether you like Berman or not, you have to admit that he gave one of the era's most talented receivers a fantastic nickname. As such, a nickname like "The Snake" was perfect for the renegade quarterback. 5 See also. One of the best defenders in the world, FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is respected most for his relentless motor and undeniable grit. Given that his heyday coincided nicely with the release of groundbreaking The Matrix Trilogy, the nickname was an especially appropriate one. Technically, this isn't even a nickname because Hagler, annoyed that announcers did not refer to him by his preferred nickname, eventually changed his real name to "Marvelous Marvin Hagler." So for all of the ancient history, the conspiracies and obsessions from 23rdians, in sport No.23 became legend simply because we all just wanted to Be Like Mike. Sometimes, no matter how fitting a nickname is, there isn't a truly great story behind it. Larry Bird is counted among the legendary athletes, hence why he got the infamous name of Larry Legend. The pick total of 336 over the course of his career is indicative of the origin of his nickname "The Gunslinger.". Lane finished his career with 68 interceptions and a reputation as one of the most violent tacklers in the league. 2. All rights reserved. But due to her southern accent, the word came out sounding like "Penny." 3.3 International. Randy Johnson is often referred to as The Big Unit, due to his 6'10 height and devastating fastball. 17. He was named to the All-Ohio first team and . Cream of the Crop: The Louisville Lip, The Greatest, The People's Champion. From "Magic" to "Mean Joe" to "The Big Hurt," let's take a look, in no particular order, at the best nicknames in sports history and the athletes who inspired them. A pretty fitting nickname for a guy known for shattering backboards, methinks. Find Me In Brains Riddle. He chose the slogan for his jersey based on how he felt other teams would feel getting beaten by him. He's Magic, plain and simple. Many of his knockout victories have followed flurries of punches, knees and kicks that would have fatigued other fighters. 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. Cream of the Crop: The Door, Satan's Wallpaper, Devilish Stopper. Origins of nicknames can stem from the praise of teammates, broadcasters or the God-complexes of athletes themselves. White was an ordained minister and man of devout faith, which makes the origins of his nickname rather obvious. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). Clemens won the Cy Young award seven times and the World Series twice. number eight "Pocket Rocket" = Brent Russell, Utility players "Pocket Dynamo" = Gio Aplon, Fullback / Wing " Slaptjips" (Afrikaans for potato chips or french fries) = Pieter Rossouw, Wing "The . He was Premier League's best player techn. 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nicknamebest places to stay in key west for couples. The Pittsburgh Steelers' veteran strong safety is known not only for his phenomenal head of hair, but also his hard hitting style of play, coupled with his overall intelligence. . While the name may sound like a government position, the NFL's second all-time sack leader was actually ordained as a minister while in college at Tennessee. Chad Johnson, on the other hand gets a dishonorable mention here. 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nickname. 23. Cream of the Crop: Lionheart, Tarzan, Superman. The "Prime Time" moniker, while it could have stemmed from any number of high-profile feats in pro sports, originated from evening pickup basketball games Sanders used to play with a high school teammate, where, unsurprisingly, his athletic feats left mouths agape. March 23, 2022 13:00 ET . Posted October 23, 2018 Again, very few would ever say "what a great putt that was by Eldrick Woods on the 18th." Then again, "The Greatest" transcended sports. The seven foot tall Dream is the NBA's all-time block leader, is a two-time NBA Champion and a twelve-time All-Star. Tuesday, February 28, 2023 . 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. 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. Long after her successful career as an athlete, PT Usha was elected as the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in 2022 at the age of 58. Frazier possessed a crushing left hook, one of the greatest single punches in the history of the sport, and despite being undersized for the heavyweight division, he was one of boxing's toughest and most feared forces. No lock-in contract. A 7'1" tree with more nicknames than points per game (4.0 career average), Joel Przybilla is a force to be reckoned with; if mostly in the Name Hall of Fame. Known for his unbelievable resolve and will, the "Real Deal" was everything his handle implied, and then some. "Darth" is obviously a Star Wars reference, to one of the greatest sci-fi/action villains of all time. 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. (greatest of all time), Jerry Rice remains the finest receiver ever to grace a professional football field. A personal favorite here, as this nickname succinctly describes Johnson's game he was a key bench player for the Pistons, one who could get hot in a hurry when he entered a contest and rolls off the tongue nicely. He was by no means a large and imposing figure, but he played with the bravery of a ten-foot-tall behemoth while also being the fastest player on the ice. The first is David Beckham, arguably the most recognisable sportsman former or current on the planet. 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. 