23 in NBA history, and he really made the number the important figure it is on basketball fans' minds. And to those embraced individuals, bravo for the sportsmanship. Many of his knockout victories have followed flurries of punches, knees and kicks that would have fatigued other fighters. While successfully warming the Giants bench, Lorenzen won a championship and added to his lengthy list of humbling nicknames. 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. Thing of it is, Jones played football and got the nickname on his first day of practice at Tennessee State because his pants didn't fit properly. king von why he told roblox id . His legacy will forever be defined by the people he's influenced and the reputation he's earned. He's Magic, plain and simple. Rarely has a nickname better fit a player's personality and talents. Take a look at some of the athletes who share #23 with Michael . At first blush, maybe not. Threeof the most famous are PGA Tour star (and world class womanizer) Tiger Woods, basketball star turned businessman Magic Johnson, and NFL quarterback turned commentator Boomer Esiason. Answer (1 of 4): Well, it's difficult to answer because question is quite general. In his prime, nobody freed the beast quite like "Rampage" Jackson. I wanna be able to stick out my tongue like him in the air and yell in somebodys face like MJ.. The current multi-division World Champion belongs on this list, without any shadow of a doubt. 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. 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. 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 Fridge" stood 6-foot-3, weighed every bit of 350 and was a truly imposing figure for opposing offenses. His career batting average of .301 and his 521 home runs make "The Big Hurt" an easy nickname to understand. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 and won the 2016 NBA title, before joining the LA Lakers in 2018 and achieving another championship with 23 on his jersey. 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. Ken jij alle winnaars van de Strade Bianche? MJ turns 60 this February 17. 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. 3.1 College. A well-earned honor for The Big Hurt. 26 Further reading. Cream of the Crop: The Door, Satan's Wallpaper, Devilish Stopper. Cream of the Crop: The Louisville Lip, The Greatest, The People's Champion. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." Sept. 12, 2012 12 AM PT. 25 References. New customers only. Willie "Hit 'em Where . He held several NFL records for years including most career rushing touchdowns, most career rush attempts, most rushing yards and most all-purpose yards from the line of scrimmage. Sometimes, the nickname makes the man. Submit your nickname or copy the best name style from the list. In that year he managed to get 11 sacks, which was actually two under his career average of 13 per season. SportsIcon CEO and Co-Founder Chris Worsey previously built a number of EdTech startups including Coursematch, one of the first movers in the trend of edtech companies aimed at democratising . Why Are Leprechauns Associated with Saint Patricks Day? Trans Men Erase Women. "Money" on the other hand is a nickname that references the factthat he is the highest paid athlete in the world right now. End of story. Other times, as with Willie Mays, the man makes the nickname. Free, a 1980 All-Star with a rainbow jumper, receding hairline and tremendous name. While The Law Firm is currently a free agent, he had some solid years in the NFL. 23, even if it was for a short period during his career. She also showed the class the first film . Opponents doubtless felt otherwise. That said, he's thought of by most as, at worst, a top-15 player of all time, and at best, the greatest power forward in history. Reggie Jackson, "Mr. October". Hima Das. In reality, it is widely believed that "sweetness" was an accolade given to him early in his college career at Jackson State because of his genuine, kind-hearted personality. Start your Foxtel Now 10-day free trial. Athletes earned the most famous tennis players ( and athletes, 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nickname ) in the middle of 1977, boosted! Lou Gehrig. We spoke to him about the numbers four and 23. All rights reserved. 24 See also. Again, very few would ever say "what a great putt that was by Eldrick Woods on the 18th." Number 5 Karl Malone, "The Mailman" Malone, who is currently the second-best scorer of all time in NBA history, earned his nickname . The man many people consider the greatest player of all time doesn't necessarily have a nickname that measures up to his feats on the court. "Darth" is obviously a Star Wars reference, to one of the greatest sci-fi/action villains of all time. With 22 seasons in MLB, ten All-Star selections, nine years as the MLB's strikeout leader, a perfect game, a no-hitter, and one dead dove that flew in front of his pitch back in 2001, "The Big Unit" is undoubtedly destined for the Hall of Fame. . The Ruud Devil is a fitting one as well for the retired Dutch footballer, who remains the second-highest goal scorer in Champions League history with 60 since retiring this past May. Here's proof. Origins of nicknames can stem from the praise of teammates, broadcasters or the God-complexes of athletes themselves. 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. 