Which included Hakeem “the dream” Olajuwon.
In the world of basketball. . .
“Agent Zero” is definitely catching on for Gilbert Arenas. That’s pretty nice.
“King James” is not bad.
“The Answer” is good nickname, but I’m not much of an Iverson fan.
They called Robert Parrish “The Chief” which fit nicely.
I’m right with you. A formula to make a nickname is bad nicknaming. It’s also VERY lazy. Your first letter combined with the first syllable of your last name is NOT a nickname. There are a few exceptions, like the original ones, like Chris Webber and maybe Alex Rodriguez. Ivan Rodriguez already has a good nickname, (“Pudge”) so we don’t need to make it “I-Rod”, which I’ve heard and hate. Tracy McGrady does not equal T-Mac. That’s just damn lazy.
For Vince Young, “Vinnie” works for me. What about “Vinnie Intangibles” or something like that? Fuck, “Vince” is already a nickname, or at least a shortened version of a full name. He already HAS a nickname!
I remember this one and also love it. Thanks for mentioning it, even though as a nitpick, I think it was Drew “bled-so-much-he-needed-a-blood-transfusion”.
“King James”, to me, was a bit early. You don’t nickname a kid that coming out of high school. He’s earning that nickname now, for sure, but he shouldn’t have had it as a rookie.
Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell isn’t completely original, but there’s a good story behind it; he’s notoriously unflappable before fights, like in this interview with his trainer GM John Hackleman:
http://www.knucklepit.com/mixed-martial-arts-john_hackleman.htm
Coincidentally, UFC 47 was his last fight with Tito Ortiz, and the rematch is tomorrow, December 30. Neither has lost a fight since then, so it should be a good one. 
I hadn’t heard those two before; they’re both great.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear, but I meant that some of his nicknames were given him by opposing fans during his college days. Surely fans of his didn’t name him J-Load, right? He’s barely been on the roster as a Giant, so NFL fans don’t even know who he is, much less think about him enough to give him a nickname.
I was loudly calling for him to take the field during last week’s debacle, that’s for sure.
George Gervin, San Antonio Spurs guard, who was cool under pressure. Whenever his team came to town, the local sports headline writers would demonstrate their knowledge of Eugene O’Neill play titles.
I don’t believe I forgot
Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain
“Tree” Rollins
Lew “Kareem-Abdul Jabbar” Alcindor
Oh. Wait a minute. Scratch that last one.
I did read that in high school, Alcindor was called “The Tower of Power,” though.
Rollins’ close involvement with Danny Ainge’s finger in a Celtics-Hawks game permitted the classic headline “Tree Bites Man”.
Daryle “The Mad Bomber” Lamonica!
“King James” is better than LBJ (ugh) or Bron-Bron, though, so it’s the best of a weak field. I hate initials nicknames and the A-Rod style.
I think Bermanisms shouldn’t be considered in the same category as proper nicknames, but he’s coined a few good in his day.
I agree. Bermanisms were really just puns on the atheletes’ names. Nobody saw Eric Bienemy walking down the street and said, “Hey, Sleeping With!”
I don’t know how I could have forgotten Lamonica, either. Sheesh.
Oh, another one: Lenny “Nails” Dykstra.
I agree. With everything, so far.
Nah, we gave him J-Load. And “The Pillsbury Throwboy” is from a sign someone had at Commonwealth Stadium, if I recall correctly. “The Battleship Lorenzen” was started by Rece Davis of ESPN, “The Hefty Lefty” is from Kentucky fans, and “The Round Mound of Touchdown” was coined by someone in the Lexington media.
True story: he was almost 20 lbs. at birth, and he can throw a ball a legit 50+ yards from one knee (I’ve seen him do it in warmups.)