De La Hoya was destined for big things when he represented the United States at the 1992 Olympics, and everyone knew it. It is an iconic nickname, to be sure, but younger audiences may scratch their heads at this one. How does a guy born Walker Smith Jr. become "Sugar" Ray Robinson? Find Me In Brains Riddle. "Larry Legend" also could have applied here, and it was very self-explanatory, as nicknames go. He chose the slogan for his jersey based on how he felt other teams would feel getting beaten by him. 5 Best players to wear No. Given what became of his postplaying days, the "Hustle" part seems especially apropos. And hip-hop just saved a basketball career. So when I started playing basketball, I was like: Oh man, that two-three looks good. Similarly, nicknames can be intimidating, humorous or just clever. 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. Since then, he has gone 6-2 with his only losses coming to Lyoto Machida and Glover Teixeira. Years later, Jerry West is still permanently carved into the game of basketball. Babe Ruth. 3.1 College. One of the best open-court finishers and overall athletes in the NBA, Marion would routinely make incredible plays that seemed to defy physics. In this article, we will give you the five greatest NBA players who have worn the number in their careers. Aggressive drivers are scary enough on the actual roads. He achieved all of these amazing totals but is just 18th in terms of games played in a career. Whether you like Berman or not, you have to admit that he gave one of the era's most talented receivers a fantastic nickname. 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. While I am in air, I am not in oxygen. 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. View Reports-/5-RATE QUIZ. Maurice "The Rocket" Richard is a legend in the city of Montreal. Larry Bird is counted among the legendary athletes, hence why he got the infamous name of Larry Legend. However, he was graceful, fast, fluid and supremely skilled, and despite battling injuries his whole career, put up incredible stats. Here's proof. August 10, 2021 9:00 am. In layman's terms, Bader is a safe bet to beat anyone but the promotion's best. One of the best defenders in the world, FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is respected most for his relentless motor and undeniable grit. In only three NFL seasons, Kentucky Fried Lorenzen accomplished more than most starting quarterbacks can hope to achieve in a lifetime. Either way, the nickname was intimidating, and so was Parker. Additionally, his ability to survive and remain in good health twentyyears after an HIV diagnosis is nothing short of magic. 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. Sept. 12, 2012 12 AM PT. 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. 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. 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. 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. Interest and investment in women's sports have been on the rise in . Cream of the Crop: Ghostface Przybilla, Vanilla Gorilla, Joel Dolla-Dolla-Billa, White Kong. No one was cooler under pressure than Montana, and he has the hardware four Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs - to prove it. He's Magic, plain and simple. There are even a shocking number of children's books written by professional athletes. If you answer "no" to one or both, then you probably don't like it. His nicknames come from his head of hair along with his wild play on the field. Thomas was one of the only power hitters of his era to avoid PED suspicion and had a mastery of the strike zone like few other hitters of his time. Of his worst nicknames, though, we choose "The Big Aristotle.". Jordan's nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness" both refer not only to his play on the basketball court, but "Air Jordan" was also his shoe brand's name. Sometimes, no matter how fitting a nickname is, there isn't a truly great story behind it. Posted October 23, 2018 Cream of the Crop: The Sultan of Swat, TheColossus of Clout, The Wazir of Wham, The Mammoth of Maul. 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. His dunks were so effortless in college that one coach remarked that watching him perform the feat, "looked like a dream." But his 473-foot shot in 2007 off Zack Greinke might. James is the most popular, visible athlete in the country, if not the world. 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. Joe Jackson. Origins of nicknames can stem from the praise of teammates, broadcasters or the God-complexes of athletes themselves. 51. One of the NFL's most explosive runners of the past decade, the 2014 Super Bowl winning Seattle Seahawk makes our list at number six. 