# Nicknames for parts of a sports team.(Not the whole team) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 9, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241 "2012-09-09T22:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/21 "2012-09-10T02:03:18Z")
Miami Dolphins Killer B’s: their early 1980s defense, when they went to Super Bowl XVII. Miami Dolphins “No Name” defense: when they went to Super Bowls VI, (and won) VII & VIII. Dallas Cowboys Doomsday Defense: when they won Super Bowl VI. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/22 "2012-09-10T02:13:34Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Rams Fearsome Foursome: Rosie Grier, Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones. Hi! Welcome to the thread. Start reading at post #1. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/23 "2012-09-10T02:13:39Z")
GIGObuster: > [@](#): > > The Steel Curtain was the nickname of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line. I vaguely recall a recent Carolina Panthers team referred to as the “Teal Curtain” as a take-off of that. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/24 "2012-09-10T02:17:28Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Hi! Welcome to the thread. Start reading at post #1. Glad to make your evening. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/25 "2012-09-10T02:18:43Z")
The Bash Brothers: Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire of the Oakland A’s. The Gold Rush of the 1970s SF 49ers defense. (not their cheerleaders who now go by that name) The Twin Towers of the Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The Fun Bunch: Washington Redskins wide receivers of the 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/26 "2012-09-10T02:21:51Z")
Butch and Sundance: running backs Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick of the Dolphins in the early 1970s. Thunder and Lightning: running backs Tony Galbreath and Chuck Muncie of the Saints in the late 1970s. Earth, Wind, and Fire: running backs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw of the Giants, a few years ago. Grits Blitz: Falcons defense, late 1970s (IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/27 "2012-09-10T02:30:40Z")
The Million Dollar Backfield of the SF 49ers: Joe “The Jet” Perry, John Henry Johnson, Hugh McElhenny, and YA Tittle. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/28 "2012-09-10T02:45:05Z")
The Broncos had The Three Amigos as receivers. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/29 "2012-09-10T06:51:14Z")
The GAG Line of the early 1970’s NY Rangers. GAG = “goal-a-game”. The line had Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/30 "2012-09-10T07:06:02Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Kraut line: The Bruins during the 40’s Dumart-Schmidt-Bauer ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/31 "2012-09-10T07:12:23Z")
“Eleven Angry Men” - the Oakland Raiders defense of the 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/32 "2012-09-10T07:30:33Z")
The Greatest Show on Turf - the St Louis Rams offense in the late 90s / early 2000s, and winners of Super Bowl XXXIV. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/33 "2012-09-10T07:58:52Z")
The Wrecking Crew - Texas A&M football team’s defense. Dirty, Filthy, & Nasty - **Dirk** Nowitzki, Michael **Finley** , & Steve **Nash** of the Dallas Mavericks in the late 90s and early 2000s. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/34 "2012-09-10T11:29:57Z")
[The $100,000 Infield](http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/$100,000_infield): Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry and Frank “Home Run” Baker, 1910-1914 Philadelphia Athletics ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/35 "2012-09-10T12:46:02Z")
“The Dome Patrol” - the New Orleans Saints’ excellent linebacking corps of the late 80s & early 90s: Ricky Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling and Vaughan Johnson. This corps led the former ‘Aints’ to their franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance in 1987. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/36 "2012-09-10T12:51:05Z")
“The Monsters of the Midway”! One of the all-time NFL nicknames, were the Chicago Bears’ defense from the 1940s. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/37 "2012-09-10T12:55:53Z")
The “46 Defense”, perhaps the best-ever defense: Buddy Ryan’s 1985 Chicago Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/38 "2012-09-10T13:01:47Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The New York Sack Exchange This unit was anchored by Joe Klecko and Mark Gastineau. Gastineau would celebrate his sacks with a wild and crazy “dance” - truth be told, he looked more like the Tasmanian Devil of Bugs Bunny fame than any dancer I know of. The NFL soon disallowed (and penalized) any “excessive” celebrations, leading many to claim that NFL stood for the No Fun League. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/39 "2012-09-10T13:02:35Z")
“The Triplets”: Dallas Cowboy’s potent offensive weapons Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith and Michael Irvine. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241/40 "2012-09-10T13:08:20Z")
The Key Mets: the 1996-7 NY Mets featured infielders Butch Huskey and Jason Hardtke, pitcher Dave Mlicki, and outfielder Bernard Gilkey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-for-parts-of-a-sports-team-not-the-whole-team/634241.md?page=3)