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. Seriously? Elway possessed an uncanny ability to lead his teams to victory when they trailed late in games. Salley was also a co-host for "Best Damn Sports Show Period," alongside Tom Arnold and Chris Rose. Montana became a football great with the San Francisco 49ers, finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and compiled a career rap sheet that looks like this: The Hall of Famer lost his index finger in a gruesome farming accident, in which he was putting material into a feed chopper, slipped and got his hand mangled. The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. However, "His Airness" seems to be the most creative, citing his incredible leaping ability. He played in the NFL as well as the NBL . But those come from the big four traditional sports: baseball, football, basketball and hockey. In less than a decade, both MLB catchers will be Hall of Fame members. Rices legendary hands were developed throughout his childhood, when he worked as a brick mason. 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. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. From Quiz: American Sports Nicknames. Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" while playing Everett High School high as a 15-year-old sophomore. The league quirky tweaks of NFL rules, including a mad dash to midfield to gain possession of the ball, rather than a kickoff. Also known as simply "A.I.," Iverson became known as "The Answer" in his first tour of duty with the Philadelphia 76ers. Other nicknames include "Pillsbury Throwboy," "J. However, steroids will likely only be a small blip on his write-up when his playing days are over, and it seems America will remember him for his philanthropy and for coming through in the clutch. Moses Malone . The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that cocaine was used by 3.8 million Americans. Troy Aikman and Johnston remain close friends, having won three Super Bowls together. April Holmes has one gold medal and two bronze . The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". Jim Thorpe. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Like English . He wore the #3 for his entire baseball career and has had that number retired by the New York Yankees. "Sugar" Ray Leonard owes his legendary moniker-alias toSarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. 4 - Lou Gehrig by a sliver over Bobby Orr. His legacy will live on in college basketball and the hearts of his students forever. CR7, as he is known to many fans around the world, is possibly the greatest player among this current generation of footballers. (A special thanks to The Sandlot for assisting with this slide), 8Pro Bowlselection (1981,1983,1984,1985,1987,1989,1990,1993), 3 First TeamAll-Proselection (1987,1989,1990), 3 Second Team All-Pro selection (1981,1983,1984), 4Super Bowlchampion (XVI,XIX,XXIII,XXIV). Brown has inspired generations of running backs to wear #32 in his honor including Marcus Allen and OJ Simpson. The legendary coach lived to be 99-years-old, passing away last June. Forever remembered for his involvement in the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was known for his lightning-quick feet and agility, earning the moniker that would become inseparable from his legacy. The Rams and Jets QB also did several endorsement commercials during his playing days, including this one for pantyhose, no joke. McCovey got his nickname from his slender-but-tall build. At the height of his career, Jordan could take off from the free-throw line and dunk the basketball. The Galloping Ghost was also a film star, appearing in two silent films in the mid-'20s. Return to Top; Players. 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. famous athletes number 23 nicknamemeat carving knife blank. His trash talking is the stuff of street legend and his longevity in the league cemented his status as an NBA great. application of binomial distribution in civil engineering eames replica lounge chair review eames replica lounge chair review Reese was a 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. Although Mike Bossy only played 752 games, he . 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. Birth date: September 12, 1913. The big man also played for the USA Basketball team, was a two-time NBA Champion, won the NBA MVP in 1995 and was a 10-time NBA All-Star. 5 Best players to wear No. According to an interview on theDan Patrickradio showon10/22/08, the number change had nothing to do with the filmMajor League. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. . Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Every year, LeBron James earns around $25 million in salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers and roughly $55 million from endorsements. If a player did anything to attract attention to themselves, and not the team, he would be benched. Smith is a 15-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove Winner and a 1982 World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. It has been said that he could run 100 yards in 10 seconds and high jump over six feet. One of the greatest athletes the United Kingdom has ever produced, Mo is a world famous distance runner. 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. While his nickname is creative, it is also a prime example of racial prejudice and bigotry. Just as important as his stats to his legacy are the monikers we have come to know and fondly use to remember him. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, with six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and fourteen All-Star Game appearances. Allyson Felix, Track and Field: 9 medals (6 G, 3 S) Felix is the only female track and field athlete to ever win six Olympic gold medals and her nine medals are tied for the most ever won by a . The nickname stuck throughout his career and separated his fairly common name from the rest of the herd. Kukowas a member of the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the late '90s, where he gained his nickname for his superb play and country of origin. His nickname suggests as much, as it is indicative of a man who . The nickname given to Camacho seems born out of synergy, contained in, and rhyming with, his last name. James has worn different numbers throughout his career but is probably tied together most with the number 23. Fans chose to note his pitching by nicknaming him "The Rocket," for the perception of a rocket mounted on his shoulder, in reference to his arm and the velocity of his pitches. He was a two-time NBA Champion(1994,1995) and member of the1988NBA All-Rookie Team. Birth City: Oakville. As captain of the Yankees, Jeter epitomized the clubs ideals and excelled on the field. Quiz Source After nearly 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, the team traded him to the Bucks for the remainder of the 2003 season. Aaron's nickname epitomizes his performance at the plate. Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. We have to say it: "He'll stomp on a child's testicles, but he won't poop on a pigeon.". Why he's here: When you start to look through MLB records for switch-hitters, you begin to put Beltran's stellar career in perspective. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". 99. John Cena is number 9 in our list of the top 10 most famous athletes in the world. 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. He hit 40 or more home runs in five consecutive seasons (195357) and averaged 42 home runs, 124RBI, 123 runs and a .320 batting average between 1953-1956. While playing on youth baseball teams, Andre would attack the ball like a hawk, while teammates would shy away. Nash led the league in assists five times. 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!" He followed that up by winning the same titles in the European Athletics Championships in 2014. HIGHLAND PARK, IL - OCTOBER 21: A gate with the number 23 controls access to the home of basketball legend Michael Jordan on October 21, 2013 in Highland Park, Illinois. 5. There are so many famous AKAs in the world of sports, and many deserve their place at the top of the heap. Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. Jones is said to have 106 sacks unofficially and is one of the most notorious pass-rushers in the history of the game. The Team clue is for the team that that athlete is most notable for while wearing the #23, not their current teams. Michael Jordan (23) We bet you see this coming. He did however appear in summerstock productions ofDamn YankeesandFiddler on the Roof.". The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . The sports television outlet have come up with a formula that combines endorsements with social media following and the amount of intern When the Bears needed a short yardage gain, there was "The Fridge," banging through the line and stumbling into the end zone. Naim Sleymanolu (Weightlifting)- Pocket Hercules. As if the Venezuelan pitcher needs any more names,Garcs' tongue-in-cheek nickname is a poke at his stature, and friends and teammates commonly refer to him by his moniker. Glen Davis was a big kid. Erving electrified crowds with his dunking and leaping abilities, and the nickname seemed divine and easily matched his personality and persona. David Ortiz has his regular season heroics, but Jeter owns October. Name: Jesse Owens. 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. He plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and has been the team's captain since 2013.His record list includes the fastest century by an Indian . Truly the champion of the nickname, Ruth is also the symbol of achievement in our nation's greatest past-time. Steve Nash - Jackson is No. Another aspect of the game that set it apart from traditional American football were the names on the back of the jerseys. When Magic Johnson was drafted with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, he had to change his #33 from Michigan State, which belonged to the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. 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. Athletes have been blessed with some inventive and fun nicknames. We all know Dizzy and Daffy, Crazy Legs, Shoeless Joe, King James, The Great One and Air Jordan. 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. Floyd's nickname is used to describe the consistent look on his face, and how his complexion reminds on-lookers of someone who looks tired or "sleepy.". This list rewards creativity, and while Ali is the greatest boxer ever, his nickname isn't the most creative moniker in sports. For most of his career, Jordan sported the #23, except for one season during which he donned #45 after his return from retirement. When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. Michael Jordan's #23. In his era, people of this stature were commonly called "stretch," for the way they appeared lengthened out as if someone had grabbed their toes while someone else held them by the head and pulled in the opposite direction. 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. Robinson possessed tremendous self-control, enduring racial slurs, death threats, and hostile fans around the country. 3 He was known as the 'Splendid Splinter' and is considered one of baseball's greatest hitters. 3 has become a symbol of pride for NASCAR fans everywhere, and he is remembered as being fearless while winning seven Sprint Cup Championships and four IROC Championships in 677 races spanning 27 years. The nickname comes from Wilt's height and slender build and the obvious rhyming of his first name. Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. His moniker was given to him by teammates for his dribbling skills and ability to go "coast-to-coast," covering the entire floor from a rebound on defense to a layup on the other end. He is perhaps the best player in Major League Baseball history that is yet to enter the Hall of Fame, having been banned for life for lying about his involvement with betting on baseball. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Brazilian Portuguese: [ds(w) atiz du nasimtu]; 23 October 1940 - 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname Pel (Portuguese pronunciation: ), was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th . After playing for a minor . Also called "Golden Joe"and "Comeback Joe," Joe Montana earned his nickname for his ability to stay calm under pressure and come through in the clutch with key passes and throwing accuracy. Toggle the table of contents . No. Coolest Nicknames From Non-Traditional Sports. 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. All players are Canadian unless indicated otherwise. What was your favorite jersey number that numerous legends wore? Virat Kohli, nicknamed Chikoo, is a famous Indian international cricketer who is the present captain of the India national team.With a top record on his plate, he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world. He also played for the New York Yankees of the American Football League for just one season before they absolved into the NFL. Rickey Henderson. In the power categories, it's . 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