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. Cream of the Crop: The Round Mound of Rebound, Leaning Tower of Pizza, Pillsbury Dough Boy, The Crisco Kid. 1. His passes were daring, often ridiculous and usually successful. After calling it quits in 2011, Shaq properly added the nickname "Big AARP" to his repertoire. Tatum, one of the NFL's most feared and controversial hitters, was nicknamed "The Assassin" because of his violent, reckless style. Rumor has it he never embraced names related to his height. At the end of the day, a sporting event is a moneymaking entertainment venue and catchy nicknames are just one small way for broadcasters, teams, fans, and athletes themselves to add to the value of their product. Randy Johnson is often referred to as The Big Unit, due to his 6'10 height and devastating fastball. Iverson's nickname was given to him by a family friend and symbolized the fact that Iverson would be "The Answer" to the NBA's popularity woes. Pretty frustrating, right? His black No. ), Cream of the Crop: Vinsanity, Air Canada, Half Man Half Amazing. The nickname was coined by Ken Harrelson while Thomas was a member of the Chicago White Sox early in his career. New customers only. The AK-47 is still one of the most widely used . 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. 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. Michael initially preferred baseball. A good way to earn a nickname is to be so good that one just fits perfectly. The current multi-division World Champion belongs on this list, without any shadow of a doubt. Real Madrid captain Raul wore 7 at the time and so Beckham, ever the expert at self-promotion and marketing, opted for the vacant No.23, in honour of Jordan. Most of the time, sons of athletes don't want to stand in their fathers' shadows, but Mancini, who inherited the "Boom Boom" moniker from his father, Lenny, took it and ran with it and is much more widely associated with it. His actual first name is Earvin, but "Magic" is his widely accepted name these days. 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. His other nickname is a hilarious pun that we will not explain. Those beginnings make Bird's status as one of the league's all-time trash talkers and clutch shooters even more enjoyable. His best nickname, Uncle Daddy, wasn't even in reference to his dominating play. No. Aaron . Young's own explanation borders on nonsense, so let's instead focus on the fact that he's given fans countless entertaining moments, intentionally or otherwise, and that the nickname is, in fairness, extremely catchy. Known as the Babe to fans, and Jidge to teammates, George Herman Ruth was simply the holiest presence ever to step foot inside a batter's box. In any case, he did not like the nickname, feeling that it misrepresented him. Another Nigerian-American, Peter has been competing professionally since 2001, and was briefly the World Boxing Council's Heavyweight champion. The number of nicknames four-time NBA champ Shaquille O'Neal had over his career is countless at this point. Still, beyond Michael Jordan's own greatness while wearing No. 4 . 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. His natural ability coupled with a dizzying array of moves, including his signature "Dream shake," made guarding him more like a nightmare. 26 Further reading. | Pierce got his nickname from Shaquille O'Neal, and it is indeed a great one. The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams could turn anyone into a .400 hitter. 19. Mr. Hockey, indeed. 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. Wayne Gretzky leads all NHL skaters in points by nearly 1000 points. In his book, Jordan wrote, When I came back, I didnt want to play in the last number that my father had seen me wear. Strange. . I wanna be able to fly like him, James said. king von why he told roblox id . Number of Names: Four+ (new ones every day), Cream of the Crop: High Griffinition, Carrot Hops, The Jambulance. 23, LeBron James is 'The King' of the NBA and won two titles with No. Share with Friends Add To Playlist. 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. 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. Earnhardt was everything that the handle implied, and he was also one of the most popular drivers in the sport for many years. They've defined careers and detailed one's true popularity. "The Dream" is a nickname that stemmed partially from his religious faith, but more from his flawless and graceful footwork. 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. Number 23 - LeBron James; The Truth - Paul Pierce; King James - LeBron James; The . Ancient sex, conspiracies and MJ: How 23 became sport's most legendary number HOME . 23 Other. He continued to don the 23 for the University of North Carolina and then most famously in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls. Now imagine a guy who was so aggressive that other professional race car drivers gave him the nickname "The Intimidator." Although this particular species can do a masterful robot dance. He set a bar that doesn't seem close to being touched. The name was later picked up by commentators and analysts. Chuck Liddell is one of the most prolific fighters in the history of the promotion and fought from 1998 until 2010, when he retired at age 40. Interesting Nicknames For Larry Bird. 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. 