Nicknames become identities. Who calls him Larry Berra and not Yogi? Musial is 82 and is forever Stan the Man. If I say "Magic," you say "Johnson."
It takes no sports maven to hear the nicknames Mean Joe, Joltin' Joe, Shoeless Joe and Broadway Joe and easily attach surnames Greene, DiMaggio, Jackson and Namath.
Some of my favorites are Satchel, Cool Papa, Pistol Pete, Dizzy, Crazylegs, Refrigerator, Tank and Whizzer, belonging to Negro Leagues baseball legends Paige and Bell along with jocks named Dean, Hirsch, Perry and Younger plus a wondrous collegiate football runner who became Judge White of the U.S. Supreme Court. My knack for nicks was jogged by a marked-down-for-clearance book The Complete Listing of Sports Nicknames, far from complete but worth a $3.99 plunge.
There have been at least 20 athletes nicknamed Babe, the most famous being baseball icon Ruth and wonder woman Didrikson Zaharias, but also memorables whose last names are Parilli, Herman, Dahlgren and a splendid old Mississippi State basketball coach, McCarthy. Dahlgren? He replaced Lou Gehrig as disease began to destroy the Iron Horse. There's nothing like Red. A nickname frequently applied due to flaming hair, the book lists 69 from sports history. Most identifiable for me are Schoendienst, Grange and Holzman along with glorious writer Red Smith and unforgettable baseball broadcaster Red Barber.
How about Earthquake Enyart? Golf is loaded with animal nicknames. Before there was Tiger Woods, we had Golden Bear Nicklaus, Great White Shark Norman and Walrus Stadler.
Every ref is Zebra.
Chris Berman of ESPN dedicates his life to creating contemporary nicknames that stick, but the past is difficult to duplicate. Even with Bert "Be Home" Blyleven.
NIGHTMARE IS A DREAM: Not long ago, I asked whatever happened to Christian Okoye, the 260-pound "Nigerian Nightmare" who, for six seasons, ran the football powerfully and efficiently to gain 4,897 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs. Report is, he's more a hero now than during a laudable NFL career that ended in 1992. Okoye marshals a southern California foundation that counsels, educates and entertains underprivileged children. This year, according to the San Bernardino Sun, the 42-year-old Azusa Pacific alum and his Hope 4 Kids Festival delivered food, toys, clothing and autographs of famous athletes to 2,000 youngsters who live in group or foster homes.
They are encouraged to stay in school. To work on entrepreneurial skills. To avoid drugs and tobacco. Okoye brings in hot athletes from many sports, including hot-rod racing and surfing, to teach and amuse.
FOR THE FUN OF IT: Gene Rideout is a retired Connecticut cop who adores sports but abhors events in which money is a prime issue.
"I go to lots of college games; but avoiding high-stakes football at places like Gainesville and Tallahassee in favor of baseball, tennis, soccer and tennis matches," said an e-mail from Gino, a Palm Harbor resident. "High schools too can offer wonderful effort and entertainment. Try it. You'll feel better.
"It soured my stomach to hear endless money talk in the media about some jock signing for $10-million while not seeming overly appreciative of a pro franchise saying its average ticket price had gone beyond $50.
"There is so much enjoyable stuff for free. I see athletes, male and female, playing harder than most millionaire pros. Their love of competition is regularly apparent. It's not the sandlot scene I loved as a kid back in New Jersey, but I still see a lot of admirable attitudes and hard playing from today's youngsters.
"In my world, well removed from the pro leagues, the No. 1 complaint is overzealous parents who can become beyond disgusting with abuse and language. Children should be gaining far better lessons than observing the greed and egos of moms and dads who should know better.
"Some of the pros, I'm sure, are real good folks, but the money issues do drive me nuts. So I avoid the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. My guys may be unknowns, but I see a lot to cheer."
