# Is Calling Randy Johnson The Big Unit Vulgar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 8, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392 "2001-09-08T14:21:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/1 "2001-09-08T14:21:57Z")
[ul] [li]Every person in American who’s made it past junior high school knows that: johnson=penis[/li][li]Every person in America who’s made it past junior high school knows that: unit=penis[/li][/ul] Therefore, calling Mr. Johnson “The Big Unit” is tantamount to calling him “The Big Schlong,” “The Big Dick,” “The Big Mound O’ Man-Meat,” etc. Now, I’m not a prude or anything, but doesn’t the use of such a vulgar double entendre seem rather out of character in the “We Take Ourselves Oh-So Fucking Seriously” world of professional sports broadcasting? Does anybody else agree? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/2 "2001-09-08T14:51:52Z")
Disagree? Yup. Randy’s called that because of his HEIGHT and his dominance as a pitcher. (6’-11"? I believe he’s the tallest player in MLB.) Seattle was (is?) bringing up another VERY tall lefty that was immediately nicknamed 'Little Unit", because of his resemblences to Randy. Any phallic imagery is your own. Although I must admit there are plenty of folks in Seattle that thought him a dick when he went to Arizona. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/3 "2001-09-08T15:07:18Z")
To: Seattle From: Arizona Re: Randy Johnson Message: Our Unit’s bigger than yours! Nyah, Nyah, Nyaah! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/4 "2001-09-08T15:23:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > \*\*[ul] > [li]Every person in America who’s made it past junior high school knows that: unit=penis[/li][/ul] > \*\* That’s what I love about this place - I learn something new every day!! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/5 "2001-09-08T15:34:06Z")
Vulgar? If you want it to be. I merely think it is stupid. It has got to be the lamest nickname ever. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/6 "2001-09-08T17:23:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > \*\*Does anybody else agree? \*\* Yes. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/7 "2001-09-08T17:45:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > **[ul][li]Every person in America who’s made it past junior high school knows that: unit=penis[/li][/ul]** Unit=penis? Damn. Math class would have been _much_ more interesting had I known this … ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/8 "2001-09-08T17:50:43Z")
Presumably, Frank Zappa’s daughter changes her name by now. ---
**Author:** ![pezwookiee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@pezwookiee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezwookiee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/9 "2001-09-08T19:12:18Z")
I don’t know, the name “Randy Johnson” on its own is pretty suggestive. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/10 "2001-09-08T19:43:48Z")
I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy! Anybody else feel like a little . . . giggle . . . when I mention my fwiend . . . Biggus . . . Dickus? He has a wife, you know . . . ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/11 "2001-09-08T19:52:12Z")
rastahomie, no one in Arizona sniggers at the Randy’s nickname. I think you just have a dirty mind. pezwookiee, that hadn’t even occured to me, I must be slipping my old age. I heard a report on NPR where the 14 year old illegal little leaguer was referred to as “the little unit.” Oh great, now I think it’s funny. Thank you bastards! Sonofabitch! I’s like the time I had to read “bosom” in sunday school as a kid and couldn’t suppress a giggle. The teacher kept a straight face but I could almost feel his desire to crack me on the back of the head. ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-randy-johnson-the-big-unit-vulgar/80392/12 "2001-09-08T20:00:31Z")
“The Big Unit” sounds a bit like “The Big Eunuch”.