The NBA has locked out its players and it may be a long time before we see NBA basketball again. In order to maintain my sanity, I’m trying to remain optimistic and focusing on what will happen once play resumes, so I came up with a list of the top 20 free agents available once the lockout ends. This free agent class lacks the star power of the summer of LeBron and a 2012 class that will likely include Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard, though it has several solid contributors who can help put a good team over the top.
The list includes both restricted and unrestricted free agents, assuming there are still restricted free agents under the new collective bargaining agreement. Unrestricted free agents may sign with any team they choose. Teams retain the right to keep their restricted free agents by matching any offer made by another team. I’ve indicated (UR) for unrestricted or (R) for restricted next to the players’ names.
These are the top 20 NBA free agents of 2011.
20) Yao Ming (UR)
Yao’s career may be over, though there have been big men who have contemplated retirement after multiple lower leg injuries only to return for a few very good seasons, Bill Walton and Zydrunas Ilgauskas being two of them. Yao has made it clear that he only wants to play for the Rockets. It will be interesting to see how much money Houston is willing to gamble on his fragile legs.
19) Rodney Stuckey (R)
Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars viewed Stuckey as the point guard of the future when he traded Chauncey Billups to Denver a few years ago, but now it seems that the organization believes he’s more of a hybrid than a point guard. The team’s selection of Brandon Knight in the first round may be an indication that Stuckey’s run in Detroit has come to an end.
18) Carl Landry (UR)
Landry is one of the more underrated players in the NBA. He’s a solid low post scorer and hard nosed defender who’s probably best suited to come off the bench, but can step into the starting lineup if necessary. The power forward should see a significant bump in his salary from last season of $3 million.
17) Tayshaun Prince (UR)
The glory days of the Pistons seem like a l0ng time ago. Prince has been forgotten amid the chaos within the franchise, but his productivity has remained steady. He’s a very good defender who can stretch a defense and will bring a championship pedigree with him wherever he ends up.
16) Caron Butler (R)
Butler is highly respect among his peers as an intense competitor, though he’s 31-years-old and coming off of knee surgery. The Mavs would like to retain him, but Tyson Chandler is their number one priority and it’s doubtful that they’ll have the money to sign both.
15) Wilson Chandler (R)
Chandler was one of the key components of the Carmelo Anthony trade and was the odd man out on a deep Nuggets team come playoff time. His greatest asset is his ability to defend multiple positions. He’s expressed an interest in returning to the Knicks and they’d love to have him, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to make the money work.
14) Aaron Brooks (R)
Brooks’ last two seasons have been a bit perplexing. In ’09-’10 he averaged 19.6 points per game and was voted the league’s most improved player. This past season his shooting was atrocious and his attitude questionable, so the Rockets shipped him to Phoenix. He’s a shoot-first point guard with an inconsistent shot, though his quickness provides a nice change of pace off the bench.
13) Jason Richardson (UR)
J-Rich has lost a step since his early days in Golden State and his failure to help the Magic advance past the first round of the playoffs doesn’t help his cause. He’s not going to make any where the $14.4 million he received last season, though he can still be a complimentary shooter on a playoff team.
12) Thaddeus Young (R)
Young is a remarkable athlete who thrives in a fast-paced offense, but right now he’s no more than a high energy player off the bench. Still, he’s only 23 and has time to develop into a more reliable shooter if he’s willing to reconstruct the awkward release on his shot.
11) Greg Oden (R)
Oden is the wild card in this free agent class. His injury history is well documented and it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to remain healthy, though he was the number one pick in the draft just four years ago. The Blazers demonstrated that they still have some faith in him when they extended him a qualifying offer of $8.8 million.
10) Jeff Green (R)
Green’s stock has plummeted over the past few years. Once viewed as a potential wing man for Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City, he played sparingly this past post-season after being traded to the Celtics. He can still score from the perimeter and in the post against smaller forwards and defends well on the perimeter.
9) Jamal Crawford (UR)
Crawford will be in high demand this off-season, even though his scoring average dropped from 18.0 to 14.2 this past season. The ideal sixth man can fill it up in a hurry and has proven that he can be a number one option at times on a very good team.
8) J.R. Smith (UR)
Crawford is more consistent than Smith, but J.R. is six years younger and has many productive years ahead of him, assuming he keeps his head on straight. The Nuggets guard provided George Karl with punch off the bench with his infinite range and tremendous athleticism.