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. Hima Das, nicknamed Dhing Express, is India's heartthrob from Assam. His actual first name is Earvin, but "Magic" is his widely accepted name these days. There are plenty of honorable mentions for a list like this. 1. Give Orange. No list of nicknames would be complete without Ali. He has won 3 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and many . Additionally, his ability to survive and remain in good health twentyyears after an HIV diagnosis is nothing short of magic. B.C. 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. This list will detail some of the nicknames in the world of sports that are the most popularfor these three purposes. Off the field, however, the four-time Pro Bowl selection is soft spoken and rarely shows much emotion. Otherwise, you probably find it fitting, given Bryant's tendency to strike quickly and spectacularly, often leaving opposing teams and fans feeling plenty of pain. At just age 46, Walter Payton died of a liver disease in 1999. "The Admiral" was a perfect nickname, blending his military background with his imposing presence on the court. I came in during the World era, so Henry Sanchez, Jovontae Turner, and Guy Mariano are the three most influential skaters in my life besides Kareem Campbell, who came a bit later. Find Me In Brains Riddle. The name "Rocket" came from the speed of his fastball, which was steadily between 97 and 100 mph early on in his career. colonel frank o'sullivan interview; beverly hills high school football A 14-time All-Star who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993, Jackson earned the nickname Mr. October due to his exceptional performances in the five . 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. Perhaps no city and player were better fits than New York and Namath. Another Nigerian-American, Peter has been competing professionally since 2001, and was briefly the World Boxing Council's Heavyweight champion. Payton was long regarded as one of the league's most tenacious on-ball defenders as well as one of its biggest trash talkers. Number of Names: Four+ (new ones every day), Cream of the Crop: High Griffinition, Carrot Hops, The Jambulance. But Delonte West Jr. just might. With a hairstyle that is slammed on the other side of the Mr. Clean spectrum, Puyol continues to roar his way toward fashion-and-athletic greatness. 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nickname. His last three fights have been won via unanimous decision. And hopefully adjusted their birth certificates accordingly. In a sport all about punching your opponent into submission, "Hands of Stone" is about as intimidating a nickname as there could be. 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." Possibly one of the most well-known athletes of all-time, George Herman Ruth could have had his nickname "Babe" included with Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson, and Boomer Esiason, but it was just one of many for the 22 year pitcher turned outfielder. Now number 13 may be considered unlucky by many, but there could not be any lucky number for basketball player Wilt Chamberlain. Wayne Gretzky leads all NHL skaters in points by nearly 1000 points. March 23, 2022 13:00 ET . While it is true that most self-given nicknames don't take hold, Ali's did. 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. 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. 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. If people didnt believe me for the last 18 months, hopefully they do now, Warne said at the time. 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. 23, even if it was for a short period during his career. Pie Traynor, listed at number seventy, was the first third baseman ever elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and he finished in the top ten for the National League Most Valuable Player Award six times. Create good names for games, profiles, brands or social networks. He truly is a dominant presence on the field while maintaining a laid back, quiet demeanor in his own life. By, Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images, Cincinnati/Collegiate Images/Getty Images, Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images, Paul Tepley Colection/Diamond Images/Getty Images, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. If you don't believe me, just ask Mike Tyson. A scrappy spark plug on the Phillies' championship club of 2008, speedster Shane Victorino was last seen patrolling the Los Angeles outfields at Dodger Stadium, a shell of his former self. No one was cooler under pressure than Montana, and he has the hardware four Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs - to prove it. Babe Ruth. Cream of the Crop:Crouchinho, El Esparagus, Two Metre Peter, RoboCrouch, Bean Pole. The greatest self-promoter and trash talker in sports history, Ali in his later years was as beloved and recognizable a sports figure as the world has ever seen. This happened pre-shot clock and pre-three point line, too. Smart wasn't that great of a player, but he took full advantage of an XFL policy allowing players to put more or less whatever they wanted on their jerseys. 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. 