Surprisingly, no one calls him "Kazaam," but that could be because they are afraid of being sit on by a 7'1", 325 lb man. In Oakland, he had been known as "Jax" and "Buck.". His #99 is retired throughout the NHL, never to be worn by another player again. But who makes it into Australia-only top 10? Due to his legal troubles, Jones has requested he now be known simply as "Adam Jones" in an effort to separate his new under-the-radar personality from his past troubles with the law. Lemieux also overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, which caused him to miss the entire 1994-95 season. 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 . Wayne Gretzky might be the sport's greatest player, but Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, in many respects, was its most popular. His nickname, Louisiana Lightning, is an all-timer. Clyde Drexler. The Team clue is for the team that that athlete is most notable for while wearing the #23, not their current teams. This nickname was bound to happen, seeing as how his last name is so closely spelled to "goose," and there were no other candidates that could top it. 32 and 34 for the first 17 of his 19 NBA seasons, before adopting No. Source: Getty Images The longtime Dallas Cowboy was caught with nearly 400 pounds of marijuana combined in two separate incidents. Jeter was named to fourteen All-Star teams and won the World Series five times during his career with the Bronx Bombers. Gordie Howe is considered one of the best hockey players in history but is also known for his friendly personality, kind demeanor, longevity as a player and prolific goal-scoring. The nickname given to Camacho seems born out of synergy, contained in, and rhyming with, his last name. He used the technique of crouching with his left arm out to fight opponents, and experienced many successes. Our most famous number in sports is the former NBA player Michael Jordan's number 23. 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. The countdown has begun for when the New York Yankees will retire the #2 of their recently retired shortstop, Derek Jeter. The wily pitcher was a fan favorite despite his volatile personality, and his moniker is indicative of his aggressive pitching style. Cocaine usage peaked in the United States 1982 with 10.4 million users. While his nickname is creative, it is also a prime example of racial prejudice and bigotry. Whether they describe physical appearance, a catch phrase, or an extreme and unique ability, these nicknames follow their host, even beyond the grave. Bill Russell, another legend of the sport, also wore No. Very few athletes have earned their nickname quite like Dominique Wilkins. 10 Tiger Woods Image Credit- PGA Tour. This obvious alias comes from the "Wizard of Oz," and is in combination with Smith's shortened first name, "Oz.". Legendary NFL players with number 18 jerseys include Peyton Manning, Charlie Joiner, and Emmitt Thomas, all Hall of Fame-level players whose career . 2 Deion Sanders, CB, Florida State (1985-88) Focus on Sport/Getty Images. WIZARDS OF CRICKET. LINK Famous athletes who wore the number 32: 1. 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. His accomplishments on the baseball diamond are virtually unparalleled over the course of a century of baseball history. 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. The sports television outlet have come up with a formula that combines endorsements with social media following and the amount of intern Maravich earned his nickname in high school, from his habit of shooting the ball from his hip, as if firing a revolver. "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. Boston's prodigal son, Ortiz has become an icon in Bean Town for his clutch hitting and lovable personality. In any event, Mays is one of the best players to grace a Major League field and will forever be known as, "The Say Hay Kid.". He is famous for his blocked shots and on-the-court bouts with Shaquille O'Neal while O'Neal was a member for the Orlando Magic. In true legendary boxer style, Ali gave himself the nickname "The Greatest," but also deserves it. But we know him best for the TV personality aspect. The durable fire-baller still holds the MLB record for career strikeouts and still fields questions about the day he plunked Ventura and subsequently pummeled him after getting him in a head-lock on the mound. He was a larger than life figure that was known for crushing home runs and winning seven World Series titles. Johnson played for the Charlotte Hornets at the height of their popularity in the mid-'90s, and earned the nickname "Grandmama" after shooting a commercial for Converse. > All Players To Wear Number 23. Poor preparation, missing an important detail, or completely offend a certain segment of the audience. The mobile thrower has nearly 30,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards to his name. Leonard Buck (Baseball) 5. John G. Zimmerman/SI. Ryan recorded 5,714 strikeouts, 324 wins and a TKO of Robin Ventura in his 27-year career. The Rock is just too famous of a nickname to not put on this list. . Wagner recorded over 3,400 hits in his career with theLouisville Colonels(18971899), andPittsburgh Pirates(19001917), in a time known as the "Dead Ball" era when pitchers reigned supreme. Return to Top; Players. 