Hardaway was a four-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA first team selection and NBA All-Rookie first team selection (1994). 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. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes . 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. Along with Aaron's power, his longevity also is worth noting. 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. Answer: Jack Nicklaus. 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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. George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all sported the #7 during their successful exploits with the club. Ranker Sports. Over the course of his entire sixteen season NFL career, John Elway became regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. Applicants are ranked on creativity, unique jargon and consideration of prominence. 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 tall glass of water is a solid shooter, and therefore, the gun jokes just flow. Brown is widely considered one of the greatest running backs of all time, thanks to his brutal yet elegant rushing style. . 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. 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 . 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. It's one of the more unique and popular nicknames of the modern era.". The nickname comes from Wilt's height and slender build and the obvious rhyming of his first name. He is considered the . Paralympic athletes are a source of hope and optimism for many people. 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.". Also called "The Baddest on the Planet," Mike Tyson won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout12 of them occurring in the first round. One of the greatest athletes the United Kingdom has ever produced, Mo is a world famous distance runner. With more than 36 million social media followers on diverse platforms. 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. "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. He spent 12 years in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. 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. Angel Di Maria currently wears the #7 shirt after his blockbuster transfer deal this summer. Aside from the final stop of his football career in Baltimore, he wore #21 for his other four teams. 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. The nickname given to Camacho seems born out of synergy, contained in, and rhyming with, his last name. Also known as simply "A.I.," Iverson became known as "The Answer" in his first tour of duty with the Philadelphia 76ers. Triskaidekaphobic football fans dreaded the Sundays when Marino and the Miami Dolphins rolled into town, because it usually meant their defense was in for a long day. 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). However, soon after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007, Plummer announced his retirement, citing his desire to live a more peaceful life. Orenthal James was shortened to O.J., which is an acronym shared by "Orange Juice," and there you have it. At nine years old, Davis was already 5'6" tall and weighed 160 lbs. 4 - Lou Gehrig by a sliver over Bobby Orr. August 10, 2021 9:00 am. Birth City: Oakville. In 87 career fights, Camacho has 79 wins (including 38 knockouts) and just five losses with three draws. DiMaggio was bound to earn a few nicknames in his playing days, and "Joltin' Joe" was just the beginning. Our most famous number in sports is the former NBA player Michael Jordan's number 23. . The lefty was also a six-time Stanley Cup Champion and winner of multiple awards. He was often compared to film character Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (played byCharlie Sheen) in the1989David S. Wardfilm Major League. In true legendary boxer style, Ali gave himself the nickname "The Greatest," but also deserves it. He added an "H" to his name later in his career in homage to his Muslim faith. Rose is the career MLB hits leader, having recorded 4,256 knocks. This list rewards creativity, and while Ali is the greatest boxer ever, his nickname isn't the most creative moniker in sports. 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. Leonard Buck (Baseball) 5. The best player on the greatest dynasty in professional sports was Bill Russell. Michael Jordan's best nickname. Jeter was the cornerstone of the Yankees during their tremendous success in the 1990s and 2000s. While most remember him for his playing days in baseball, Williams is also a true American hero, leaving the game twice to enlist in the United States Armed Forces as a Marine Corps pilot. 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. His #32 has been retired by the Cleveland Browns. 10 Tiger Woods Image Credit- PGA Tour. The #7 shirt at Manchester United has been worn by several of the greatest players of all time. The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . "Hammerin' Hank" played 23 seasons and recorded 755 career home runs and 3,771 hits. Johnson can now be considered one of the most successful athletes of all time. Rodman earned his moniker with aggressive and often over-the-top defense. There have been many outstanding athletes to dawn the number 23. Williams said he had wanted the No. As far as nicknames go, this one isn't much fun, but at least it's better than "Baby Shaq.". mark reinstein/Shutterstock. These two sisters dominate women's tennis, changing the sport from one of finesse and skill into one characterizing violent power. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. "Sugar" Ray Leonard owes his legendary moniker-alias toSarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Elway played all sixteen seasons with the Denver Broncos wearing the #7. It has been a popular jersey number for decades with success of athletes across the board. 23: The Human Rain Delay (Mike Hargrove) Hargrove got the nickname for the many time-consuming adjustments he would make between pitches. The most frequent answer was Michael Jordan (23%), followed by Cristiano Ronaldo (15%) in second, and Muhammad Ali (12%) in third. 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.". Jordans incredible career has inspired hundreds of athletes to wear #23, including LeBron James. The tall glass of water got his famous alias from multiple sources: According to Paige, his nickname originated from childhood work toting bags at the train station. 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. No. This is a list of sportspeople with nicknames. 