Brown is widely considered one of the greatest running backs of all time, thanks to his brutal yet elegant rushing style. As far as boxing nicknames are concerned, "The Executioner" isn't very imaginative but still intimidating. Elway retired following two consecutive Super Bowl wins and appeared in five Super Bowls. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes . Smith spent 11 years in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings (19871990),Atlanta Hawks(1990),Houston Rockets(19901996),Detroit Pistons(1996),Orlando Magic(19961997) andDenver Nuggets(1997). In less than a decade, both MLB catchers will be Hall of Fame members. Either way, the nickname stuck, as did the movie. Shaun's nickname is born out of obvious connections. The wily pitcher was a fan favorite despite his volatile personality, and his moniker is indicative of his aggressive pitching style. Follow your favourite Olympic heroes on their journey to the games. Source: Getty Images mark reinstein/Shutterstock. These numbers can be passed down from one club legend to the next, as the tradition is in soccer. In the realm of all-time nicknames, it is definitely sweet, but it hits the countdown towards the back, because there isn't much back story here, and he's not actually a hitman. Folklore legend has it Hardaway's nickname came as a result of his grandmother's southern accent when calling him "Pretty," thus coming out as "Penny.". Shaquille O'Neal, a Hall of Famer and all-time great, wore Nos. Let's start with the two most simple nicknames: Mike and MJ. Clemens' major league career has clearly been overshadowed by steroid use allegations in recent years, but the pitcher's dominance on the mound is worth noting. It has been a popular jersey number for decades with success of athletes across the board. Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! 3 Kids seem to believe that stardom carries with it certain "perks," such as that famous athletes get special treatment if they break the law (34%; 39% of teens and 25% of 10-12 year olds) and are 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.". It shows that the number 42 signifies a piece of history in baseball. BATS THAT THEY HAVE WIELDED E. MAYNE'S PRICELESS COLLECTION The Stradivarius to Kreisler . While Wilt's playing career and infamous personal dealings with women are the stuff of legend, his nickname seems a little weak for his accolades. Larry was 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year and a two-time NBA All-Star selection. Carry on with the slideshow, and impress your friends with your newfound street cred. "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. Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. Players could put whatever name they wanted back there, and Smart's "He Hate Me" was the best of them all. There are those names that just seemsoright. Jones owes his alias to his family, who constantly told him he was "A chip-off-the-old-block," in reference to his father. Venus and Serena Williams. An eight-time Pro Bowl . 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. He is considered the . However, soon after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007, Plummer announced his retirement, citing his desire to live a more peaceful life. Wilkins earned his alias with gravity-defying dunks and prolific scoring. Is it still cool to diss her or is it too far gone now? The countdown has begun for when the New York Yankees will retire the #2 of their recently retired shortstop, Derek Jeter. Namath's nickname "Broadway Joe" was given him bySherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate. Named for his aggressive and controversial driving style, "The Intimidator" is the biggest name in the history of NASCAR and the father of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. His No. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." the bat to Trumper. A power reliever, he put his full weight behind every pitch, so that he dropped hard to the right, sometimes falling off the mound. 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 Glove" was born when Payton's cousin called him during the 1993Western ConferenceFinals series and told him"you're holdingKevin Johnsonlike abaseballin aglove.". Although he personally disliked the nickname, Wooden became known as the "Wizard of Westwood" during his days as UCLA basketball head coach, where he was noted for turning troubled athletes into upstanding stars. Birth date: September 12, 1913. 33 his college number in his lone year alongside . "The Great One" is the simplest way to describe his talents, although a more creative moniker would gain more points. Lee Chong Wei. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". 5. With a common name like Ed Jones, inserting "Too Tall" seemed like an easy way to separate the man and make him an individual. The obvious alliteration is a testament to his power-hitting prowess and home run tally as a player. Moses Malone . Fracisco Cordova (Pittsburg Pirates) 8. Rodman earned his moniker with aggressive and often over-the-top defense. In 2005, Traylor failed a physical exam (surprise) and has played overseas ever since. Just as important as his stats to his legacy are the monikers we have come to know and fondly use to remember him. From popular baby names to more rare ones, choosing a name from this list is a great choice for sporty girls. 15: Carlos Beltran. 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. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Nicklaus earned the nickname at an early age because of his shock of blond hair and stout build. "The Glide" is a member of the Hall of Fame and captured the 1995 NBA championship with the Houston Rockets. The Yankees great still holds the record for consecutive games with at least one hit with a 56-hit streak in 1941. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". 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. 