25 References. No joke here, just a great player and an exceptional man. A power reliever, he put his full weight behind every pitch, so that he dropped hard to the right, sometimes falling off the mound. However, many athletes remain inseparable from their on-field persona and the uniform that they wear. He has been inducted into the Pro and College Football Hall of Fames as well as the Atlanta Falcons ring of honor. After becoming a standout at Arizona State University, Jake Plummer was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and would go on to play for the Denver Broncos. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, World Series Champion, and the 1949 National League MVP. Here's a look at 19 of the most famous athletes in the world. "The Snake" was a nickname given to him after the likeness of professional wrestler, Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Jackson was also a prolific hitter, and many historians feel he could have broken several records had he not been banned from baseball after the 1920 season. "The Glove" was born when Payton's cousin called him during the 1993Western ConferenceFinals series and told him"you're holdingKevin Johnsonlike abaseballin aglove.". He is a two-time NBA MVP and 13-time NBA All-Star selection and is currently ranked second all-time in NBA scoring. 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. An eight-time Pro Bowl . Payton is no exception and quickly garnered the nickname "Sweetness" for his ability to make plays, and slide through the defense with ease. He still embraces the persona of the Rock to this day, and the nickname is too perfect. Toggle the table of contents . Right after the Bulls and Michael Jordan won the 1991 NBA title, Gatorade la There are so many famous AKAs in the world of sports, and many deserve their place at the top of the heap. Wilkins played 11 seasons of NBA basketball with the Atlanta Hawks and was a nine-time NBA All-Star. While playing on youth baseball teams, Andre would attack the ball like a hawk, while teammates would shy away. 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 is a nine-time NBA All-Star, was the NBA scoring champion in 1986 and won two dunk contests (1985, 1990). Birth City: Oakville. Turns out the nickname is a motivational tool to remind Eldrick to fight for his dreams and accomplishments.". The ESPN World Fame 100 is our annual attempt to create a ranking, through statistical analysis, of the 100 most famous athletes on the planet.. We started with Forbes' annual list of the highest . 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. "The Great Bambino," "The Sultan of Swat," "The Colossus of Clout," and simply "The Babe," are all references to baseball's greatest legend. Load," and "Round Mound of Touchdown," in reference to one of Charles Barkley's many monikers. Dan Marino, practically reversed the belief that 13 is an unlucky number. Pro Football Hall of Famers by Jersey Numbers Class of 2004 inductee Bob Brown wore #76 with the Eagles, Rams, and Raiders. application of binomial distribution in civil engineering eames replica lounge chair review eames replica lounge chair review DiMaggio was bound to earn a few nicknames in his playing days, and "Joltin' Joe" was just the beginning. The #7 has been passed down from Kevin Keegan to Kenny Daglish to Luis Suarez, and many others have held the honor of wearing the most iconic number for one of Englands most decorated football clubs. Dominique Wilkins. After nearly 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, the team traded him to the Bucks for the remainder of the 2003 season. The injury was a blessing in disguise, actually giving him an edge on the mound. 6 during his days with the Boston Celtics. 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 overcame an HIV diagnosis and has continued his success off the court in the business world. Fracisco Cordova (Pittsburg Pirates) 8. There are those names that just seemsoright. 23 before Michael Jordan? Numbers are now considered a common feature for uniforms in every team sport. Chamberlain is still holds the NBA record for points scored in a single game, and the paper he is holding is the number of points he dropped on the New York Knicks in 1962 as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. Grange was drafted by, and finished his career with, the Chicago Bears. 33 his college number in his lone year alongside . 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. 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. 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. Larry was 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year and a two-time NBA All-Star selection. His legacy will live on in college basketball and the hearts of his students forever. It shows that the number 42 signifies a piece of history in baseball. What famous athletes wore number 22? ", "Welcome Home Kovy: Alex(ei) Kovalev Wins It in a Shootout", "Rusty Kanokogi Receives Award of Distinction from Japan Women's Sports Foundation", "Soundcheck: Bam Margera: Jackass/international Celebrity", "Gebrselassie and Ndereba supreme over 15km in Melbourne", "Athletics: Bekele ready to shred the record books More Sports, Sport", "Top 10 sports scams cheating and great sport scandals", "China News Headlines | Hong Kong's premier newspaper online", "Female Pro Athlete Christine Wellington", "Sand supremacy: Misty, Kerri defend title", "Chinese Sporting Beauties Remain Single > PROFILES > SPORTSWOMEN", "Legendary yachtsman 'Biltong' Bertie Reed dies Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source", "Mr Stanley John "Bertie" REED (Profile) Who's Who of Southern Africa", "Features Landing Page | features.boats.com", "'Baltimore Bullet' has history in his sights", "AFP: Aussie coach sells training program secrets to China report", https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1999/01/16/somott16.html, "Bowling: Iron Lady Wendy still has fire in her belly", "Trinity reflex: The "Magic" returns | Radio Control Car Action | Find Articles at BNET", "Hong Kong News Headlines | Hong Kong's premier newspaper online", "/ online", " ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_sportspeople_with_nicknames&oldid=1139509378, Lists of people with nickname by occupation, Articles with German-language sources (de), Pages with login required references or sources, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from January 2017, Articles with dead external links from November 2009, Articles with dead external links from July 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Afrikaans-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Mo Santa" (Portuguese for "Holy Hand") =, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 14:20. Grange got his nickname from Chicago American writer Warren Brown, who dubbed the pasty white-skinned red head "The Galloping Ghost," citing his running style at the University of Illinois. The tall glass of water is a solid shooter, and therefore, the gun jokes just flow. Before these famous images went viral, Oscar De La Hoya was boxing's "Golden Boy," a heavy-hitter with a squeaky-clean image. Gabby Douglas (Gymnastics)- Flying Squirrel. Fred Stabley Jr. of theLansing State Journal, gave him themoniker, despite protest from Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, who claimed it was sacrilegious. How do you rank the best nicknames of all time? 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. (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). Marino is one of the most prolific passers in the history of the NFL, amassing 61,361 yards during his seventeen seasons in the league. 105 people from all around the world were asked to name who they thought would be the 'most famous athlete of all time'. 3 - Babe Ruth. In the power categories, it's . 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. These individuals are synonymous with these names and will always remember their playing days and the monikers we used to make them legends of the lingo. The most frequent answer was Michael Jordan (23%), followed by Cristiano Ronaldo (15%) in second, and Muhammad Ali (12%) in third. At the height of his career, Jordan could take off from the free-throw line and dunk the basketball. The best of the bunch is Brown, who is a name from the past. "Pee wee" was a term used to describe a small marble in Reese's childhood, and it would become his nickname for the remainder of his life. ESPN have announced the top 20 most famous athletes of 2019. 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. 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. During theWorld Seriesagainst theDodgers, Munson was interviewed and suggested that Jackson, because of his past postseason performances, might be the better interview subject. When he was younger, Bryant agreed to wrestle a captive bear, and the nickname was given to him by his siblings (Paul was the 11th of 12 children). One look at the high-flying X-Games star, and it's easy to see why he is called "The Flying Tomato.". 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. The Dodgers won theWorld Series in 1955and in1959. "Three Fingers" Brown was able to throw many pitches that could not be achieved by a man with a full hand. the bat to Trumper. Players could put whatever name they wanted back there, and Smart's "He Hate Me" was the best of them all. James has worn different numbers throughout his career but is probably tied together most with the number 23. No NBA player has ever wore No. Carlton Fisk earned his nickname with the Boston Red Sox for his physical stature, standing 6'2" tall and weighing 220 pounds. Rose took the nickname seriously and spent his career as a hard-nosed ball player, known for legging out extra-base hits and splendid play in the field. Coolest Nicknames From Non-Traditional Sports. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. It has been said that he could run 100 yards in 10 seconds and high jump over six feet. Famous for wearing the number 23 jersey throughout the entirety of his career, Murphy achieved much while playing, including . Quite possibly the athlete with the most nicknames in sports history, Shaquille O'Neal seems to be a fan favorite wherever he goes, and his outgoing personality has earned him numerous sponsorships and TV/Film appearances. Other nicknames include "Pillsbury Throwboy," "J. Williams said he had wanted the No. Muhammad Ali. Like English . 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. A sporty name from a Paralympic athlete can remind children to never give up. Michael Jordan's #23. Either way, the nickname stuck, as did the movie. