June 28, 2001

10:45 AM

Baseball is a good game. The nicknames, however, absolutely kill me.

Ridiculous, almost pornographic nicknames like Cannonball Titcomb, Dick Tettleback, Cy Slapnicka, Rusty Kuntz, Pete LaCock and Dizzy Nutter.

Anyone else have any favorite sports nicknames?
posted by norm (18 comments total)

Dude, NASCAR's Dick Trickle.
posted by machaus at 10:47 AM on June 28, 2001

Not really a nickname, but damn, can't fail to mention it.
posted by machaus at 11:02 AM on June 28, 2001

Cycling's Eddy "the Cannibal" Merkxx
posted by xiffix at 11:06 AM on June 28, 2001

The immortal Y. A. Tittle
posted by briank at 11:10 AM on June 28, 2001

Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, also referred to as "Meat".
posted by msacheson at 11:16 AM on June 28, 2001

Stubby's real name is funnier. It is Richard. Who in their right mind would name their child 'Dick Clapp'?
posted by Stretch at 11:16 AM on June 28, 2001

The Big Unit. I mean, come on. As if his real name of Randy Johnson wasn't phallic enough.
posted by owillis at 11:28 AM on June 28, 2001

Of course, when he was traded (as he desperately wanted), Randy Johnson was immediately transformed to "The Big Eunuch" here in Seattle.

Bitter = Us.
posted by Skot at 12:04 PM on June 28, 2001

Who. What. I don't know.
posted by aaron at 12:07 PM on June 28, 2001

how about pittsburgh's "dick groat"? (not a nickname.) dizzy dean. rube waddell. homer bush. boof bonser (pitcher for the giants in the minor leagues). josh booty (now a QB).
posted by moz at 12:09 PM on June 28, 2001

Golfer Ernie Els: "The Big Easy". Effortless-looking swing and even-keel demeanor, though now he's got an injured back and has been struggling after trying some swing changes.
Hockey's Mario Lemieux: "Super Mario". Best player in game at time of Nintendo's dominant "Super Mario Bros." video game. Successfully un-retired this year to revive team and fan's interest in hockey.
NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt: "The Intimidator". Black car. Sunglasses. Epitome of "rubbin' is racing" (line borrowed from "Days of Thunder" movie).
posted by msacheson at 12:41 PM on June 28, 2001

How 'bout veteran major league pitching coach Dick Pole? And, in the world of sports broadcasting, Bucky Guntz and Harry Coyle have names so cool they don't need nicknames.
posted by apollo at 12:45 PM on June 28, 2001

Indiana Pacers' former assistant coach (not a nickname):
Dick Harter
(Just in case you don't get it: Harter sounds Harder if you pronounce the 't' softly like most people in Indiana do.)
posted by internal at 2:05 PM on June 28, 2001

He may be fictional, but Apollo "The Count of Monte Fisto" Creed is pretty damn hard to beat.
posted by ttrendel at 3:22 PM on June 28, 2001

frank lary (pronounced leary) from the tigers
posted by clavdivs at 6:48 PM on June 28, 2001

George Vezina (hall-of-fame NHL goalie) was known as "The Chicoutimi Cucumber".
(when he played net, he was as cool as a ...)

And for the record, Mario Lemieux was known as "Le Magnifique" (the Magnificent One) before he was "Super". It was a continuation of Wayne Gretzky being "The Great One".
posted by Grum at 5:15 AM on June 29, 2001

The Buffalo Sabres have Miroslav Satan (pronounced Sah-TAN). Too bad he doesn't play for the New Jersey Devils...
posted by JDC8 at 7:45 PM on June 29, 2001

Anyone remember no-neck Williams?
posted by NJguy at 4:58 PM on July 1, 2001