23 for the Warriors during his tenure in the Run TMC era with Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin, and with the LA Lakers in his final NBA season (2001-02) when he was a member of the title-winning squad. Undrafted in 2008, Green-Ellis ran for 275 yards in his rookie year with five touchdowns. This clue last appeared January 18, 2023 in the NYT Crossword. 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. List of athletes by nickname; Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on . Rison wanted his nickname to be Spider-Man, and during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, it was. Opponents doubtless felt otherwise. 23 ever since his career started in 2012 and it is more than likely that he will be the last player in the history of the Warriors to wear that number. Pretty frustrating, right? His nickname, "The Bayonne Bleeder," stems from his New Jersey heritage but also his propensity for cuts. Maurice "The Rocket" Richard is a legend in the city of Montreal. His other nickname is a hilarious pun that we will not explain. 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. Another shared spot on the list goes to all athletes whose nicknames have become more widely known than their actual first names. During Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Malone missed two crucial free throws after Scottie Pippen whispered, "The Mailman doesn't deliver on Sunday," to him just before he shot. If you're going to be known for your kicking, "The Toe" is one heck of a nickname. Legendary nicknames - The most original athlete nicknames. 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. There are plenty of honorable mentions for a list like this. NBA Nicknames Funny NBA Nicknames For NBA . Wepner, who inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the script for "Rocky," is well known for falling mere seconds short of going the full 15-round distance with Muhammad Ali and for knocking Ali down in their fight. Report. 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. 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. His winning a gold medal as a lightweight could have been the genesis of his nickname, or it could have been the fact that everyone knew he was about to make a lot of money for himself and for boxing promoters by becoming the sport's biggest mainstream star in years. Be the first one to comment on this story. "It's Sunday afternoon and Tiger's on fire today" is much more catchy. Heck, he was often more of a superstar cricketer than a baseball slugger. He took the name from that of one of his favorite fighters, a welterweight from Barbados. Magic Johnson is the third man to share this spot on our list. Jordan wore the number throughout his entire NBA career, except for his return from retirement in 1995 (he wore 45 because 23 was retired) and February 14th, 1990, when his jersey was stolen and he wore a generic Chicago Bulls' jersey with the number 12 on. Out of respect to those influential individuals, fans and pundits have continuously churned up batches of creative nicknames throughout history to highlight admired or despised qualities. The legendary talent earned his fair share of intimidating nicknames, few of which truly detailed his actual prowess. Michael initially preferred baseball. One of the greatest fighters of all time, Duran was also one of boxing's most legendary punchers a pressure fighter who liked to brawl with opponents, mainly because he almost always came out on top. Anthony's lakers jersey made using our basketball uniform template. It was this steadiness that earned him his nickname. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. 23, even if it was for a short period during his career. The nickname was coined by Ken Harrelson while Thomas was a member of the Chicago White Sox early in his career. 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. After calling it quits in 2011, Shaq properly added the nickname "Big AARP" to his repertoire. After a nearly non-existent 2009 season, he looked impressive for the New England Patriots in 2010 and 2011, running for 1008 and 667 yards with 13 and 11 touchdowns respectively. A truly great player, and a truly great nickname. "Money" on the other hand is a nickname that references the factthat he is the highest paid athlete in the world right now. Wilt Chamberlain (13) Let us start our list of the most popular numbers in sports with the number 13. Pel, byname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, (born October 23, 1940, Trs Coraes, Brazildied December 29, 2022, So Paolo, Brazil), Brazilian football (soccer) player, in his time probably the most famous and possibly the best-paid athlete in the world. Michael Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion, five-time league MVP and a fourteen time All-star. Chad Eight-Five, golf clap for you, good sir, how's the CFL treating you? Always free! There are some great nicknames in the NFL: The Gunslinger (Brett Favre) Marion the Barbarian (Marion Barber) . Number of Names: Four+ (new ones every day), Cream of the Crop: High Griffinition, Carrot Hops, The Jambulance. Joe Maddon's versatile switch-hitter also goes by the names Zo, Zobe, Ben-zee, Z-man and Zobo. 23? I'm 23 1 I know 23 1. Walcott's name wasn't actually Joe Walcott. This was in the mid-1990s, at a time when Michael Jordan was not in the league, and its popularity was not nearly what it is today. He could float, sting, shuffle. Still, beyond Michael Jordan's own greatness while wearing No. 5 Best players to wear No. Cream of the Crop: Ghostface Przybilla, Vanilla Gorilla, Joel Dolla-Dolla-Billa, White Kong. While he may be widely known today for his HIV/AIDS diagnosis and activism, he is also one of the most decorated point guards in the history of the game. ACRONYMIC TITLE FOR A LEGENDARY ATHLETE Crossword Answer. 