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.". He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, was the NBA scoring champion in 1986 and won two dunk contests (1985, 1990). 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). He still embraces the persona of the Rock to this day, and the nickname is too perfect. The over-sized running back looked like a bus carrying opponents on his back while being dressed in yellow and black. Grange was drafted by, and finished his career with, the Chicago Bears. 4 - Lou Gehrig by a sliver over Bobby Orr. Fisk held the MLB record for games played at the catcher position (2,226) until Rodriguez broke it in 2009 with the Texas Rangers. No NBA player has ever wore No. 13 Most Popular Number In Sports [2023 Update] - Players Bio During theWorld Seriesagainst theDodgers, Munson was interviewed and suggested that Jackson, because of his past postseason performances, might be the better interview subject. Hunter is an eight-time All-Star and five-time World Series Champion. John G. Zimmerman/SI. He led the league in runs scored, home runs and RBI in separate seasons. He followed that up by winning the same titles in the European Athletics Championships in 2014. 1 1. Alexander Karelin (Wrestling)- The . This obvious alias comes from the "Wizard of Oz," and is in combination with Smith's shortened first name, "Oz.". "The Owl Without A Vowel" only played one season in the NBA with the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors), but the nickname has stuck with him ever since college. ), "The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Inductees". Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 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!" Nicklaus earned the nickname at an early age because of his shock of blond hair and stout build. Rose is the career MLB hits leader, having recorded 4,256 knocks. We have to say it: "He'll stomp on a child's testicles, but he won't poop on a pigeon.". The longtime Dallas Cowboy was caught with nearly 400 pounds of marijuana combined in two separate incidents. Top 20 Most Incredible Athlete Nicknames - TheSportster Let's start with the two most simple nicknames: Mike and MJ. 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 Yankees great still holds the record for consecutive games with at least one hit with a 56-hit streak in 1941. Aside from being a vegan, Salley is known for several other odd mannerisms and goofy antics. Famous # 32's | More Sports - TigerDroppings Seriously? 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. Oh yeah, he also played basketball for five NBA teams in 15 years and won four NBA championships with three different teams. The Celtics' big man averaged 22.5 rebounds in his career; between his mastery of the . The mobile thrower has nearly 30,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards to his name. Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. 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. The program will chronicle Tyson's love for pigeon racing. Just the mere mention of "The Great One" in reference to hockey brings memories of nearly 900 goals and a memorable trade that landed the hockey star in Los Angeles. 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. Other nicknames include "Pillsbury Throwboy," "J. 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. His #13 is retired by both the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Miami Dolphins, and he is the greatest quarterback to ever wear the number. Greatest College Football Players by Jersey Number Truly the champion of the nickname, Ruth is also the symbol of achievement in our nation's greatest past-time. 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 scores goals at an unbelievable pace and in a variety of ways, which makes him an absolute nightmare for opposing defenders. Publish date: May 25, 2009. . The countdown has begun for when the New York Yankees will retire the #2 of their recently retired shortstop, Derek Jeter. For most of his career, Jordan sported the #23, except for one season during which he donned #45 after his return from retirement. NBA & ABA Players Who Wore Uniform Number 23 Orenthal James was shortened to O.J., which is an acronym shared by "Orange Juice," and there you have it. Musial is, to this day, regarded to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He wore the #3 for his entire baseball career and has had that number retired by the New York Yankees. Brown played . Sanders played professional baseball with theNew York Yankees(19891990),Atlanta Braves(19911994),Cincinnati Reds(19941995, 1997, 2001) andSan Francisco Giants(1995). As time passes, these athletes will be remembered for the accomplishments achieved while wearing their preferred numbers. 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.". Top 25 Famous Athletes of India who Transformed Indian Sports At every turn, Ronaldo has succeeded and proved to be the best. #23 is now retired by both the Chicago Bulls and North Carolina Tar Heels. 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. The Canadian ice hockey legend got his moniker from his thundering slap shot, which was said to echo through stands and arenas like a sonic boom. 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. 2 pick in the draft", "Philadelphia Eagles Media Guide bio 2013", "Pitt's 'Shady' McCoy shines in South Bend spotlight", "Get to Know Gary Player, Golf's Legendary Black Knight", "Big Phil feeling huge pressure at Hazeltine", "Our Exclusive Ranking: 75 Best Rivalries in Golf (#11-20)", "Gulf Times Qatar's top-selling English daily newspaper Sport", "Final Round: Rookie Reavie closes like seasoned veteran", "How Golfer Retief Goosen Played His Way Into the Hall of Fame", "Beethoven breezes for Holy Bull | Kentucky Derby 135", "Lester Piggott to open New Wiltshire Stand at Salisbury", http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/the-legendary-9-maurice-rocket-richard/a-heros-funeral.html, "Mogilny, Reichel, Roberts combo on fire", "Ovechkin, Caps look to build off Game 5 momentum against Flyers", "Kovalchuk, Avery Fuel Rivalry; Did Kovy Go Too Far? 