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. Of course not. The "King James" moniker applies in every way, from his primacy in the sport to the way that any team that secures his services becomes an instant contender, as well as the league's most-watched franchise. What is the coolest nickname for any athlete in any sport? Nicknames add color to sports and often become so popular that they serve as an athlete's de facto first name. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. His nickname, "The Bayonne Bleeder," stems from his New Jersey heritage but also his propensity for cuts. He was named to the All-Ohio first team and . "This partnership will allow us to engage the APBPA membership of current and former professional baseball players to lead the instruction at Legendary Athletes' 5 Tools youth baseball camps. "MJ" or "His Airness" could have been the pick here, but "Air Jordan" most appropriately captures what Jordan was most famous for: feats of incredible athleticism, especially when going in for a dunk. It is a name that resonates around the world, even among people who may not be fans of sport. 23, even if it was for a short period during his career. Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! He also has the highest point per game total with 1.92. Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia 3 on his back, he wore the iconic 23 in the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans. 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. Payton was long regarded as one of the league's most tenacious on-ball defenders as well as one of its biggest trash talkers. And hopefully adjusted their birth certificates accordingly. Queen James won't do either. Does this nickname really need much explanation? The UFC Hall of Famer makes this list for his nickname "The Iceman," which is a reference to his fighting style and overall demeanor. 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. In that context, "Super Mario" was the perfect moniker. Given that level of performance, "The Dominator" is a fitting title. Iconic NBA players with number 23 jerseys include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, all Hall of Fame-level players whose career highlights are among the greatest moments in basketball history. Cream of the Crop: Steam Engine Charlie, Black Magic, Chasemanian Devil. 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. 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. Griffey Jr.'s nickname, like so many others, has both simple and perfect origins. If you don't think beer and chicken wings pair up nicely with football, I suspect you may be an agent of the North Koreans. Wayne Gretzky might be the sport's greatest player, but Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, in many respects, was its most popular. Joe Maddon's versatile switch-hitter also goes by the names Zo, Zobe, Ben-zee, Z-man and Zobo. (Greatest of All Time), but for our purposes, his nicknames referring to his jumping and dunking abilities are his best aliases. While it may seem curious, at first, once someone explains the name, calling the man "Vinnie" seems almost wrong by comparison. T ennis legend Martina Navratilova, who is openly lesbian, has been ousted from the board of Athlete Ally, a nonprofit that promotes LGBT inclusion in sports. Arguably the greatest showman and ball-handler in basketball history, Maravich remains the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, with 3,667 points, good for 44.2 points per game. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." He earned six All-Stars and five All-NBA selections, won the 1988-89 Rookie of the Year award, the All-Star MVP in 1995 and the 2002 championship with the LA Lakers. Lebron James recently made social media headlines by passing down the Lakers 23 jersey to newcomer Anthony Davis. Grimson might well be the least-distinguished player on this list, but that doesn't matter, because his nickname fit him perfectly. 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. 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. B.C. Archer is a legendary athlete like Milkha Singh who succumbed to Covid-19 on June 19 numbers sprinkled! 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. 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. End of story. 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. Nicknames of other athletes at the Summer Olympics . 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. 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. 