The Nickname Game in Sports

Allen 'The Glove' Iverson makes a move to the hoop.

Courtesy of Seattle Supersonics

Randy 'The Big Unit' Johnson has a mullet and a handlebar moustache.

Randy Johnson

The Nickname Game in Sports - Reviewed by Kidzworld on Dec 27, 2006

( Rating:

)

Why is Randy Johnson called The Big Unit? How did Gary Payton become known as The Glove? Read on to find out how these guys and other athlete superstars picked up their nicknames.

Why is Randy Johnson called The Big Unit? How did Gary Payton become known as The Glove? Read on to find out how these guys and other superstars picked up their nicknames.

Athlete: Gary Payton.
Position: Point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nickname: The Glove.
Reason: Gary plays defense against other players as closely as a glove fits a hand.
A better nickname would be: The Mouth. When still playing for Seattle, this guy was always flapping his jaws about not getting enough money, enough respect, enough playing time, blah, blah, blah. Shut up and play.

Athlete: Randy Johnson.
Position: Pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nickname: The Big Unit.
Reason: His nickname is fairly obvious. Johnson is 6'10. He was given the nickname during his first major league game with the Montreal Expos. When he stepped on the mound for his first start, teammate Tim Raines exclaimed, "Wow, that's one big unit."
A better nickname would be: The Big Redneck. Sure, he can pitch but with his bad mullet haircut, Randy Johnson looks like a total redneck. He's a big skid who's just lucky he knows how to pitch.

Athlete: Tara Dakides.
Position: Pro Snowboarder.
Nickname: Terrorizer.
Reason: Tara got her nickname for the way she terrorizes the slopes with her big air and crazy tricks.
A better nickname would be: Major Snowboarding Babe. Tara's hot, has a belly button ring and can board. What more would you want?

Athlete: Eric Lindros.
Position: Center for the NY Rangers.
Nickname: E-Train.
Reason: When he heads to the net with the puck or goes into the corner to hit someone, Lindros can be a train. He can knock anyone over and go through anything... except Scott Stevens.
A better nickname would be: Hit By A Train. This guy's had his head knocked more times than one of those special kids in school who has to wear a helmet all day. The guy needs to keep his head up when he crosses the blueline or he'll be spending the rest of his life being spoon-fed JELL-O.

Athlete: Frank Thomas.
Position: First base for the Chicago Whitesox.
Nickname: The Big Hurt.
Reason: Picked up the name from a Chicago broadcaster who watched Frank belt a 450 foot homerun during the 1992 season. Frank's been putting the "Big Hurt" into baseballs ever since and the nickname's stuck.
A better nickname would be: The Always Hurt. Frank spent all of spring training 2001 whining about how he should be paid more money (he already makes 9 million a year.) He then hurt his wrist in May, 2001 and was gone for the rest of the season.

I have a nickname that the people at my school call me. They call me thickness because I run track and I'm very thick.
Kidz Submit By:
Nickname: Norda
Age: 15

Do you have a nickname? your nickname and how you got it.