I thought we’d have a little fun today to get everyone prepped for the weekend. There’s nothing wrong with lightening the mood a little, right?
There have been some downright hilarious names of professional athletes in the past - God Shammgod, Dick Trickle, Rusty Kuntz - so really, all I want is to hear what some of your favorites are. Is there an athlete name that makes you chuckle every time you hear it? Do you want to show off how smart you are and name every funny-named athlete you can think of? Have at it boys; let’s come up with a complete - and hilarious - list.
Here’s the kicker - this is going to turn into a contest as long as there are enough entries! I’m not going to tell you exactly how, but it won’t be just based off of naming a funny athlete. Feel free to choose as many as you want (but don’t just go and list like 20 of them so other people don’t get to participate). Also, feel free to respond and comment however you’d like with this one. Since some of these are likely to be a little on the silly side (c’mon, Dick Trickle!?), some of the more common rules of etiquette on the site will probably go out the window.
Most of all, though, have fun with it! I’ll announce the “contest” part of it a little bit later on.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Preacher Row & Clem Labine from the Brooklyn Dodgers
January 25th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I hate to trump everybody right off the bat, but nobody is beating the women’s basketball coach at Seton Hall Univ.
First say the name out loud and then see the glory of her picture and the combination is ten tons of unintentional comedy factor.
Phyllis Mangina
PHYLLIS MANGINA
January 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Harry Colon….NFL safety
best ever
January 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
From the team running the White House we We had George “Bush”, “Dick” Chaney & “Colin” Powell
January 25th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Some of these might not be funny but the nicknames are great.
Say Hey Kid-Willie Mays
The Duke of Flatbush- Duke Snider
Rosie Brown- Roosevelt Brown. A 6-5, 255 lb offensive lineman
of the NY Giants. I can’t imagine calling this guy Rosie to his face.
Gump Worsley- Goaltender NY Rangers
The Bayonne Bleeder- Chuck Wepner boxer.
January 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I always thought Razor Shines was a unique name. Ugueth Urbina was unfamiliar to me as well, at least the Ugueth part.
Dick Tidrow’s nickname was “dirt”.
But my favorite nickname is Bob Ferguson’s, a 19th century outfielder who was known as Bob “Death to Flying Things” Ferguson.
I became a baseball fan at least partly because I was so intrigued by the names I heard as a child: Ferris Fain, Gus Zernial, Stuffy Stirnweiss, Frenchy Bordagaray. Actually, the name that grabbed me was neither funny or strange; it simply sounded great to a 5 year old: Vic Raschi, and when I learned his nickname was “The Springfield Rifle”, I was hooked.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I’ve gotta say I’m disappointed. Two of the best, still not named…
Albert Pujols
Magic Johnson
January 25th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Luscious Pusey is a good one two…he played like division 2 football or something like that
January 25th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
DICK POLE
Richard Henry Pole
Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6′ 3″, Weight 210 lb.
Debut August 3, 1973 vs. BAL 3.7 IP, 10 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 6 ER, L
Final Game July 18, 1978
January 25th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Dick Trickle?
January 25th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
He’s a Nascar Driver
January 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Dick Butkus
Virada Nirapathpongporn (LPGA Golfer)
Ron Tugnutt
Pete LaCock
Johnny Dickshot
January 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hello? Coco Crisp.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Al “the Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky - remember he would slam the ball in his glove, spin around, and pitch.
Haakon Loob - just a great hockey name
“Spike” Owen - as I remember…not really a tough guy
There was a racehorse named “Hoof Hearted”….I’m 40 and it still makes me laugh
January 25th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
First MLB 300 game winner : Pud Galvin. If my first born ain’t careful he may just find himself named Pud.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Popeye Jones.
RaysBaseball.BlogSpot.Com
January 26th, 2008 at 3:30 am
i’d like to reiterate: dick butkus. i mean, small wonder the guy became a bruiser. lord almighty.
also, if you say mike sweeny real fast, it sounds kinda funny (think something like the french grammatical rule of l’enchainment, except sorta backwards).
January 26th, 2008 at 3:38 am
oh yeah, let’s not forget jimmy gobble and j.j. putz.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:22 am
J.R. Towles, Houston
Huston Street, Oakland
Curtis Thigpen Toronto
Dave Bush & Ben Sheets Milwaukee
Skip Schumaker , St Louis
And the winner is
Kosuke Fukudome , Cubs
January 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Grady Sizemore , Cleveland
Richie Sexson , Seattle
Rocky Cherry, Baltimore
Kazuo Fukumori Texas
Jimmy Gobble, KC
And the winner is
Brian Slocum , Cleveland
January 26th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I suppose we can always turn to the songs about baseball.
Van Lingle Mungo
At the time he grew up, I imagine Jim Fairey probably had to endure some taunts.
I think Eppa Rixey is an unusual name. And I wonder why the Wynns named their son “Early”.
There have been some great nicknames, but two that always struck my fancy are “Wild Horse of the Osage” (Pepper Martin) and “The Arkansas Hummingbird” (Lon Warneke). Warneke is an unjustly forgotten pitcher from the 1930s who was really very good. Bill James has him as the 44th best pitcher ever, ahead of quite a few HOFers.
Nicknames tended to be cruder years ago with references to nationality, afflictions (at least 2 “Dummys”) or physical traits. “Hippo” Vaughn is certainly descriptive if not particularly kind.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
You guys need to register for diaries!!!
January 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Brian Suksomwong - UCLA Marching Band
Check him out
http://uclaband.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=cal03&id=66FD0048BrianS