My Favorite Athlete Nicknames

Recently ESPN ran a Top 10 list for the greatest nicknames of all time.  I thought about the nicknames over the years that I really like and that were creative and this is the list I came up with.  I should qualify it though.  To make my list, the nickname has to have some sort of meaning.  For example, Chris Paul of the Clippers has the nickname of CP3.  I like the name but but it is terribly uncreative as it is his initials and jersey number.  Same goes for RGIII.  Dwight Howard has been called Superman and I don't think that is creative and is unjust because he has no jumpshot and cannot make a free throw.  Superman could surely make a free throw.  So here is my list.

10. Never Nervous Pervis - Pervis Ellison
I love this because no matter what the situation was, Ellison always looked cool under pressure and you knew that if he had the ball, something good was gonna happen.

9.  RIP - Richard Hamilton
Hamilton was such a pure shooter that he rarely hit the rim on his shots (in his prime).  He had the greatest mid range jumper in the game and the RIP sound was the ball going through the net.

8.  Mr. Perfect - Curt Hennig
He was the excellence of execution.  He became Intercontinental Champion due to is "flawless" execution and tactical moves in the ring.  Everything he did was "simply perfect".

7.  The Big Hurt - Frank Thomas
Thomas is a big man and every time he hit the ball, he put a "hurt" on it.  Hence the nickname.  He seemed to always hit the ball squarely on the bat when he did that, you didn't want to be in its path.  And if he was rounding third and looking to score, opposing catchers prayed that the play wouldn't be close because they didn't want to be on the tracks when that train was coming.

6.  The Real Deal - Evander Holyfield
This is probably the nickname that needs the least commentary.  Holyfield was the real deal.  Enough said.

5.  Dr. J - Julius Erving & Earvin "Magic" Johnson
I put these two together because they both made miracles happen.  Magic with his brilliant passing and Erving with his ability to diagnose and solve the mystery that other defenses presented.  Both could, and did, carve up opposing teams with ease.

4.  Blade Runner - Oscar Pistorius
This nickname is very cool (in my opinion).  Pistorius is the Greek sprinter who is a double leg amputee.  He wears two prosthetic limbs designed for running and he is incredibly fast and even qualified for the olympics.

3.  The Matrix - Shawn Marion
Marion doesn't specialize in any one area on the basketball court.  He isn't a great shooter or a great ball handler but he does do everything really well.  He can make open shots.  He can attack the rim and finish.  He typically is asked to guard the opposing teams best player.  He is truly a phenomenal athlete and is deserving of his nickname.  

2.  Prime Time - Deoin Sanders
Sanders is one of my favorite football players of all time.  When the bright lights were on him, he was the absolute best in the sport.  He could electrify the crowd with his shutdown ability at cornerback.  When he was returning punts, you always expected him to take it to the house.  You wanted him to score just so you could see him dance in the endzone.  He was a polarizing figure in the NFL and brought an aura of excellence at his position that was unheard of at the time.

1.  Megatron - Calvin Johnson
He is big.  He is bad.  No one can cover him one on one and when he wants to be great, you can't stop him. When he plays angry, he cannot be denied.  So far, the NFL does not have an Optimus Prime to contain him.  He is a physical specimen never seen before at the wide receiver position.  He scares opposing players, coaches and fans all around the league.

Special Mention...
The Worm - Dennis Rodman, Mr. Big Shot - Chauncey Billups, The Truth - Paul Pierce, George "The Ice Man" Gervin, Dick "Night Train" Lane, "Iron" Mike Tyson, The Human Highlight Reel -Dominique Wilkins, Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, Shaq "Diesel", Ken "Opie" Root and Michael "Air" Jordan.