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. This obvious alias comes from the "Wizard of Oz," and is in combination with Smith's shortened first name, "Oz.". Jones owes his alias to his family, who constantly told him he was "A chip-off-the-old-block," in reference to his father. 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. A household name in the modern game, James has won 3 NBA World Championships, and has been NBA MVP 4 times. Elway possessed an uncanny ability to lead his teams to victory when they trailed late in games. Famous for wearing the number 23 jersey throughout the entirety of his career, Murphy achieved much while playing, including . Seriously? 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. Like English . However, he only made one broadway appearance, covered here by Wikipedia: "he made his only appearance on Broadway as a cast replacement in a revival ofThe Caine Mutiny Court Martial. The nickname may not be specific to the Yankees shortstop, but he personifies the alliterative nickname with consistent big hits when needed most. 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. Other nicknames include "Pillsbury Throwboy," "J. His nickname prompted fraternity members to rename the commonly-practiced act, involving a passed-out friend and a head shaver. 26 Further reading. Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. 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). Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Just as important as his stats to his legacy are the monikers we have come to know and fondly use to remember him. "Charles is no stranger to the comical spotlight, so when this nickname surfaced, it obvious stuck. The legendary coach lived to be 99-years-old, passing away last June. 99 (he originally wore the No. Hopkins is known for 51 wins in 59 fights, which include 32 knockouts and one no contest. 6 also crosses over to baseball. These players have left a lasting impression on their respective teams. William Perry was a fan favorite with the Chicago Bears from 1985-93, and the team used him on both sides of the ball. He won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets and was the NBA MVP in 1994, also with the Rockets. He stood 6'-and-a-half inches tall and weighed 225 lbs, a very large size in his time. Fisk held the MLB record for games played at the catcher position (2,226) until Rodriguez broke it in 2009 with the Texas Rangers. According to Parish, former Celtics forwardCedric Maxwellgave Parish this nickname because of hisstoicnature. Sanders played professional baseball with theNew York Yankees(19891990),Atlanta Braves(19911994),Cincinnati Reds(19941995, 1997, 2001) andSan Francisco Giants(1995). 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. He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". "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. "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. In Oakland, he had been known as "Jax" and "Buck.". His #13 is retired by both the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Miami Dolphins, and he is the greatest quarterback to ever wear the number. "The Glide" is a member of the Hall of Fame and captured the 1995 NBA championship with the Houston Rockets. 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. 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. Musial is, to this day, regarded to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He still embraces the persona of the Rock to this day, and the nickname is too perfect. 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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 iconic hitter earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" in his playing days for his speed and nationality. 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.". He used the technique of crouching with his left arm out to fight opponents, and experienced many successes. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". Other nicknames, aliases, and monikers include: "Shaq," "Shaq Fu," "The BigAristotle," "The Big Daddy," "Superman," "The BigAgave," "The Big Cactus," "The Big Shaqtus," "The BigGalactus," "Wilt Chamberneezy," "The BigBaryshnikov," "The Real Deal," "Dr. Shaq,""The BigShamrock," "The BigLeprechaun," "Shaqovic,"and the most recent, "The Big Conductor.". Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Full Site Menu. However, many athletes remain inseparable from their on-field persona and the uniform that they wear. 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. Poor preparation, missing an important detail, or completely offend a certain segment of the audience. https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. He then cemented his status as a hockey legend when he secured ownership of the Penguins and stopped them from moving to Kansas City. The 6'9", 271lb lineman recorded 57 sacks in his career but played before the sack became an official stat in 1982. The league quirky tweaks of NFL rules, including a mad dash to midfield to gain possession of the ball, rather than a kickoff. . Michael Jordan (23) We bet you see this coming. Reeves wasnicknamed"Big Country"by his college teammateByron Houstonwhen Reeves was amazed by his first airplane flight across theUnited States. The Rams and Jets QB also did several endorsement commercials during his playing days, including this one for pantyhose, no joke. For the fourth year running, Cristiano Ronaldo took the crown as the world's most famous sporting icon in ESPN's World Fame 100. WIZARDS OF CRICKET. During theWorld Seriesagainst theDodgers, Munson was interviewed and suggested that Jackson, because of his past postseason performances, might be the better interview subject. Elway retired following two consecutive Super Bowl wins and appeared in five Super Bowls. 6 - Bill Russell, with special mention to Stan "the Man" Musial and Julius Erving, basketball's "Dr. J.". 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. No. He is the only player in the history of the league to receive this honor. Lemieux also overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, which caused him to miss the entire 1994-95 season. Boston's prodigal son, Ortiz has become an icon in Bean Town for his clutch hitting and lovable personality. 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. The running back/receiver was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. He built a contraption out of poles that allowed him to carry more bags than his co-workers. A power reliever, he put his full weight behind every pitch, so that he dropped hard to the right, sometimes falling off the mound.