Shaquille O'Neal wants a new nickname: the 'Green Monster'?
| Boston
There’s no shortage of accomplishments in Shaquille O’Neal’s basketball legacy. Likewise, the 7-foot-1, 325-pound center has seen no shortage of nicknames.
The 15-time all-star has toured five teams over his 18-year career. All the while, fans and sportscasters have called the iconic NBA center, rapper and actor such names as “The Diesel,” “The Big Aristotle,” and “The Big Shaqtus.” A University of Phoenix MBA degree-holder, “Dr. Shaq” is a former number one draft pick turned rookie of the year. A 38-year-old father of six, “Shaq Daddy” has been crowned most valuable player. “Wilt Chamberneezy” has won four NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal and he inspired the term “Hack-a-Shaq” to describe when teams purposely foul an opponent’s poor free-throw shooters.
And, as “Shaqovic” brings his reverse pivot move dubbed “Black Tornado” to his new home with the Celtics, he’s searching for yet another name to substitute the more than a dozen he has already.
But, while Mr. O’Neal, perhaps Boston’s new “Green Monster,” may boast more than most athletes, nicknames are a long held tradition in the sports world.
Here are some of the most clever and memorable courtesy Google, ESPN and the rest of the World Wide Web:
Basketball
"The Round Mound of Rebound" "Sir Charles" – Charles Barkley
"Phi Slamma Jamma" – Univ. of Houston men's basketball teams (early 1980s)
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Michael "Air" Jordan
"The Human Eraser" – Marvin Webster
Dominique "The Human Highlight Film" Wilkins
Pete "Pistol Pete" Maravich
David "Skywalker" Thompson
“The Mailman” – Karl Malone
“The Croatian Sensation” – Tony Kukoc
“Larry Legend” “Basketball Jesus” – Larry Bird
“The Human Victory Cigar” – Darko Milicic
“The Professor” – Grayson Boucher
“LBJ” “King James” – LeBron James
“Starbury” – Stephon Marbury
“Dr. J” – Julius Irving
Agent Zero – Gilbert Arenas
Bill “The Owl Without a Vowel” Mlkvy
“Two Time” – Steve Nash
Football
“The Big Tuna” – Bill Parcels
Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
O.J. “The Juice” Simpson
"Purple People Eaters" – Minnesota Vikings' defensive line (1970s)
"Steel Curtain" – Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line (1970s)
"Sweetness" – Walter Payton
"He Hate Me" – Rod Smart (XFL)
"The Galloping Ghost" – Red Grange
Jake "the Snake" Plummer
“The Bus” – Jerome Bettis
“The Assassin” – Jack Tatum
“Broadway Joe” – Joe Namath
“The Minister of Defense” – Reggie White
Hockey
"The Chicoutimi Cucumber” – Georges Vezina
"The Great One" – Wayne Gretzky
"The Miracle on Ice" – US Olympic team defeats Soviets (1980)
"CuJo" – Curtis Joseph
Dave "Cementhead" Semenko
Boxing
"Hands of Stone" – Roberto Duran
“The Thrilla in Manila” – match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazie (1975)
“The Greatest” – Muhammad Ali
Baseball
"Charlie Hustle" – Pete Rose
"Shoeless" Joe Jackson
“Teddy Ballgame” “The Kid” "The Splendid Splinter" – Ted Williams
Rich "El Guapo" Garces
“The Bambino” “The Sultan of Swat” “Babe Ruth” – George Herman Ruth, Jr.
"The Say Hey Kid" – Willie Mays
“The Big Unit” – Randy Johnson
Leroy “Satchel” Paige
“The Big Hurt” – Frank Thomas
Jim “Catfish” Hunter
“Fat Elvis” “Big Puma” – Lance Berkman
“Mr. October” – Reggie Jackson
"The Yankee Clipper" – Joe DiMaggio
“Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron
“The Flying Dutchman” – Honus Wagner
The Wizzard of Oz – Ozzie Smith
“Wild Thing” Mitch Williams
William “Mookie” Wilson
Golf
“The Golden Bear” – Jack Nicklaus
“Tiger” – Eldrick Woods
“Lumpy” – Tim Herron
“Boss of the Moss” – Loren Roberts
“The Pink Panther – Jesper Parnevik
“The Shark” – Greg Norman
“Grandmaster Funk” – Fred Funk
“Boom Boom” – Fred Couples
Tennis
Roger “Federer Express”
“Mosquito” – Juan Carlos Ferrero
“The Punisher” – Andre Agassi
Track
Florence “Flo Jo” Joyner
Snowboarding
“The Flying Tomato” – Shaun White
