# What's the weirdest or funniest name in sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 20, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503 "2009-10-20T17:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/41 "2009-10-20T20:30:09Z")
> [@Parthol](#): > > It’s even better than that: God Shammgod played for Providence! Time is rapidly running out for Miroslav Satan to have at least part of his career be playing for the New Jersey Devils ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/42 "2009-10-20T20:50:37Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > The Cleveland Browns briefly had a player named [Ben Gay](http://armchairgm.wikia.com/Ben_Gay). Also a DB back in the 70s or 80s named “Fair Hooker” ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/43 "2009-10-20T21:08:14Z")
> [@PatriotGrrrl](#): > > I wonder what’s the longest last name they’ve ever fit on the back of a jersey? Roethlisberger (14 letters) is the longest I can think of. The longest I’ve seen was for Celtic FC’s Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Yes, “Vennegoor of Hesselink” is his family name, and the club put the whole name on his jersey. There might be a Sri Lankan cricketer who beats that, but I can’t think of one at the present. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/44 "2009-10-20T21:09:08Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > There was a bloke who played football for Germany named “Stefan Kuntz”. And a baseball player in the US with the unfortunate name Rusty Kuntz ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/45 "2009-10-20T21:28:26Z")
I’m still waiting for the day that Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada hands off to Obafemi Ayenbadejo, who will then run behind the block of Corey Lekkerkerker. ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/46 "2009-10-20T21:33:11Z")
I.M. Hipp, of Cornhusker fame ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/47 "2009-10-20T23:02:04Z")
> [@KSO](#): > > Vicki Kraphol (Duke basketball player) The actual spelling of her surname is [Krapohl](http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=204759213), which (depending on your particular sense of humor) may or may not reduce the “funny”. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/48 "2009-10-20T23:30:00Z")
[QUOTE= brewha] I just think it’s funny that eighty five should be ochenta y cinco and that he legally changed incorrectly - though that is what the announcers called him. [/QUOTE] That’s not why he changed it incorrectly. Football players, when identifying each other by number, list the numbers. If I noticed Chad Johnson lined up in such a way that I wanted another defender on him, I’d yell “eight five! eight five!” He should have been Ocho Cinco, not “Ochocinco.” His problem is that he forgot to put a space on the name change form. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/49 "2009-10-21T00:35:22Z")
I just remembered there used to be a pitcher named Gil Mesh. I always used to joke that his middle name should be Ga. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/50 "2009-10-21T00:44:19Z")
What?! 49 posts in and not a word about [Argel Fucks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arg%C3%A9lico_Fucks)??? ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/51 "2009-10-21T00:46:09Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > The actual spelling of her surname is [Krapohl](http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=204759213), which (depending on your particular sense of humor) may or may not reduce the “funny”. Nope, doesn’t reduce it at all… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/52 "2009-10-21T00:47:57Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > From an outsider (I watch ZERO sports, don’t follow them in the least), the names that stick out are Fukudome and Ochocinco. O’Chocinco, he’s Irish, right? > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Scientific Mapp played for FAMU. His brother, Majestic Mapp, played for Virginia. Please, please tell me they had another brother named Topographic. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/53 "2009-10-21T01:13:31Z")
[Quinton McCracken](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mccraqu01.shtml?redir) was always a favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/54 "2009-10-21T03:10:56Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Also a DB back in the 70s or 80s named “Fair Hooker” Fair was a WR [actually](http://caimages.collectors.com/psaimages/392/06419314/1973ToppsFairHooker.jpg) but the name is a certainly a classic. As for long names, I’ve seen pictures (which I can’t find for linking purposes) of Marty Schottenheimer’s old Buffalo jersey with his name on his back going down both sleeves. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/55 "2009-10-21T03:15:00Z")
Allegedly there was a Dutch soccer player called **Hans Penis**. After reaching some prominence - no, after coming to - no, after popping up - no, after achieving some fame he changed his name to avoid further public ridicule. To Dick Penis (IIRC this fact came from the magnificent **Book of Heroic Failures** ). But I’ll always have a soft spot for local rugby player **Fuifui Moimoi**. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/56 "2009-10-21T03:21:18Z")
Hockey: Zarley Zalapski and a minor player, John Winstanley ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/57 "2009-10-21T09:30:54Z")
Satan, too bad he never played for the NJ Devils ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/58 "2009-10-21T12:24:19Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Whenever I hear Amani Toomer (who used to play for the Giants) I always picture it in Arnold’s voice and it makes me smile. Me too! They mention his name and I can’t help responding, “It’s not a toomah!” ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/59 "2009-10-21T12:38:19Z")
It’s very situational, but I was very disappointed that the Boston Celtics cut Allan Ray right before the season last year. Only a funny name because already on the team was Ray Allen. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503/60 "2009-10-21T12:53:33Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > And a baseball player in the US with the unfortunate name Rusty Kuntz Where’s Oil Can Boyd when you need him? Johnny “Lam” Jones, Johnny “Ham” Jones and Johnny “Jam” Jones were once all football teammates at UT. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-or-funniest-name-in-sports/514503.md?page=4)