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes . The nickname "Charlie Hustle" was given to Rose by Whitey Ford in 1963, who was watching the then-rookie Rose sprint to first base on a walk. "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. 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 . In less than a decade, both MLB catchers will be Hall of Fame members. Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia But when the band was told they couldn't use his name as their band moniker, they adopted his other nickname and became known as "Pearl Jam," a name that also has rumors to its origins. Is it still cool to diss her or is it too far gone now? 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. 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. As captain of the Yankees, Jeter epitomized the clubs ideals and excelled on the field. Robinson possessed tremendous self-control, enduring racial slurs, death threats, and hostile fans around the country. Reeves wasnicknamed"Big Country"by his college teammateByron Houstonwhen Reeves was amazed by his first airplane flight across theUnited States. Unless he attempts a return to baseball, which isn't likely, he will be eligible for the Hall of Fame following the 2012 season and could be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and definitely deserves to be elected. 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. He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". Gervin would go on to be a nine-time NBA All-Star and be elected to the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. His stellar play as a defensive lineman, along with his faith, helped him earn his nickname as "The Minister of Defense.". Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. In modern sports, athletes are valuable assets that are the centerpiece of advertising campaigns and the faces of their organizations. We all know Dizzy and Daffy, Crazy Legs, Shoeless Joe, King James, The Great One and Air Jordan. The multi-sport star was perhaps one of the biggest self-promoters the sports world has ever seen but also a very talented individual. 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. 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 . We even remember his name, as "Babe" Ruth, instead of George Ruth. Stan "The Man" Musial wore the number during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. Kansas City-Omaha Kings ( 75) Jerry McKee. 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. 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. Michael Jordan's #23 is the most iconic number in the history of sports. The nickname stuck throughout his career and separated his fairly common name from the rest of the herd. These numbers can be passed down from one club legend to the next, as the tradition is in soccer. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Mo Farah. The Yankees great still holds the record for consecutive games with at least one hit with a 56-hit streak in 1941. The legend became the Baseball Hall of Famer in 1962. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Rick Helling (Texas Rangers) 9. "When he joined the Cubs, his extravagant wind-up and release and his frequent wild pitches inspiredWrigley Fieldorganists to playThe Troggs'Wild Thingas he came out of the bullpen. 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. The #7 shirt at Liverpool has a long and storied history that has seen some of the clubs best players wear the number. Still yet another story says he was named "Satchel" simply for the immense size of his feet, looking like two satchel bags on the end of his ankles. Williams said he didnt change his number until 1993 because that was his first chance to do it.". In related news, the US Congress prosecuted a rocket for perjury for the first time in history. Rodman was a king on the court when it came down to getting into his opponent's physche. Hunter is an eight-time All-Star and five-time World Series Champion. From popular baby names to more rare ones, choosing a name from this list is a great choice for sporty girls. 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. Jeffries boxed in a time where blacks were heavily persecuted, and "The Great White Hope" was a moniker for his desire to destroy all blacks with his boxing abilities. Perry was described as "A man in a white jersey resembling a refrigerator coming through the offensive line." "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. 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). This list rewards creativity, and while Ali is the greatest boxer ever, his nickname isn't the most creative moniker in sports. Between June 2016 and 2017, LeBron earned $86 million. Rickey Henderson. Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. Really? Musial is, to this day, regarded to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. CR7, as he is known to many fans around the world, is possibly the greatest player among this current generation of footballers. Parish got his nickname from afictitious Chief Bromden, a silent, giantNative Americancharacter in the filmOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Full list of Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps. "Prime Time" was more than just a nickname for Sanders, it became his alter-ego, and it became difficult to separate the man from the legend.
Dannaspire Columnar Elm Tree, Articles F