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. Rodman embraced the nickname and fed off the hype. 15: Carlos Beltran. Best player to wear each jersey number in NFL history: Tom Brady leads "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". Geoffrion was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1972, following a stellar career as a right winger with the Montreal Canadians and New York Rangers. By Jamie Driver Eddie Fiola Interview Lifelounge Daily Goodness", "e*thirteen Rider Steve Peat Breaks UCI World Cup Record Silverfish UK", "Shoes, Ace, Shuffle and the best football nicknames from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates | Goal.com", "SportMob Top facts about Ruud Gullit, the Black Tulip", "The origins of Maradona's many nicknames: El Pelusa, El Cebollita", "Former Fulham and West Ham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop dies aged 42", "Matthew Booth a white knight for the black masses", "World Cup 2010: Matthew Booth the perfect advertisement for integrated South Africa", "Breesus' is the reason for potentially perfect season", "Calvin Johnson shows why Lions made him No. Jeter was named to fourteen All-Star teams and won the World Series five times during his career with the Bronx Bombers. 10 Tiger Woods Image Credit- PGA Tour. It shows that the number 42 signifies a piece of history in baseball. Best Known For: American track and . and the name stuck. Simple, yet accurate, this nickname is solid and turned a superb athlete with a common name into a legend. Robinson possessed tremendous self-control, enduring racial slurs, death threats, and hostile fans around the country. In this sport, Lee Chong Wei sits on the throne. The Galloping Ghost was also a film star, appearing in two silent films in the mid-'20s. Hernndez is also known for the enormous leg kick featured in his delivery. He was often compared to film character Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (played byCharlie Sheen) in the1989David S. Wardfilm Major League. 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. Mlkvy received his nickname while attending Temple University. The #7 shirt at Manchester United has been worn by several of the greatest players of all time. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Turns out the nickname is a motivational tool to remind Eldrick to fight for his dreams and accomplishments.". . "The Human Highlight Film" has got to be one of the coolest nicknames in sport and it was perfect for Dominique Wilkins. Johnson once said toDave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar," and the nickname stuck. Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". Is it still cool to diss her or is it too far gone now? 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. Mo Farah. Michael Jordan (23) We bet you see this coming. But those come from the big four traditional sports: baseball, football, basketball and hockey. When the Bears needed a short yardage gain, there was "The Fridge," banging through the line and stumbling into the end zone. 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. Moses Malone . It's one of the more unique and popular nicknames of the modern era.". 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 multi-sport star was perhaps one of the biggest self-promoters the sports world has ever seen but also a very talented individual. 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. In the postseason, no one is more dominant in baseball than Jeter. These numbers can be passed down from one club legend to the next, as the tradition is in soccer. In the News: Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady. Olympic Athletes - Biographies, Medals & More "Charles is no stranger to the comical spotlight, so when this nickname surfaced, it obvious stuck. 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. He is the most dominating boxer in the history of the sport and is synonymous with boxing legend. According to an interview on theDan Patrickradio showon10/22/08, the number change had nothing to do with the filmMajor League. 6 also crosses over to baseball. 24 See also. Can you imagine trying to pass through airport security with his full name on a passport? One theory says he received the nickname while participating in batting practice as a rookie with the Montreal Expos. Numbers are now considered a common feature for uniforms in every team sport. If the Cuban pitcher ever wanted to sue the founder of Pilates, he may have a solid case. 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. The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that cocaine was used by 3.8 million Americans. Jackson hit home runs in Game 4 and Game 5 of the Series. "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. The eccentric cross-dresser earned his play in NBA history as a Champion with the Chicago Bulls, and as a psycho, after kicking a camera man in the jewels, drawing a record number of technical fouls, tearing his jersey off before leaving the court when ejected, wearing a dress for a promotion on multiple occasions, piercing every area of his body and dating Carmen Electra. Jackie Robisons contribution to baseball and American society are so significant that he holds the honor of being the only player to have his number retired across Major League Baseball. 23, even if it was for a short period during his career. Gender: Male. 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 . Glen Davis was a big kid. Here's a look at 19 of the most famous athletes in the world. Manager Alfred Lawson chose to put numbers on his teams jerseys in order for fans to easily identify each of the players. 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. With a common name like Ed Jones, inserting "Too Tall" seemed like an easy way to separate the man and make him an individual. 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. Return to Top; Players. 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. The sports television outlet have come up with a formula that combines endorsements with social media following and the amount of intern 50 - Jamie Moyer One of the most flammable pitchers in the league in his 20s, Moyer looked like he might wash out of baseball after spending the . Either way, the nickname stuck, as did the movie. The World Golf Hall of Fame member is a legend in the game, and his "Golden Bear" moniker has led to many endorsements and products that "bear" his name. application of binomial distribution in civil engineering eames replica lounge chair review eames replica lounge chair review [Results] Who is the most famous athlete of all time? 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. He did however appear in summerstock productions ofDamn YankeesandFiddler on the Roof.". "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. 79, which is kind of interesting, but a few football players have. No joke here, just a great player and an exceptional man. 1. 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. Fan Fuel: Greatest players to wear No. 23 - sportsnet.ca 79 - Rosey Brown. LINK Famous athletes who wore the number 32: 1. Johnson can now be considered one of the most successful athletes of all time. Cosentino, Frank. 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.