7) Kris Humphries (UR)
Call it the Kardashian effect. After bouncing around the league during his first six seasons, Humphries found his niche in New Jersey last season, averaging 10.4 rebounds per game. He’s a solid rotation player on a playoff team, possibly even a starter at the power forward position.
6) Aaron Affalo (R)
Afflalo has improved significantly in each of his four seasons in the league and has become an efficient shooter and excellent defender. He’ll never be a star, but he’s a solid role player who would make a nice addition to a team like the Bulls that is seeking a shooting guard.
5) DeAndre Jordan (R)
Blake Griffin isn’t the only talented young big man on the Clippers. Jordan was moved into the starting lineup when Chris Kaman was injured and made the most of the opportunity, averaging 7.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. It’s highly unlikely that L.A. will allow this budding big man to get away.
4) David West (UR)
West is the best player available through free agency, a versatile scorer who grabs eight boards a game, but he turns 31 this summer and is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. There are reports that the Nets are interested, though West has expressed his desire to return to the Hornets.
3) Nene (UR)
Legitimate centers are difficult to find and Nene is one of the best in the league, in the prime of his career. His numbers aren’t staggering, at 14 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, but he can score in the post and bang with any big man in the league.
2) Marc Gasol (R)
The Grizzlies and their fans are revved up after a deep playoff run this past year without one of their best players, Rudy Gay. Management wants to keep the core of the team intact and is almost certain to match any offer for Pau’s younger, assuming they’re able to remain under the new salary cap.
1) Tyson Chandler (UR)
NBA general managers saw how Chandler transformed the Mavs into a tougher, better defensive team this season. He’s been in the league for ten years, but is still just 28 years-old, and seems to be past the toe injury that hampered him earlier in his career. The Mavs have some difficult decisions to make this off-season, though keeping Chandler will be their top priority.
Other notable free agents: Glen “Big Baby” Davis (UR), Nick Young (R), Andre Kirilenko (UR), Reggie Evans (UR), J.J. Barea (UR), Michael Redd (UR), Grant Hill (UR), Shane Battier (UR), Kenyon Martin (UR), Tracy McGrady (UR), Mario Chalmers (R), DeShawn Stevenson (UR), Samuel Dalembert (UR), Nenad Krstic (UR), Brian Cardinal (UR, Chuck Hayes (UR), Marcus Thornton (R), Daequan Cook (R)
Over the course of his 62 years in the booth for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, legendary broadcaster Vin Scully has covered some of baseball’s most memorable moments and uttered a bevy of indelible calls and insightful quotes. This famous line about “the Hawk” during a 1991 game between the Dodgers and Cubs is my favorite.
“Andre Dawson has a bruised knee and is listed as day-to-day. Aren’t we all?”
When baseball fans think of the great Yankee teams of the late 1990s, players such as Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Paul O’Neill and David Cone quickly come to mind. Yet, it was seldom used backup catcher Jimmy Leyritz who kicked off the dynasty with a memorable blast in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series.
The Yankees faced the defending champion Atlanta Braves in that series and looked over-matched during the first two games in New York as the Braves took a commanding 2-0 lead. They bounced back to win Game 3, but found themselves in dire straits after falling behind 6-0 early in Game 4. The Yanks scraped together three runs in the sixth inning and, with the score 6-3 going into the eighth inning, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox called on his closer Mark Wohlers to shut down the Yankees over the final two innings.
Wohlers was an All-Star that season, armed with a 100 mph fastball, he was one of the most intimidating closers in baseball. He began the inning by surrendering back-to-back singles to Charlie Hayes and Darryl Strawberry. After Mariano Duncan grounded into a fielder’s choice, Leyritz stepped to the plate with one out and two men on.
At the time, Leyritz was better known for his loquacious personality and idiosyncrasies at the plate than his production on the field. Since being called up by the Yankees in 1990, he’d platooned at third base and served as a backup catcher. He was an average hitter who never smacked more than 17 home runs in a season.
The Ohio native often arrived at the ballpark wearing a cowboy hat and boots. His teammates nicknamed him “The King,” due to his large ego, and on a team composed of reserved professionals, he was the one Yankee sportswriters turned to for provocative quotes.