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. Lemieux also overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, which caused him to miss the entire 1994-95 season. Any way you slice it, the man could hit, and the "Splendid Splinter" seems to be the most creative nickname ever concocted for the lefty. The multi-sport star was perhaps one of the biggest self-promoters the sports world has ever seen but also a very talented individual. Elgin Baylor. Nicklaus won 20 major titles before retiring to design golf courses. For the fourth year running, Cristiano Ronaldo took the crown as the world's most famous sporting icon in ESPN's World Fame 100. 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. Also nicknamed "The Silver Fox"and just known by the shorter "Duke" Snider, the former Brooklyn Dodgers slugger was often compared to other New York outfielders such as Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle and earned the nickname "The Duke of Flatbush" after an area in New York City called "Flatbush" and his accolades as a hitter. Newton was the prime example of how munchies can have devastating effects on your weight and physical appearance. 24 See also. His #99 is retired throughout the NHL, never to be worn by another player again. For most of his career, Jordan sported the #23, except for one season during which he donned #45 after his return from retirement. The best players to wear 18 as their jersey numbers are sprinkled across all major sports. What was your favorite jersey number that numerous legends wore? ESPN have announced the top 20 most famous athletes of 2019. 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. 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. During his time with the 49ers, Rice won three Super Bowls and led the league in receiving yardage six times. 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. Ivan Rodriguez also got his moniker for the same reason. One of the greatest athletes the United Kingdom has ever produced, Mo is a world famous distance runner. Michael Jordan's #23 is the most iconic number in the history of sports. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. 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. Hernndez is also known for the enormous leg kick featured in his delivery. 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. 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. Angel Di Maria currently wears the #7 shirt after his blockbuster transfer deal this summer. Grange was drafted by, and finished his career with, the Chicago Bears. If the Cuban pitcher ever wanted to sue the founder of Pilates, he may have a solid case. "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. Over the course of his entire sixteen season NFL career, John Elway became regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. . Mlkvy received his nickname while attending Temple University. Reggie White (December 19, 1961 December 26, 2004), was known as a devout Christian and ordained Evangelical Minister. McGriff's alias is just one of the many nickname brainchild ideas of ESPN analyst Chris Berman, who noticed the slugger's name resembled that of the National Crime Prevention Council mascot "McGruff.". Eighty-eight years ago this week, the New York Yankees became the first professional sports team to permanently wear numbers on their uniforms. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at age 53. legendary athlete number 23 nicknamepeinture gris mtallis voiturepeinture gris mtallis voiture He appeared in six postseasons with the Dodgers (1949, 195253, 195556, 1959), facing theNew York Yankeesin the first five and theChicago White Soxin the final. Along with Aaron's power, his longevity also is worth noting. 1 - Oscar Robertson. Rodman embraced the nickname and fed off the hype. Perry was described as "A man in a white jersey resembling a refrigerator coming through the offensive line." In 1993, he signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history (at that time) to play for the Hornets, a 12-year, $84 million deal. "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. "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. The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . 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! 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 . This is a list of sportspeople with nicknames. Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. Jim Umbricht (Houston Astros) 10. 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. Nash led the league in assists five times. Kuko is considered one of the best wingmen to ever play the game, and therefore might be the only man on the planet capable of gettingFranck Ribry a real date. Was the famous number 23 of the Chicago Bulls? 25 References. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Perkins played the game with pride and a seemingly calm demeanor that earned him the nickname "Big Smooth.". 6. Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons At the height of his career, Jordan could take off from the free-throw line and dunk the basketball. Aside from being a vegan, Salley is known for several other odd mannerisms and goofy antics. 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. The Rams and Jets QB also did several endorsement commercials during his playing days, including this one for pantyhose, no joke. Return to Top; Players. Sandy Koufax (Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers) 2. A sporty name from a Paralympic athlete can remind children to never give up. Drexler has had his nickname since his days at the University of Houston, named for his speed and athleticism on the court and his pleasant and easygoing nature in his private life. Deion Sanders dazzled the nation as he high stepped into the end zone after interceptions and punt returns, frustrating football purists and giving birth to the moniker Prime Time. 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. It's one of the more unique and popular nicknames of the modern era.". Simple, yet accurate, this nickname is solid and turned a superb athlete with a common name into a legend. LeBron James's net worth 2018 is around $485 million. 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