Gabby Douglas, is an American gymnast who became the first African American in Olympic history to win the individual all-around event at the 2012 Summer Games. Michael Jordan's #23. Salley was also a co-host for "Best Damn Sports Show Period," alongside Tom Arnold and Chris Rose. ", The NBA Hall of Fame member and current TNT studio analyst is also known as"Sir Charles.". Professional sports seems to be the perfect breeding ground for bizarre and hilarious nicknames for athletes. The World Golf Hall of Fame member is a legend in the game, and his "Golden Bear" moniker has led to many endorsements and products that "bear" his name. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Jeter is an iconic figure from a club renowned for outstanding players and has stood out among the games all-time greats. He wore the #3 for his entire baseball career and has had that number retired by the New York Yankees. There are many different stories explaining the origin of the "Say Hey" nickname, but the most common descriptions is as follows: When Mays was coming up in the minor leagues, he moved so frequently through the ranks he didn't know very many of his teammates names. He won both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the 2012 London Olympics. When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. "Sugar" Ray Leonard owes his legendary moniker-alias toSarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Fracisco Cordova (Pittsburg Pirates) 8. "Joltin' " refers to his speed and ability to get a jump on the ball off the bat in the outfield and his smart baserunning abilities. Dykstra was a three-time All-Star, World Series champion and Silver Slugger Award winner while playing for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. "Charles is no stranger to the comical spotlight, so when this nickname surfaced, it obvious stuck. Musial is, to this day, regarded to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Jones is said to have 106 sacks unofficially and is one of the most notorious pass-rushers in the history of the game. While Wilt's playing career and infamous personal dealings with women are the stuff of legend, his nickname seems a little weak for his accolades. 6. The Pro Football Hall of Famer has 16,726 career yards, along with 110 TDs on the ground. Paralympic athletes are a source of hope and optimism for many people. and the name stuck. Robinsons #42 will never be worn by another Major League baseball player. Other nicknames include "Pillsbury Throwboy," "J. He is considered the . Named for his aggressive and controversial driving style, "The Intimidator" is the biggest name in the history of NASCAR and the father of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. His No. There have been many outstanding athletes to dawn the number 23. Clyde Drexler. The ever-flamboyant star has also had his run-ins with the law but will go down as a tremendous athlete with a killer nickname. It seemed so right to give him the nickname, giventhe man many consider to be the best boxer of all-time is also named "Sugar Ray" (Robinson). Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Best Athletes by Number: 66-99. The nickname got so huge that Simpson's offensive line became known as "The Electric Company," since "Juice" isalso a colloquial synonym for electricity or electrical power. 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. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recognized these qualities and made Johnson head coach of the team in 2004, before Avery moved on to the New Jersey Nets in 2010. 4 in assists and Nash, another who wore No. However, he is also known as "Wild Thing" for his unusual delivery to the plate. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". Also called "The Boilermaker," Jeffries was a world heavyweight boxing champion just before the turn of the 20th century. Namath's nickname "Broadway Joe" was given him bySherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate. 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 . Davis would often cry to his coach, begging the man to let him play with his friends and the coach would say, "stop crying, you big baby!" Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. A power reliever, he put his full weight behind every pitch, so that he dropped hard to the right, sometimes falling off the mound. Robinson broke Major Leagues Baseball color barrier, becoming the first black man to play in the league since the 1880s. Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". Gender: Male. This is one of the most fitting nicknames on the countdown. Although he personally disliked the nickname, Wooden became known as the "Wizard of Westwood" during his days as UCLA basketball head coach, where he was noted for turning troubled athletes into upstanding stars. Williams said he had wanted the No. Famous for wearing the number 23 jersey throughout the entirety of his career, Murphy achieved much while playing, including . The longtime Dallas Cowboy was caught with nearly 400 pounds of marijuana combined in two separate incidents. 