The right-handed Leyritz had a unique batting stance, which many fans tried to emulate. He kept his front leg straight and stiff, while placing his weight on his back knee, which was slightly bent. As he waited for the pitch, he dangled the knob of the bat in a circular motion behind his head. Then, after each pitch, he twirled the bat at waist level, like a baton.
Leyritz had entered Game 4 of the ’96 Series in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter for catcher Joe Girardi. He looked confidant, as always, as he stepped into the batter’s box to face the hard-throwing Wohlers. “The King” worked the count to 2-2, then fouled off two blistering fastballs just to stay alive. In the seventh pitch of the at-bat Leyritz caught up to Wohlers’ heat and jacked a hanging slider over the leftfield wall at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, tying the game at 6-6.
With one swing of the bat, “The King” completed the Yankee comeback and shifted the momentum of the series. It was the biggest home run by a Yankee since Bucky Dent’s blast against the Red Sox at Fenway Park in 1978. The Yankees won the game 8-6 in the 10th inning and finished off the Braves in six games. They went on to win three more World Series over the next four years.
Leyritz’s sensational shot wasn’t the only dramatic postseason homer of his career, either. The previous year, he hit a walk-off shot against the Mariners in the 15th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS. As a member of the Padres in 1998, he launched three long balls in the NLDS, one of which tied the score in the ninth inning of Game 2 and another in the seventh inning of Game 3 that turned out to be the game winner.
In a second go-around with the Yankees, Leyritz let fly a solo bomb in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the ‘99 World Series. It was the last major league home run hit in the 20th century.
The Yankees had a young Jorge Posada in the farm system so they let Leyritz sign a free agent deal with the Anaheim Angels after the ’96 season. He went on to play for the Rangers, Red Sox, Padres, Yankees again and Dodgers, before hanging it up after the 2000 season. During a career that spanned eleven seasons, Jimmy Leyritz compiled a .264 batting average and hit 90 home runs, though “The King” earned his ransom when the games mattered most. He retired with eight post-season home runs.
Saturday was Old-Timers Day at Yankee Stadium, one of the more glorified traditions in sports. There were several Hall of Famers on hand, including, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Reggie Jackson. Joe Torre received a rousing ovation for his first appearance at Old Timers Day and many of his former players participated, such as, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez, who took his former teammate David Cone deep. But the man that kicked off the most recent Yankee dynasty was conspicuously absent.
Leyritz has spent the last few years fighting serious criminal charges. His blood alcohol level was above the legal limit when he was behind the wheel during a car accident in 2007 that resulted in the death of the other driver. In November 2010, he was acquitted on a charge of DUI Manslaughter, but convicted on the misdemeanor of driving under the influence. Perhaps the Yankees are letting the dust settle before they invite him back.
Despite his mistakes he’s sure to receive a thunderous applause the next time he appears at the stadium. “The King” remains a crowd favorite in the Bronx and his home run in Game 4 of the ‘96 World Series will forever be a part of Yankee lore. Old Timers day isn’t the same without him.
Nicknames have long played a prominent role in sports. They personalize the athletes for the fans, build camaraderie among teammates, add a humorous element to the competition and are essential to the myth-building of sports legends.
There are many factors to consider when determining what makes a great nickname. Is it apropos? Does it stand the test of time? What’s the source and reason for the nickname? Is it alliterative? Is there a comical component to it? Is it widely known and used?
The list below is inevitably somewhat biased towards athletes from the past 30 years, though the greatest nicknames stand the test of time and many from the first half of the 20th century are recognized. There have been countless great nicknames for duos, trios and groups in sports, but I decided to restrict this list to individuals.
These are the 100 greatest sports nicknames of all-time.
100) The Rifleman – Chuck Person
The longtime Pacer was dead on from way behind the arc and equally as sharp with his tongue. Check out his classic ’80’s poster.
99) The Assassin – Jack Tatum
No elaboration necessary for this nasty former Raiders defensive back.
98) Donnie Baseball – Don Mattingly
Donnie remains a crowd favorite in the Bronx because of the way he approached the game. Bill James summed him up best: “100% ballplayer, zero percent bullshit.”
97) Pudge – Carlton Fisk and Ivan Rodriguez
Fisk’s nickname was due to his big frame and he wore it well, belting his way into the Hall of Fame. Rodriguez will likely have a spot waiting for him in Cooperstown as well.
