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. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, with 76.27 percent of the vote, just over the necessary 75 percent to qualify. Follow your favourite Olympic heroes on their journey to the games. Nicklaus won 20 major titles before retiring to design golf courses. 6 also crosses over to baseball. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". Hernndez is also known for the enormous leg kick featured in his delivery. Name: Jesse Owens. Kemp retired in 2003 and now the only thing falling from the sky in Kemp's world are illegitimate children, as he has 11 of them from nine different women last time we checked. Wilkins played 11 seasons of NBA basketball with the Atlanta Hawks and was a nine-time NBA All-Star. The league quirky tweaks of NFL rules, including a mad dash to midfield to gain possession of the ball, rather than a kickoff. From popular baby names to more rare ones, choosing a name from this list is a great choice for sporty girls. Truly the champion of the nickname, Ruth is also the symbol of achievement in our nation's greatest past-time. During and following his boxing career, Tyson is known for his unusual and often frightening quotes and taunts and also several run-ins with law enforcement. The left-handed hitting slugger is the current face of the Boston Red Sox franchise and spent many years in a potent lineup with Manny Ramirez. "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. Hunter is an eight-time All-Star and five-time World Series Champion. Can you imagine trying to pass through airport security with his full name on a passport? History, conspiracies and Jordan: Why 23 is sport's most legendary number Three sports, three icons, all No.23. The #7 shirt at Liverpool has a long and storied history that has seen some of the clubs best players wear the number. We have to say it: "He'll stomp on a child's testicles, but he won't poop on a pigeon.". Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! Playing for the University ofColoradoBuffaloes in 1994, Kordell Stewart completed a Hail Mary passto beat theUniversity of Michigan27-26, a play known as "The Miracle at Michigan.". Plummer is currently a racquetball champion in his native Idaho and was recently interviewed and quoted as saying he loves his life in his small town. Manager Alfred Lawson chose to put numbers on his teams jerseys in order for fans to easily identify each of th. After Milwaukee, Payton played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. He stood 6'-and-a-half inches tall and weighed 225 lbs, a very large size in his time. The #7 shirt at Manchester United has been worn by several of the greatest players of all time. Perkins played the game with pride and a seemingly calm demeanor that earned him the nickname "Big Smooth.". Top 10 Most Famous Athletes In the World 2022 | Sportshubnet McCovey got his nickname from his slender-but-tall build. While his nickname is creative, it is also a prime example of racial prejudice and bigotry. "Real Deal Holyfield" followed Evander throughout his boxing career, as he captured cruiserweight and heavyweight division championships and defeated Mike Tyson twice, losing chunks of both ears the second time around in the famous 1997 bout. 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. Reese was a 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched parts of 11 seasons with theMinnesota Twins(1990,1993),Florida Marlins(1995),Chicago Cubs(1995) andBoston Red Sox(1996-2002). Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). Rose is the career MLB hits leader, having recorded 4,256 knocks. The Hall of Famer battled through segregation to become one of the greatest left-handed hitters in Major League Baseball history. ESPN have announced the top 20 most famous athletes of 2019. Vande Velde's View: My ability to discern "Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing, Chapter 5", "NSMB.e.MAGAZINE Freeride, Extreme and North Shore style Mountain Biking", "The King of BMX. 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. the bat to Trumper. 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. 1. However, Newton underwent verticalgastrectomy,in February 2010,a surgical operation that removes up to 75 percent of a patient's stomach and staples the remainder. Tales of numbers on uniforms were common in the late 19th century, but the practice did not receive widespread acceptance until the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees donned them for the 1929 season. Coolest Nicknames From Non-Traditional Sports. At nine years old, Davis was already 5'6" tall and weighed 160 lbs. With more than 36 million social media followers on diverse platforms. Whatever the case may be, the five-time Negro League All-Star, World Series Champion and Hall of Famer was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, and he wore his moniker with honor. Whether they describe physical appearance, a catch phrase, or an extreme and unique ability, these nicknames follow their host, even beyond the grave. In many other sports, numbers of club legends are retired from use and placed in the rafters to be revered by generations of fans. 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. 