23 represents a legendary athlete with the nickname. In other words, Ben Zobrist. In that year he managed to get 11 sacks, which was actually two under his career average of 13 per season. For many fans, James has done the unthinkable and supplanted Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time. Most boxing historians will tell you, no. Perhaps no city and player were better fits than New York and Namath. LeBron James. I'm 23 1 I know 23 1. city of glendale, wi permits; critical role cancelled; metatron cube religion; best wireless earbuds for travel; principle based ethics strengths and weaknesses; 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. The name "Rocket" came from the speed of his fastball, which was steadily between 97 and 100 mph early on in his career. Give Orange. A four-time Formula One Champion, Prost has the second most F1 titles of all time. Michael Clarke received the No.23 shirt from Shane Warne. There is very little that is "royal" or "dignified" about Barkley, and fans have long adored him for it. Even the crickets are applauding this selection. Seven receptions all season for a total of 151 yards and a touchdown, making him the Montreal Allouettes' eighth receiver in statistical terms. Well, he borrows his friend Ray Robinson's birth certificate so that he can get around the AAU's age restriction and box. He also may well be the best defensive player in NFL history, having racked up 198 sacks, 13 Pro Bowls and 10 first-team All-Pro nods during his illustrious career. 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. He said he thought it was a bad idea to delay a decision on the subject. Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield, Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield. Dwight Howard - "Superman", "Foul on You", (for the large number of fouls called on Howard during the 2010 NBA Playoffs), "D12" Kevin Huerter - "Red . Alston's NBA career was solid, if unspectacular, but his legacy as one of the most entertaining street-ballers of all time is still going strong. Kemp, the driving force (along with Gary Payton) behind the SuperSonics' run as a power in the Western Conference, was given his nickname by Seattle broadcaster Kevin Calabro, who saw the name on a poster and decided to bestow it on Kemp. Wayne Gretzky might be the sport's greatest player, but Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, in many respects, was its most popular. When Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal took the NBA by storm in the mid-1990s, everyone termed them "Shaq and Penny." Alston went from street-ball legend and AND1 Mixtape star to solid NBA player, but he didn't lose his trademark skipping dribble, the same thing that earned him his nickname. Tom Brady. Let's see which 25 athletes earned the most nicknames. He had as versatile an offensive game as anyone in the league despite not being a top-drawer athlete and leaper like some of his contemporaries. While The Law Firm is currently a free agent, he had some solid years in the NFL. ROWLEY. 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." The ten-time All-Pro player finally won a Super Bowl in 1997 with the Green Bay Packers. Jr. was a legendary American quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins for his entire professional career of 17 years. I am also in water, but not in hydrogen. We spoke to him about the numbers four and 23. "Darth" is obviously a Star Wars reference, to one of the greatest sci-fi/action villains of all time. 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. but there are none as clearly defined as Wayne Gretzky is to the NHL. While the shared number sixteen are a pair of Nigerian Nightmares, Olajuwon, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, is not a nightmare by any estimation, unless one is playing ball against him. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. The Fleein' Korean and Choo-Choo Charlie are two others we couldn't dare to ignore. The legendary American swimmer has won 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold, making him the most decorated athlete of all time. You'll want to cross-reference the length of the answers below with the required length in the crossword puzzle you are working on for the correct answer. These two retired baseball players share number 18 on our list because their names are similar, despite their completely different positions on the diamond. Ron Artest/The Panda's Friend/Metta World Peace - or whatever he's calling himself this week, gets an honorable mention for his pseudo-sensical name changes. White was an ordained minister and man of devout faith, which makes the origins of his nickname rather obvious. Even though he is arguably the greatest player in NBA history, LeBron James is not the most iconic No. Why Are Leprechauns Associated with Saint Patricks Day? Overall, James is a four-time champion, four-time MVP winner, four-time Finals MVP and 17-time All-Star and has earned 16 All-NBA selections. 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. Comments. A well-earned honor for The Big Hurt. Rampage is a skilled striker and his nickname reflects his prowess. For the record, his naval rank upon fulfilling his two-year service commitment was "Lieutenant, Junior Grade." 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. At just age 46, Walter Payton died of a liver disease in 1999. From left to right: Mary Lou Retton, Megan Rapinoe, and Serena Williams. Legendary Athletes has been selected as the official youth partner for the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (APBPA.org). There is no explanation necessary for this nickname, given to the man many feel is the greatest baseball player in history.