96) Chi Chi – Juan Rodriguez
Chi Chi’s jovial personality and signature “toreador dance” brought some much needed panache to the PGA Tour.
95) Pops – Willie Stargell
The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates’ theme song was Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and Stargell was the head of that family. Pops won World Series with the Pirates in ’71 and ’79.
94) Nails – Lenny Dykstra
“Nails” was befitting of the gritty, gutsy center fielder for the championship 1986 Mets.
93) Dizzy Dean – Jay Dean
Dizzy won the 1934 N.L. MVP Award as he and brother Paul “Daffy” Dean led the famed St. Louis Cardinals “Gas House Gang” to world series glory.
92) The Flying Tomato – Shaun White
This red head Californian has taken competitive snowboarding to a new level with his death defying Double McTwist 1260.
91) The Croatian Sensation – Toni Kukoc
Kukoc was billed as the greatest European basketball player when he joined the Bulls prior to the ’93-’94 season and was a valuable sixth man on three championship teams.
90) Goose – Richard Gossage
You’d never know it from his nickname, but Gossage terrified opposing batters with a fastball that approached triple digits. Before the days of bullpen specialists, he regularly secured two and three inning saves.
89) The “Say Hey” Kid – Willie Mays
The name aptly reflected the New York Giant center fielder’s boyish exuberance for the game.
88) Lester the Molester – Lester Hayes
Not surprisingly, the Raiders’ defensive back wasn’t a big fan of this one. His other nickname was “The Judge” for meted out justice to wide receivers he faced.
87) The Hawk – Andre Dawson
The multi-talented right fielder finally received his due when writers voted him into the Baseball Hall of Fame last year.
86) Marvelous Marvin Hagler – Marvin Hagler
Hagler liked the sound of this so much that he legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
85) The Minister of Defense – Reggie White
Fittingly, the pass rusher who put the fear of God into opposing quarterbacks every Sunday also led the post-game prayer sessions.
84) Tree – Wayne Rollins
During his playing days, the former Hawks’ center with the slim, yet wide seven foot one inch frame and long limbs was known simply as “Tree.”
83) Skip 2 my lou – Rafer Alston
Alston picked up this nickname as a playground legend on the streets of New York for the way he dribbled the ball and it stayed with him throughout his NBA career.
82) The Chairman of the Board – Edward “Whitey” Ford
Any time you share a nickname with Frank Sinatra you’ve got it going on. The pitcher with the greatest winning percentage in MLB history was known for his excessive partying and also answered to the name “Slick.”
81) Tractor Traylor – Robert Traylor
He was always listed at 290 pounds, but it’s safe to say the former University of Michigan star crossed the 300 mark in high school and never looked back.
80) The Glove – Gary Payton
Payton was the premiere on-the-ball defender in basketball during the late 1990’s and could trash talk with the best of them.
79) The Bus – Jerome Bettis
The NFL’s fifth all-time leading rusher was bigger than a linebacker and did some serious damage when he got his shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage.
78) Skywalker – David Thompson
Thompson is an integral member of the lineage of great basketball leapers, which includes Elgin Baylor, Dr. J, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Vince Carter and Blake Griffin.
77) The Big Aristotle – Shaquille O’Neal
If you go by overall collection of nicknames “The Diesel” is in the top five. “The Big Aristotle” has always been my favorite.
76) The Penguin – Ron Cey
Short legs forced the Cubs third baseman to waddle around the bases.
75) Pee Wee – Harold Reese
Much like his Dodgers teammate Duke Snider, few people ever knew this shortstop’s real name.
74) Sleepy – Eric Floyd
The eyes don’t lie. He and Tracy McGrady must be related.
73) El Duque – Orlando Hernandez
The Duke is a solid nickname. Add a little Spanish flavor and it becomes a classic. Hernandez was referred to exclusively as El Duque during his career in the states.
72) The Worm – Dennis Rodman
As Karl Malone or any of Rodman’s coaches can tell you, this worm got under your skin. His teammate John “Spider” Sally was considered for this list as well.
71) Juice – O.J. Simpson
It was simple and obvious, but it worked.
70) El Presidente – Dennis Martinez
Martinez pitched a perfect game in 1991 and with 245 wins is probably the most under appreciated pitcher of his era. As for the nickname, I have no idea where it came from, but it has a nice air of nobility to it.