1. Top 10 Sports Nicknames of All Time - The Uproar He also played for the New York Yankees of the American Football League for just one season before they absolved into the NFL. The Rock is just too famous of a nickname to not put on this list. Jackson spent 12 years in the majors with thePhiladelphia Athletics(19081909),Cleveland Naps/Indians(19101915) andChicago White Sox(19151920). 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). "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". Load," and "Round Mound of Touchdown," in reference to one of Charles Barkley's many monikers. 5. From Quiz: American Sports Nicknames. The iconic hitter earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" in his playing days for his speed and nationality. 26 Further reading. Birth Country: United States. 79 - Rosey Brown. 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. Pro Football Hall of Famers by Jersey Numbers Class of 2004 inductee Bob Brown wore #76 with the Eagles, Rams, and Raiders. As far as nicknames go, this one isn't much fun, but at least it's better than "Baby Shaq.". As a pass-rusher, Perry dominated offensive backfields and was constantly in the head of opposing quarterbacks. Seriously? Ranker Sports. The nickname "Spider" is a reference to Salley's fear of arachnids, which, according to him, was conquered during his time on the 2009 reality television showI'm a CelebrityGet Me out of Here! When the Bears needed a short yardage gain, there was "The Fridge," banging through the line and stumbling into the end zone. Famous # 32's | More Sports - TigerDroppings Ryan recorded 5,714 strikeouts, 324 wins and a TKO of Robin Ventura in his 27-year career. He earned the moniker "The Little General" for his leadership abilities on the court and also his fiery, competitive nature as a player. Rickey Henderson. 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. Let's start with the two most simple nicknames: Mike and MJ. Turns out the nickname is a motivational tool to remind Eldrick to fight for his dreams and accomplishments.". Cosentino, Frank. 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. As owner of the Kansas City A's, Charles O. Finley thought his new pitcher needed a solid nickname, and citing Hunter's giant 'stache which looked like a catfish's whiskers, gave him the nickname "catfish.". The high-flyer ranks 13th in career scoring in the NBA and is mentioned nearly every year during the dunk contest and has been a judge in the competition multiple times. His nickname prompted fraternity members to rename the commonly-practiced act, involving a passed-out friend and a head shaver. Robinson broke Major Leagues Baseball color barrier, becoming the first black man to play in the league since the 1880s. Leonard Buck (Baseball) 5. Eighty-eight years ago this week, the New York Yankees became the first professional sports team to permanently wear numbers on their uniforms. A lot of these athletes have worn other numbers as well. During his time with the 49ers, Rice won three Super Bowls and led the league in receiving yardage six times. He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. 10 Tiger Woods Image Credit- PGA Tour. WIZARDS OF CRICKET. Wagner was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 1936, gaining 95.13 percent of the vote. The two sport star wore #21 on both the football field and baseball diamond, and holds the honor of being the only athlete to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week. The "Golden Bear" moniker given to the famous golfer was the result of Melbourne Age writer Don Lawrencereferring to the "large, strong, and blond" player as the Golden Bear, and the nickname seemed fitting. 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. Most recently, Suarez brought the shirt some disgrace with his on-field antics, but he also helped Liverpool mount their best title challenge in over a decade. The defensive back has become known for two things: His "bump-and-run" coverage on receivers that earned him the nickname "Molester" for the brutal way he treated receivers coming off the line of scrimmage and for using Stick 'Em on his hands before the league banned the substance and named the rule after Hayes. The Wu-Tang Clan references are as . Aside from being a vegan, Salley is known for several other odd mannerisms and goofy antics. Best player to wear each jersey number in NFL history: Tom Brady leads He was also the second most prolific passer in NFL history, with 51,475 career passing yards, despite only leading the NFL in passing yardage once. ESPN World Fame 100 - Top Ranking Athletes Pel - Wikipedia . A six-time NBA All-Star broke into the league in 1989 with the Seattle SuperSonics and got his nickname, according to Wikipedia.org: "after Sonics announcerKevin Calabrosaw a poster with the name and found it fitting to add to his radio broadcasts.". DiMaggio was bound to earn a few nicknames in his playing days, and "Joltin' Joe" was just the beginning. Ivan Rodriguez also got his moniker for the same reason. Best Known For: American track and . When Stewart entered the NFL, he was moved from quarterback to receiver, but was often placed under center for certain plays by head coach Bill Cowher. While sporting the #66, he helped the Penguins lift the Stanley Cup twice, won three Hart Trophies, and earned six Art Ross Trophies as the leagues leading scorer. The amount of spin generated by the mangled bones and missing pieces of his dominant hand had great effects and led to Brown's legendary moniker. The best athlete to wear every number | Yardbarker The 25 Athletes with the Most Nicknames | News, Scores, Highlights . A list of the greatest athletes to wear the number 22 would be incomplete without one of the NHL's most prolific scorers of the late 1970s/1980s. When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. 