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. Hopkins is known for 51 wins in 59 fights, which include 32 knockouts and one no contest. Named for his cool demeanor on a basketball court, Gervin played in both the ABA and the NBA, and it has been said at his ABA tryout in Virginia, he made 22-of-25 three-point attempts. The school's mascot is the Owl and the obvious lack of a vowel letter in his last name was the second half of a legendary nickname. The legendary coach lived to be 99-years-old, passing away last June. Rices legendary hands were developed throughout his childhood, when he worked as a brick mason. The nickname literally translated means "The Duke," but his moniker is in reference to a tropical hurricane, which he is said to have brought on his opponents while pitching on the mound. Deion Sanders dazzled the nation as he high stepped into the end zone after interceptions and punt returns, frustrating football purists and giving birth to the moniker Prime Time. After Milwaukee, Payton played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. Rickey Henderson. Quiz Source 24 See also. Jeter was named to fourteen All-Star teams and won the World Series five times during his career with the Bronx Bombers. John G. Zimmerman/SI. > All Players To Wear Number 23. Truly the champion of the nickname, Ruth is also the symbol of achievement in our nation's greatest past-time. 23 before Michael Jordan? He built a contraption out of poles that allowed him to carry more bags than his co-workers. Steve Carlton (Philadelphia Phillies) 3. 6 during his days with the Boston Celtics. Ivan Rodriguez also got his moniker for the same reason. As of 1999 . 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. 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. Usain Bolt (11%) and Pel (11%) then completed the Top 5. Payton's defense is the stuff of NBA legend. The lefty was also a six-time Stanley Cup Champion and winner of multiple awards. He overcame an HIV diagnosis and has continued his success off the court in the business world. Load," and "Round Mound of Touchdown," in reference to one of Charles Barkley's many monikers. The long red locks flowing from his helmet while he seems impenetrable by gravity seems to make this nickname non-inventive, but still a perfect fit. famous athletes number 23 nicknamemeat carving knife blank. But those come from the big four traditional sports: baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Nash led the league in assists five times. 88. The nickname given to Camacho seems born out of synergy, contained in, and rhyming with, his last name. But we know him best for the TV personality aspect. Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd According to Parish, former Celtics forwardCedric Maxwellgave Parish this nickname because of hisstoicnature. Rumor has it, the pitcher wanted to return to the majors in 2008 at the tender age of 49, reports the Boston Globe. The iconic hitter earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" in his playing days for his speed and nationality. 10 Tiger Woods Image Credit- PGA Tour. His image has been slightly tarnished after he admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs after many published media reports. Here's a little lesson for all you readers out there, confused as to how he loses one finger and only has three remaining. He retired as the all-time leader in goals scored with 894 and holds the all-time lead in assists with 1,963. He was often compared to film character Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (played byCharlie Sheen) in the1989David S. Wardfilm Major League. Folklore legend has it Hardaway's nickname came as a result of his grandmother's southern accent when calling him "Pretty," thus coming out as "Penny.". 2 Deion Sanders, CB, Florida State (1985-88) Focus on Sport/Getty Images. The best player on the greatest dynasty in professional sports was Bill Russell. Nothing more creative for a boxer than "Hitman?" Cristiano Ronaldos image is inseparable from his favored #7. The Nigerian giant stood 7-feet tall and weighed 255 pounds in his playing days. He played in the NFL as well as the NBL . Gretzky won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers during the 1980s, before he was dealt in a blockbuster deal to the Los Angeles Kings. He holds the world record for 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 100 metres relay and is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016). Nicklaus won 20 major titles before retiring to design golf courses. Tiger Woods is a professional golfer and tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds multiple golf records. Hayes earned many nicknames during his playing days, such as "The Judge" and his self-proclaimed "Jedi" alias for his pre-Super Bowl XVIII quotes stating he was "The only true Jedi in the NFL" (Star Wars was immensely popular in the late '70s and early '80s). Johnson was elected to theNBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996, is a five-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, a three-time MVP and a 12-time All-Star. At the height of his career, Jordan could take off from the free-throw line and dunk the basketball. If pressed to name a national sport, Malaysians would say "badminton.". Before these famous images went viral, Oscar De La Hoya was boxing's "Golden Boy," a heavy-hitter with a squeaky-clean image. Carry on with the slideshow, and impress your friends with your newfound street cred. "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes . 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 1. Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. It's one of the more unique and popular nicknames of the modern era.". William Perry was a fan favorite with the Chicago Bears from 1985-93, and the team used him on both sides of the ball. Newton once weighed as much as 400 pounds and was said to be even bigger than William "The Fridge" Perry, therefore earning him the nickname "The Kitchen.". 4: Brett Favre, QB Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers , New York Jets , Minnesota Vikings News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. With arguably the most famous nickname in the history of media, Dwayne Johnson is built like a rock and wrestled like a rock.
Megan Schutt And Jess Holyoake, Articles F