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. His talent was so far beyond the routine that we almost believed the 1971 film Get Carter was written in his honor, even though he wasn't born until 1977 and the movie had nothing to do with basketball. 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. Sometimes the simplest nicknames are best, and what better one for a man many still consider baseball's true home run king than "Hammerin' Hank." One of the best and most intimidating players in baseball history, Johnson's nickname is an obvious one, owing to his towering height and overall presence on the diamond. There is no readily apparent reason why Parker was known as "The Cobra," (although it is thought to have stemmed from his bat-waving stance), but given his physical gifts and the fact that he once hit a ball so hard that the seams ruptured yes, he literally hit the cover off the ball one imagines that it also might have had something to do with his bat speed and the lightning quickness with which he turned pitches into screaming line drives. Emailed daily. With his recent ads flooding televisions around the nation, "The Weight Watcher" might be the most fitting. The legendary American swimmer has won 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold, making him the most decorated athlete of all time. 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. What is the coolest nickname for any athlete in any sport? View Reports-/5-RATE QUIZ. No. His era is described as the golden age in basketball history, and he became the star of Indiana state. Sometimes, no matter how fitting a nickname is, there isn't a truly great story behind it. Erving called the friend "professor" and was called "doctor" in return. Stabler was a villain for any football fan who disliked the Raiders, and there were plenty of those outside of Oakland. For those who missed it, he is called "The Law Firm" due to the fact that a hyphenated last name in conjunction with a first name that sounds like it could be a last name, sounds like a potential name of a legal office. The six-year UFC veteran has two nicknames. His dunks were so effortless in college that one coach remarked that watching him perform the feat, "looked like a dream." 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. You can use these funny NBA nicknames to call your players. One of the greatest NBA centers of all time, Hakeem Olajuwon takes number fifteen on this list. As such, a nickname like "The Snake" was perfect for the renegade quarterback. His passes were daring, often ridiculous and usually successful. 23 Greatest Athletes to Wear No. De La Hoya was destined for big things when he represented the United States at the 1992 Olympics, and everyone knew it. Would it really have been the same if courses had had to "Eldrick-proof" themselves to deal with Woods' prodigious talents? Names that come to mind are Michael Jordan, Ryne Sandberg, Troy Vincent, David Beckham, Bob Gainey, and Ron Lancaster. In layman's terms, Bader is a safe bet to beat anyone but the promotion's best. For many fans, James has done the unthinkable and supplanted Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time. 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. List of athletes by nickname; Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on . When Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal took the NBA by storm in the mid-1990s, everyone termed them "Shaq and Penny." When I came back, I thought 45 was perfect because I did have an association with the number. 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. If you're going to be known for your kicking, "The Toe" is one heck of a nickname. Frank Thomas is one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history. MORE INFO. Throughout his career, Liddell was known for keeping a cool head at all times, whether he was preparing for a fight or in the ring competing. Obviously this is a subjective list and there are thousands of athlete nicknames, but for our purposes, these were chosen based on originality, in conjunction with their catchiness, humor, and level of intimidation. QB, Patriots. Olajuwon is one of the greatest, smoothest big men ever to play basketball, and it is the latter quality that earned him his nickname. 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. 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. Lebron James recently made social media headlines by passing down the Lakers 23 jersey to newcomer Anthony Davis. What do you get when you cross one of the most intimidating presences in football with a Baptist minister? Brereton was an AFL legend, known for playing hard and being a bit of a showman to boot as well as having a fairly outrageous social life. He currently holds a professional fighting record of 35-11, but is on a three fight winning streak since his 2013 start with Bellator, which of course followed his three fight losing streak with the UFC. "Rocket" Roger is currently third all-time with regard to Major League Baseball strikeouts, after Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson. 5 See also. Just in his time at New Orleans with 23 on his back, Davis earned six All-Star selections, led the league in blocks three times, won an All-Star MVP, and averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds. Robertson is regarded as a man before his time, skill-wise, and is also credited with inventing both the head fake and the fadeaway jump shot.