And along the way, he gained a new moniker for every chapter. He asked my opinion and I told him I prefer the classic numbers from one to 11. Oddly enough, in a league where there are many loud men attempting to intimidate each other, Troy Polamalu is actually known among his own teammates for being one of the more soft spoken and spiritual players in the league. One of the best defenders in the world, FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is respected most for his relentless motor and undeniable grit. Threeof the most famous are PGA Tour star (and world class womanizer) Tiger Woods, basketball star turned businessman Magic Johnson, and NFL quarterback turned commentator Boomer Esiason. Now imagine a guy who was so aggressive that other professional race car drivers gave him the nickname "The Intimidator." This was in the mid-1990s, at a time when Michael Jordan was not in the league, and its popularity was not nearly what it is today. While the name may sound like a government position, the NFL's second all-time sack leader was actually ordained as a minister while in college at Tennessee. Wider culture has been too, and there is even a group of people called 23rdians who uncover all the times it crops up in history. Hima Das. The number of nicknames four-time NBA champ Shaquille O'Neal had over his career is countless at this point. His nickname suggests as much, as it is indicative of a man who transcended the sport. MORE INFO. The rosy-cheeked snow-skateboarder is beloved by extreme-sport fans and revered by hot-weathered athletes for his ability to survive the harshest conditions. While he may be widely known today for his HIV/AIDS diagnosis and activism, he is also one of the most decorated point guards in the history of the game. If you're going to be known for your kicking, "The Toe" is one heck of a nickname. Stabler was a villain for any football fan who disliked the Raiders, and there were plenty of those outside of Oakland. The nickname was coined by Ken Harrelson while Thomas was a member of the Chicago White Sox early in his career. While "Babe" and "Bambino" are the opposite of intimidating, they are among the most iconic athlete names in sport. 4 Locations. 1750 ne 167th st, north miami beach, fl 33162; the woman in the window rotten tomatoes; pima county jail money on books; ap stats unit 1 progress check . Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. Whether you like Berman or not, you have to admit that he gave one of the era's most talented receivers a fantastic nickname. Better known as G.O.A.T. The 170-pound netminder is now a goaltending coach for the Stars, naturally sharing his wisdom and resiliency with the new crop. He was Premier League's best player techn. It represents change, progress, and innovation.In terms of numerology, the number 23 signifies new beginnings, revolution, and transformation. legendary athlete number 23 nickname. 23 in NBA history. Aaron's nickname requires no complicated explanation. Hall of Fame player Alex English deserves some recognition for wearing No. But its not just the ancient Chinese that were obsessed with 23. 25 References. Pretty frustrating, right? A truly great player, and a truly great nickname. Years later, Jerry West is still permanently carved into the game of basketball. Williams himself, likes his nickname to this day, and even has "white boy" tattooed on his knuckles. A four-time Formula One Champion, Prost has the second most F1 titles of all time. Rank (Sport) Athlete % Correct; 1 (Basketball) Michael Jordan: 93.1%: 3 (Basketball) LeBron James: 74.7%: 5 (Soccer) David Beckham: . As such, and owing to his oftentimes tumultuous off-field life, the wide receiver is much more commonly called "Bad Moon," for which he can thank ESPN anchor Chris Berman. "The Sultan of Swat" (George Herman "Babe" Ruth) 3. His winning a gold medal as a lightweight could have been the genesis of his nickname, or it could have been the fact that everyone knew he was about to make a lot of money for himself and for boxing promoters by becoming the sport's biggest mainstream star in years. "The Dream" is a nickname that stemmed partially from his religious faith, but more from his flawless and graceful footwork. Is "The Say Hey Kid" a great nickname? Michael Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion, five-time league MVP and a fourteen time All-star. Most boxing historians will tell you, no. Michael Jordan will be turning 55 on February 17, and although his career as a basketball player ended many years ago, his legacy lives on. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion turned Bellator competitor has a nickname that personifies his fighting style and is one of the most intimidating in the business. ET. Other times, as with Willie Mays, the man makes the nickname. And to those embraced individuals, bravo for the sportsmanship. Does it have a great origin story? After a nearly non-existent 2009 season, he looked impressive for the New England Patriots in 2010 and 2011, running for 1008 and 667 yards with 13 and 11 touchdowns respectively. There are only a handful of nicknames so ubiquitous that people start to think of them as the person's actual name. Cream of the Crop: Steam Engine Charlie, Black Magic, Chasemanian Devil. Undrafted in 2008, Green-Ellis ran for 275 yards in his rookie year with five touchdowns. Sometimes, the new moniker comes from an inside joke with . Pierce was one of the best pure scorers in the league over the course of his career. He truly is a dominant presence on the field while maintaining a laid back, quiet demeanor in his own life. His alias, referring to his cold, calculating and ultimately calm style, is an intimidating nickname indicative of a psyche that many athletes wish they had. She holds the current Indian national record in 400 meters with a timing of 50.79 s that she clocked