69) Big Country – Bryant Reeves
I liked this one so much that in high school I started calling my best friend Big Country. Between Reeves’ size, flat top haircut and the dull expression on his long face, he looked the part.
68) The Count – John Montefusco
This is an obvious twist on Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. From Sesame Street to Dracula, everybody loves a count.
67) Satchel – Leroy Paige
There are varying stories as to how Paige picked up the name Satchel, but that’s the case with many of the details and fascinating tales from his life.
66) Clyde the Glide – Clyde Drexler
The nickname just rolls off your tongue, as smooth as his game.
65) Larry Legend – Larry Bird
Bird was fond of referring to himself as “The Hick from French Lick.”
64) Hammerin Hank – Henry Aaron
The Hammer was selected to 25 all-star games and is the rightful all-time home run king, yet he doesn’t receive the recognition of some of his contemporaries like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle.
63) Clyde – Walt Frazier
Frazier’s Knicks teammates began calling him Clyde because he wore a brimmed hat similar to the one Warren Beatty wore as Clyde Barrow in the movie Bonnie and Clyde. The name jibed with Frazier’s laid back persona.
62) Crime Dog – Fred McGriff
The name stems from the commercials featuring the animated crime dog McGruff, though McGriff will always be remembered for his role in another commercial, Tom Emanski’s Defensive Drills Video.
61) Louisiana Lightning – Ron Guidry
Also affectionately referred to as “The Gator” by fans and teammates, Guidry compiled a 25-3 record and 1.74 ERA in 1978.
60) The Golden Jet – Bobby Hull
“The Jet” was known for his blinding speed and rocket shot. He retired second in NHL history in goals scored and ninth in points.
59) El Guapo – Rich Garces
A picture tells a thousand words about this former Red Sox reliever…
58) The Georgia Peach – Ty Cobb
The irony of this one is comical. Anything but a peach, Cobb was a renowned SOB.
57) Round Mound of Rebound – Charles Barkley
The problem with this classic nickname is that it didn’t stick after Charles slimmed down during his first few years in the league.
56) Tiger – Eldrick Woods
If your name is Eldrick you better have a good nickname. The name “Tiger” ranks so high because of its ubiquity within the game of golf.
55) Catfish Hunter – James Hunter
Few people know that the Hall of Fame pitcher’s actual name is James. Bob Dylan was so fond of the pitcher and the name that he wrote a song called “Catfish.”
54) The Admiral – David Robinson
The 7’1 Robinson had to be the tallest man in the history of the U.S. Navy. Or any Navy for that matter.
53) The Mailman – Karl Malone
During Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals Malone was on the line about to attempt the winning free throws with the game tied and seconds remaining when Scottie Pippen whispered in his ear, “Just remember, the mailman doesn’t deliver on Sundays, Karl.” Malone missed both free throws and the Bulls won the game.
52) Spaceman – Bill Lee
Lee was one of the true characters in baseball, a proud marijuana user known for publicly criticizing management and making controversial political statements.
51) The Barber – Sal Maglie
Maglie won 119 games over ten big league seasons and was given his nickname because he liked to give batters a close shave.
50) Bear Bryant – Paul Bryant
The renowned football coach won 6 championships at the University of Alabama and his star pupil, Joe Namath, still tears up when he talking about him.
49) Sugar Ray – Ray Robinson, born Walker Smith Jr. and Ray Leonard
Walker Smith wasn’t able to obtain an AAU boxing card because he was only 14, so he borrowed his friend Ray Robinson’s card and kept the name. Later in his career his manager told him he was “sweet as sugar.”
48) The Pearl – Earl Monroe
Earl the Pearl’s offensive repertoire was immortalized in Spike Lee’s He Got Game. They called him Jesus on the playgrounds of Philadelphia because he worked miracles on the court.
47) Too Tall Jones – Ed Jones
The 6’9 Jones was the most intimidating member of Dallas’s famed “Doomsday Defense.”
46) AK-47 – Andre Kirilenko
His initials are AK, 47 is his number and like the Kalashnikov he’s named after, he was made in Russia.
45) Oil Can – Dennis Boyd
Boyd supposedly picked up the nickname, which fit his oddball personality, during his beer drinking days in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.