5 Greatest NBA players to wear No. 23 in league history - Sportskeeda Robinson's nickname is derived from his service in the United States Navy. 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. In Oakland, he had been known as "Jax" and "Buck.". With a common name like Ed Jones, inserting "Too Tall" seemed like an easy way to separate the man and make him an individual. Simple, yet accurate, this nickname is solid and turned a superb athlete with a common name into a legend. This obvious alias comes from the "Wizard of Oz," and is in combination with Smith's shortened first name, "Oz.". Bill Russell, another legend of the sport, also wore No. 6 - Bill Russell, with special mention to Stan "the Man" Musial and Julius Erving, basketball's "Dr. J.". He did however appear in summerstock productions ofDamn YankeesandFiddler on the Roof.". 99 (he originally wore the No. 23 in NBA history. How do you rank the best nicknames of all time? 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. The nickname would stick and become part of his identity throughout his playing years, summarizing Dawson's aggressive approach to the game and his Hall of Fame work ethic. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine NFL seasons, led the league in rushing eight times, and earned four MVP awards. 160 Player Nicknames Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts What was your favorite jersey number that numerous legends wore? 25 Best Baseball Nicknames in History - MLB.com Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. Birth City: Oakville. The number is currently vacant at the club, just waiting for the next legend to don the famous #7. Jordan adopted the number in high school because his brother wore his preferred #45. His #32 has been retired by the Cleveland Browns. Erving electrified crowds with his dunking and leaping abilities, and the nickname seemed divine and easily matched his personality and persona. Namath's nickname "Broadway Joe" was given him bySherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate. 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. Really? He was a two-time MVP, an . Jon Lieber (Chicago Cubs) 7. 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. Mlkvy received his nickname while attending Temple University. Top 20 Most Incredible Athlete Nicknames - TheSportster Gervin would go on to be a nine-time NBA All-Star and be elected to the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. CR7, as he is known to many fans around the world, is possibly the greatest player among this current generation of footballers. Elway possessed an uncanny ability to lead his teams to victory when they trailed late in games. Glen Davis was a big kid. Author: SI Staff. Sometimes just called Michael "Air" Jordan, the greatest basketball player to ever live has been called many other things as well. 3 He was known as the 'Splendid Splinter' and is considered one of baseball's greatest hitters. DiMaggio was given the nickname "The Yankee Clipper" by Yankees announcer Arch McDonald in 1939, when he likened DiMaggio's speed and range in the field to the then-new Pan American airliner. Reggie White (December 19, 1961 December 26, 2004), was known as a devout Christian and ordained Evangelical Minister. Birth State: Alabama. A household name in the modern game, James has won 3 NBA World Championships, and has been NBA MVP 4 times. No list of the best athletes is complete without "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali. The 6'9", 271lb lineman recorded 57 sacks in his career but played before the sack became an official stat in 1982. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at age 53. Orenthal James was shortened to O.J., which is an acronym shared by "Orange Juice," and there you have it. Gordon earned his nickname when he burst on to the scene in 1989 at the age of 21, when he went 17-9 in his first full season in the majors. No. Sometimes, the new moniker comes from an inside joke with . The world's 50 highest-paid athletes collected an astounding $2.97 billion before taxes and agents' fees over the last 12 months, smashing last year's record total by 8%more than $200 . Jordans incredible career has inspired hundreds of athletes to wear #23, including LeBron James. Bryant would grow up to be one of the most prominent figures in college sports and one of the most successful coaches in college football history, winning six national titles. Right after the Bulls and Michael Jordan won the 1991 NBA title, Gatorade la He added an "H" to his name later in his career in homage to his Muslim faith. 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. Jesse Owens - Movie, Olympics & Quotes - Biography As of 1999 . (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). No. Also called "The Boilermaker," Jeffries was a world heavyweight boxing champion just before the turn of the 20th century.