at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Family first. While I am in air, I am not in oxygen. The God of Cricket, Bradman of Modern era, whether he tired. She is the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships. There was also the now infamous No.45 doesnt explode like No.23 used to quote from Orlando Magic guard Nick Anderson which pushed Jordan to change back. When your own league wades into the debate and names you the greatest hockey player of all time, it isn't much of a debate anymore. Lou Gehrig. With a respected work ethic and a lion's heart, Rice gracefully set countless receiving records and cemented himself as perhaps the greatest football player of all time. 21 throughout his 19-year career a legendary . For many fans, James has done the unthinkable and supplanted Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time. Griffey Jr. was one of the game's greatest players and the possessor of its sweetest swing, and he went into the Hall of Fame with a record-breaking 99.32 percent of the vote. Report. Gervin was known for three things: his prolific scoring prowess (he averaged 25.1 points per game for his career); his cool, unflappable nature on the court; and his almost alien ability to play basketball at the highest level while not sweating a drop. Jones was so prolific at batting down passes during his time with the Cowboys that the NFL was compelled to start recording it as an official stat. The second Nigerian Nightmare is Heavyweight boxer Samuel Peter. Larry wore No.45 for the brothers varsity team so Michael, wanting to be like his older sibling, picked 23 as close to exactly half of Larrys number as he could get and a legacy was born. It didnt take long for me to change back to 23. Honestly, Blake "The Griffin" Griffin would probably sum up his legend just as crisply. Mr. Hockey, indeed. He was an actor, a comedian, a philanthropist, a questionable rapper, a cop, a mixed martial artist. Arguably the greatest showman and ball-handler in basketball history, Maravich remains the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, with 3,667 points, good for 44.2 points per game. Before Jeremy Lin came along, there was a gravity-defying youngster by the name of Vince Carter who performed superhuman, thought-to-be-impossible moves with a basketball in his hands. Let's just stick with "The Admiral.". A fitting end to a beloved career. Eldrick Woods' nickname "Tiger" was coined in honor of a friend of his father, according to an interview with Golf Digest. That's the story of an iconic nickname and one belonging to the man almost unanimously seen as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time. A three-time NBA champion, Green is also a three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, and five-time All-Defensive player. Field goals from long distance haven't always been the norm in the NFL, but if you love a dramatic late-game kick, thank "The Toe." His dunks were so effortless in college that one coach remarked that watching him perform the feat, "looked like a dream." Aaron . As a number made up of two consecutive primes one of which is the only even, or feminine, prime number the Chinese placed a mystical status on the number 23. For a breakdown of his earnings from fights, see TheRichest.com. Nicknames of other athletes at the Summer Olympics . As with many nicknames, its genesis is secondary to how famous its namesake made it. Legendary Athletes has been selected as the official youth partner for the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (APBPA.org). It still is amazing that a man who stood no taller than 6-foot-4 carved out a Hall of Fame career as a power forward. Reggie Jackson was a monster in the postseason, helping the Athletics to three straight World Series titles before moving on to the Yankees and winning two more championships in the Bronx. LeBron James is the most famous 23 in the world at the moment. 26 Further reading. name of water birds with picture; lucas luetge scouting report. The most famous person to wear the number, and also the first genuine superstar to wear it, was Michael Jordan. Trans Men Erase Women. His first 589 carries in the NFL stands as the record for longest start in the league without a fumble. B.C. Jr. was a legendary American quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins for his entire professional career of 17 years. 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. Wilkins might have actually exceeded Jordan's capacity in those areas, and his nickname is a reference to the fact that fans in attendance or watching on television could always count on Wilkins to reel off several spectacular plays game in and game out. But while Zorilla may be the second baseman's craftiest nickname, it's also the stinkiest. You'd be enraged, right? In AFL, as well as Brereton, there is also Buddy Franklin, who has worn 23 in every season except for his first and has himself become synonymous with the number in Australia. Would it really have been the same if courses had had to "Eldrick-proof" themselves to deal with Woods' prodigious talents? You can use these funny NBA nicknames to call your players. Your login session has expired. The greatest self-promoter and trash talker in sports history, Ali in his later years was as beloved and recognizable a sports figure as the world has ever seen. In that year he managed to get 11 sacks, which was actually two under his career average of 13 per season. Bobby Orr is seen as the game's best defenseman, but Lemieux is widely regarded as the most physically gifted player ever to put on skates. Well, maybe. By, Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images, Cincinnati/Collegiate Images/Getty Images, Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images, Paul Tepley Colection/Diamond Images/Getty Images, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google.