The Twenty Greatest Nicknames in Sports: Part 1

For so long, nicknaming athletes has been a part of sports, something that adds to the entertainment and in rare but special cases comes to define the players to whom they are given. This article examines twenty of the greatest nicknames ever coined in sports as well as the athletes to whom they refer. In part one of a two part article, the list begins with an unlikely candidate.

Let's get started.

20. Doyle Brunson, "Texas Dolly"
While poker may not be considered a sport by many, what few people know about Doyle Brunson is how good an athlete he was growing up. Born in the diminutive town of Longworth, Texas, he attended college on scholarship for basketball and track, and would have played pro ball for the Minneapolis Lakers but for a freak accident that shattered his leg. With his basketball career over, Brunson took to poker and became a legend, winning the 1976 and 1977 World Series of Poker No-limit Hold'em Championships. His nickname came into being after a commentator mispronounced his first name, and "Texas Dolly" has stuck with the poker icon to this day.

19. Jack Nicklaus, "The Golden Bear"
Still professional golf's record-holder in Major tournament wins with 18 (he also finished runner-up a record 19 times), Nicklaus was given his moniker in the 1960's on account of his blonde hair, his size, and his strength. Nicklaus had to work hard to win over fans of Arnold Palmer as he took over the throne of the golfing great, and he has since become one of the most beloved and respected figures in the sport.

18. Randy Johnson, "The Big Unit"
In July of 1993 Seattle Mariners ace Randy Johnson faced off against Phillies slugger John Kruk in the third inning of the Major League Baseball All-Star game. He threw the first pitch so fast and so wild that Kruk refused to stay in the box the rest of the at-bat, bailing out and flailing his bat in the general vicinity of the ball until he struck out and retreated to the dugout. This ability to intimidate opponents allowed Johnson to have already won half the battle by the time opponents stepped up to the plate. The Big Unit, a nickname given to him by a teammate back in 1988 when he was with the Montreal Expos, fit the 6'10" power pitcher perfectly throughout his carer.

17. George Herman "Babe" Ruth
Like Lakers great Magic Johnson, "Babe" Ruth has become defined by his nickname to the extent that few ever refer to the name he was given from birth. A star as both a pitcher and a hitter, still holds the Major League record for career slugging percentage. He hit a total of 714 home runs, and in several seasons hit more round trippers than the combined totals of entire opposing teams. Though his career home run mark has since been bested by Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, the Sultan of Swat still has a very valid claim to being the greatest baseball player in the history of the game.

16. Craig "Ironhead" Heyward
When he was younger and playing in street football games, Heyward would lower his head into opponents' stomachs, inflicting so much pain that they began calling him "Iron Head." The name had a catch sound, and it stuck. After playing college ball for Ohio State, the enormous running back played for the New Orleans Saints as well as four other teams over an 11-year NFL career. Though he had just one 1000-yard season, he remains one of the most aptly-nicknamed athletes of his time, even after his untimely death in 2002.

15. Dick "Night Train" Lane
Known for his raw power and brutal hits on receivers, the Hall of Fame cornerback made his way into the NFL despite playing only some high school and junior college ball growing up. His infamous clothesline tackling technique was eventually outlawed by the league for being too dangerous, but Lane continued to give receivers nightmares throughout his career. A teammate coined the name "Night Train" one day in reference to the bone-jarring hits that he delivered to opposing players, and it remains one of the most appropriate nicknames in the sport.

14. Robert Parish, "The Chief"
Parish was given the moniker "The Chief" after one of the great literary characters from Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Like the fictional Chief Bomden after whom he was named, Parish towered over opponents and was a true force to be reckoned with. Donning the number 00, Parish won three NBA titles with the Boston Celtics in the 1980's, playing with such greats as Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale. The 7-foot-tall Hall of Famer still mentors Celtics big men today.

13. "Broadway" Joe Namath
Let's be honest: Broadway Joe isn't just famous for his ability at quarterback and his Super Bowl III win over the Baltimore Colts. He had swagger, a movie-star quality, and was surrounded by enough controversy during his career to keep sports writers thrilled and fans on the edge of their seats. Born outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Namath played college ball at the University of Alabama, losing just four games in three seasons. He signed with the Jets as the first overall AFL draft pick in 1964 for a then-record salary. His 16-7 victory over the heavily-favored Colts in the third Super Bowl gave the AFL the respect that it had so long desired from NFL fans and made Broadway Joe a legend.

12. William Perry, "The Refrigerator"
The 1985-86 Chicago Bears were not short on colorful characters. Perhaps their most endearing, though, was the 325-pound rookie defensive lineman known as "The Refrigerator" or sometimes simply as "The Fridge." Perry's enormous size and strength made him a handful for offensive linemen around the league, and he was occasionally called in on fourth-and goal situations from inside the one-yard line to run the ball into the endzone for his team's offense. Though he never topped the achievement of his rookie-year Super Bowl victory with Chicago, his classic nickname sticks with him to the present day.

11. Earvin "Magic" Johnson
The beauty of Johnson's nickname lies in its simplicity and in its ability to define the Laker great. A great nickname falls into common use seamlessly; consequently, many basketball fans would be unable to identify Johnson's actual first name because of the popularity of the appellation that has come to define him since age 15. His wizardry on the basketball court, where he dominated in all aspects of the game- scoring, passing, rebounding, and defending- baffled opponents and wowed audiences over the course of his career at Michigan State and with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Part Two of The Greatest Nicknames in Sports to follow.