23 Greatest Athletes to Wear No. His best nickname, Uncle Daddy, wasn't even in reference to his dominating play. Bring the cinema experience home with new movies and old favourites. Report this user for behavior that violates our Community Guidelines. As a result, Chuck earned every hefty nickname one could possibly script. This article will explore some of the funniest NBA Nicknames that were bestowed upon these legendary athletes from all different eras of NBA history. 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. Ben Simmons suffers back injury during rehab from knee injury, Warriors' Draymond Green makes accusation against media regarding Europeans, Florida QB Anthony Richardson drops huge athletic marks at Combine, Jerry Jones shares surprising details on Cowboy stars, Grizzlies' Brooks suspended one game for technicals, Former All-Pro to leave 49ers, test free agency, Grizzlies suspend Ja Morant in wake of latest incident, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. withdraws from WBC due to knee injury, Grizzlies Brandon Clarke suffers torn Achilles, out for season, Report: Brad Hand joins Rockies on one-year deal. It must have been effective because he was a major receiving threat, notching 60 touchdowns in his NFL career and making both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. "Mr. 100" was the fourth, simply paying homage to his statistical dominance. His play on the field was sometimes referred to as "sweet," although no defender thathe flattened would have classified the experience as such. Bad luck. In layman's terms, Bader is a safe bet to beat anyone but the promotion's best. One of the most courageous, durable, and legendary fighters in boxing history, Holyfield is also the possessor of one of its greatest nicknames. Here's how the Page 2 staff ranked the best baseball nicknames of all-time: 1. Rampage is a skilled striker and his nickname reflects his prowess. 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 installation. The nickname of one of basketball's highest fliers, the man who popularized the dunk like none before him, comes from one of his friends. However, "The Hfck From French Lick" is much more fun, rhymes and calls to mind Bird's humble roots growing up in a small, rural town. July 22, 2022 by Rob Navarro. He is unquestionably one of the greatest boxers, regardless of weight class, of all time. Dawkins, whose dunks were both ferocious and humorously named, picked up the "Chocolate Thunder" nickname from an even more legendary source: music icon Stevie Wonder, who frequently attended Sixers games. Old-school BMX rider Charles Townsend, who thrived between 1985 and 1996, remains an influential force in the sports realm with the melting pot of crafty, railroad-related nicknames he earned as an amateur. | Mancini started his career 29-1, and only a four-fight losing streak to end his time in the ring sullied an otherwise sterling record. And hip-hop just saved a basketball career. Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! Ken jij alle winnaars van de Strade Bianche? From Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams to Elvis "Toast" Patterson, nicknames have always been part of sports. 1. At the peak of his Olympic powers, the 23-time gold medalist was eating somewhere around 8-10,000 calories every day to fuel his legendary eight-gold run through the 2008 summer games. The purpose of a nickname can be placed squarely inside the realm of the show and pageantry of professional sports. Well, he borrows his friend Ray Robinson's birth certificate so that he can get around the AAU's age restriction and box. 23: The Human Rain Delay (Mike Hargrove) Hargrove got the nickname for the many time-consuming adjustments he would make between pitches. His passes were daring, often ridiculous and usually successful. Finally, his wife intervened to say something like: The number 23 didnt do Jordan any harm., You cant argue with a statement like that. His nicknames come from his head of hair along with his wild play on the field. Those last two qualities were the source of his nickname, one of the coolest (pardon the shameless pun) of all time. You can use these funny NBA nicknames to call your players. 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. Please logout and login again. Warne famously passed his No.23 shirt on to Michael Clarke to signal the end of his days wearing the green and gold threads in 2004 following his 12-month ban for diuretic use. but as a football expert i can give you two names i likes. Grimson went about 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, and was a feared enforcer for the majority of his career, one that saw him battling, among others, legendary brawler Bob Probert. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. A graceful sprinter with long strides, she dominated Asian track-and-field events for most of the 1980s, winning 23 medals in all, 14 of which were gold. Cream of the Crop: TheAnimal (Muppet-inspired of course), TheFlyingTomato. While it is true that most self-given nicknames don't take hold, Ali's did. If you don't believe me, just ask Mike Tyson. He has thrown for the most career yards of any NFL quarterback, has completed the most passes of any quarterback and still holds the most consecutive starts of any NFL player. Oh, and he throws a slider so nasty that if you miss it by 3 feet, no one will bat an eyelash. In the Bible, Numbers 23:23 contains the phrase What hath God wrought, which was also the first message sent in code by Samuel Morse in 1843 and if you add up the numbers of the year Kurt Cobain was born (1967) and died (1994) you also get 23. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." In NBA history, 237 players have worn the number, whether it was for a full career or for a single game, according to Basketball Reference. With a respected work ethic and a lion's heart, Rice gracefully set countless receiving records and cemented himself as perhaps the greatest football player of all time. Cream of the Crop: Steam Engine Charlie, Black Magic, Chasemanian Devil. Now number 13 may be considered unlucky by many, but there could not be any lucky number for basketball player Wilt Chamberlain. Like English, other great players wore the number for some games. 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. Emailed daily. He set a bar that doesn't seem close to being touched. Just look at that face, the one on top of the guy standing 6-foot-10, as he hurls a baseball at you at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. Chris Mueller is the co-host of The PM Team with Poni & Mueller on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan, Monday-Fridayfrom 2-6 p.m. BASKETBALL URBAN LEGEND: Allen Iverson was sued over his nickname of "The Answer.". Another Nigerian-American, Peter has been competing professionally since 2001, and was briefly the World Boxing Council's Heavyweight champion. Similarly, nicknames can be intimidating, humorous or just clever. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Athlete nicknames often are either a modified version of their given name (such as Becks, . Cream of the Crop: Earl the Pearl, Black Magic, Black Jesus, Thomas Edison. Tom Brady. Gervin was known for three things: his prolific scoring prowess (he averaged 25.1 points per game for his career); his cool, unflappable nature on the court; and his almost alien ability to play basketball at the highest level while not sweating a drop. Any real attempt to explain the nickname of one of the NBA's most unrepentant chuckers of the basketball would probably be fruitless. SportsIcon CEO and Co-Founder Chris Worsey previously built a number of EdTech startups . Hima Das. But his 473-foot shot in 2007 off Zack Greinke might. . Unfortunately, he has thrown the most interceptions of any NFL quarterback. He currently holds a professional record of 34-5. Although this particular species can do a masterful robot dance. Rod Carew. In AFL, as well as Brereton, there is also Buddy Franklin, who has worn 23 in every season except for his first and has himself become synonymous with the number in Australia. B.C. Thomas goes about 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, and was, purely on physical stature, the most intimidating hitter of his era. Randy Johnson is often referred to as The Big Unit, due to his 6'10 height and devastating fastball. And theres more: Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes in our genetic makeup, Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times and the medieval Catholic military order, the Knights Templar, had 23 grand masters. you don't ask about a particular sport or a particular team. LeBron James has also added immense greatness to the figure with his legendary, title-winning career with the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Lakers (wearing 23). Hearns, one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers in history as well as one of its most fearsome punchers, is a natural fit for a nickname like, "The Hitman." https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. Given that level of performance, "The Dominator" is a fitting title. "The Splendid Splinter" (Ted Williams) 2. Wayne Gretzky leads all NHL skaters in points by nearly 1000 points. Much like Walter Payton, White died far too soon, passing away at just age 43 from complications due to a heart condition. Almost every league has a G.O.A.T. "Shaq and Pretty" would have sounded strange, but "Pretty" was indeed what Hardaway's grandmother called him. He did wear different numbers for the Bulls twice however, for a few games when he returned from his first retirement wearing No.45 (his baseball number and his brothers number). For the record, his naval rank upon fulfilling his two-year service commitment was "Lieutenant, Junior Grade." Aaron Hernandez. View Reports-/5-RATE QUIZ. Overall, Davis has one NBA championship, eight All-Star appearances, four selections to the All-NBA teams and four to the All-Defensive teams. He was an actor, a comedian, a philanthropist, a questionable rapper, a cop, a mixed martial artist. Oddly enough, in a league where there are many loud men attempting to intimidate each other, Troy Polamalu is actually known among his own teammates for being one of the more soft spoken and spiritual players in the league. Athletes earned the most famous tennis players ( and athletes, 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nickname ) in the middle of 1977, boosted! legendary athlete number 23 nicknamepeinture gris mtallis voiturepeinture gris mtallis voiture The actual "Broadway Joe" nickname was coined by his Jets teammate Sherman Plunkett. Cream of the Crop: Zeke from Cabin Creek, The Logo, Mr. It still is amazing that a man who stood no taller than 6-foot-4 carved out a Hall of Fame career as a power forward. 9. Open the link to go straight there NYT Crossword Answers 03/01/23. Nicknames add color to sports and often become so popular that they serve as an athlete's de facto first name. To many, "The Greatest" defined greatness in every facet of life. The nickname was coined by Ken Harrelson while Thomas was a member of the Chicago White Sox early in his career.

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