# Great names in the history of sport

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 8, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047 "2002-08-08T23:37:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047/21 "2002-08-09T19:13:12Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Dikembe Motumbo: Georgetown BBall; various NBA clubs

Full name: Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo

While we’re at it, it’s actually Tshiminga Biakabatuka, who could share the backfield with Chris Fu’amutu-Ma’afala and Marques Tuiasosopo if the right moves were made.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047/22 "2002-08-09T19:45:13Z")

</div>

Think about this… if you were going to write a comic book or a children’s story about a champion, superstar, all-American sports hero, mightn’t you come up with a hokey, phony-sounding name like… oh, I dunno…

LANCE ARMSTRONG?

I mean, that sounds waaaay too perfect to be the real name of an actual sports superstar!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047/23 "2002-08-10T03:08:16Z")

</div>

I nominate **Happy Dix** , U. of Georgia punter/placekicker of the late 60’s or early 70’s. Of course, the fates would decree that he be a contemporary of the previously mentioned **Fair Hooker.**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047/24 "2002-08-10T04:38:58Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \*  
> \*\*  
> **Bob Petit** – one of the early NBA stars; his last name is French for “little.” So there is room of the the little man in the pros. \*\*

Not exactly. His name is Pettit.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-names-in-the-history-of-sport/123047.md?page=1)