It seems that sports have lost some aspect of fun in recent years. This could be due to my increased age or cynicism, but I promise it’s not just me that sees it. Now that every player can be replaced at the drop of a hat, they don’t dare step out of line in any way. I think it’s time to bring back some of the fun that professional sports are missing. What happened to the great nicknames of the past anyways? (Just in case, real names behind the nicknames are included)
His Airness, Larry Legend, Magic, The Great One, The Great Bambino
(Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Earvin Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, Babe Ruth)
The list goes on and on. It seems most of the great nicknames belong to the NBA, so let’s focus on this sport for argument’s sake. From the 70’s on, the NBA had some of the best nicknames for players. These names became so synonymous with their skills, many people knew them only by those nicknames. Magic Johnson is the epitome of that. Born Earvin Johnson, he gained the nickname because of his abilities to dish the ball with the greatest of ease. Pistol Pete (Maravich), Wilt the Stilt (Chamberlain), Dr. J (Julius Erving), and more had amazing and long lasting nicknames. This tradition carried onto the 90’s and became integral to certain players brands.
Penny Hardaway was able to use his nickname and brand to boost sales of his signature shoe as well as create Lil’ Penny, one of the most iconic characters of 90’s television. I can’t picture him being able to sell as many if he was using his real name, Afrenee. It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
One of my favorite nicknames from the 90’s has to be Clyde “The Glyde” Drexler. When you hear that, you think of effortless skill and the ability to float across the court. He lived up to the name too, being one of the best players of the late 80’s and early 90’s. Once the turn of the century came, it seemed the nicknames turned into a lazy man’s game.
Think of the top players in the league right now. Most of them are known either by initials or just their name: Kyrie, Lebron, Steph, IT, Russ, KD. Some of these players do have nicknames, (King James, Uncle Drew) but they aren’t as well known or as popular as nicknames of old. Why is that?
One reason could be the advent of Twitter. Since we don’t have as many characters to boast about our favorites, we just use one name or initials to refer to them. But scrolling through timelines and just seeing the same names can be monotonous. When I see a highlight with the caption “THE GREEK FREAK!!!” or “Trust the Process”, I get excited (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embid). What have these young guys done now? It makes the league more fun.
That’s what nicknames do. It brings out the kid in all of us, and I want to see a little more Boogie, a little more PorzinGOD, and some more love for the Little Guy (Demarcus Cousins, Kristaps Porzingis, Isaiah Thomas).
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