44) Mr. Cub – Ernie Banks
Banks is the king of the lovable losers and is vastly underrated outside the city of Chicago.
43) The Microwave – Vinnie Johnson
Johnson used to heat up in a hurry when he came in off the bench for the “Bad Boys” Pistons teams that won back-to-back titles in ’89 and ’90.
42) Mr. Clutch – Jerry West
Not bad for a guy who lost in the NBA Finals eight times. He’s also called “The Logo” because his silhouette is used as the NBA logo.
41) Air Jordan – Michael Jordan
It’s simple, but classic and ties in well to Jordan’s jump man logo.
40) The Chief – Robert Parrish
Parrish was named “The Chief” after the Native American character Chief in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, who like Parrish was a quiet big man, with an unnatural running style.
Remember when everybody was certain that Tiger would break Jack’s record of 18 career major championships?
38) Big Papi – David Ortiz
Everything about Papi is big: his size, his personality, his hugs and his swing.
37) The Rocket – Maurice Richard
Richard was the first of many athletes to be labeled “The Rocket,” including Raghib Ismail, Roger Clemens and the “Russian Rocket,” Pavel Bure.
36) Broadway Joe – Joe Namath
With the possible exception of Clyde Frazier, no athlete embodied the pulse and pizzazz of New York City like Joe Willie. He talked the talk and walked the walk.
35) Duke – Edwin Snider
Originally referred to as “The Duke of Flatbush,” it was shortened to just Duke. Snider hit more home runs than any other player in baseball during the 1950’s.
34) The Wizard of Westwood – John Wooden
Wooden set the standard as a teacher and basketball coach and his lessons on life will continue to serve as a guide for people of every profession.
33) Papa Bear – George Halas
Papa Bear did it all in the game of football. He was a player, coach, owner and pioneer over his 65 years in the game.
32) Bonecrusher – James Smith
How would you like to step in the ring with a guy named Bonecrusher?
31) White Shoes – Billy Johnson
This three-time pro bowl wide receiver was one of the first NFL players to do touchdown celebrations. He introduced the “Funky Chicken” during his rookie season with the Houston Oilers.
30) Pistol Pete – Pete Maravich
Aptly named for his brilliant ball-handling skills and shoot from the hip jump shot, Maravich was before his time.
29) The Human Eraser – Marvin Webster
Also known as “Marvin the Magnificent,” Webster averaged 1.4 blocks per game over his ten seasons in the ABA and NBA.
28) Three Finger – Mordecai Brown
Brown lost parts of two fingers on his right hand in a farming accident when he was kid. Despite only three full fingers on his pitching hand he went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
27) Big Game James – James Worthy
Stuck in the shadow of teammates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, Worthy was often the difference in the finals for the Lakers. His nickname has been emulated, but never duplicated.
26) Yogi – Lawrence Berra
Yogi was the perfect name for this short, stubby American poet. He’s one of a select group of athletes recognized simply by a one word nickname.
25) The Brown Bomber – Joe Louis
Louis was the first African-American athlete celebrated by both black and white America when he knocked out Germany’s Max Schmeling.
24) Shoeless Joe – Joe Jackson
Supposedly, a writer penned the name “Shoeless Joe” when the White Sox center fielder didn’t wear shoes one game because of blisters on his feet.
23) Sweetness – Walter Payton
By all accounts, “Sweetness” applied to his character as much as his game. Number 34 is still the second all-time leading rusher in NFL history.
22) The Iceman – George Gervin
One thing he could do was finger roll. Nobody was cooler than the Iceman.
21) The General – Bob Knight
Never has a nickname been more befitting. Knight coached at the U.S. Military Academy and adopted the authoritarian leadership style of his idol General Patton. Point guard Sherman Douglas also went by “The General” and Avery Johnson was “The Little General.”
20) The Wizard of Oz – Ozzie Smith
This was a great play on words and quite apropos. Smith’s back flips and slick fielding introduced an eloquent and magical flare to the game.
19) Mr. October – Reggie Jackson
He hit three home runs on three consecutive pitches in the decisive Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. Enough said.
18) The Human Highlight Film – Dominique Wilkins
This two-time slam dunk champion brought a devastating combination of athleticism and power to his craft.
17) Charlie Hustle – Pete Rose
The guy sprinted to first base after a walk and ended catcher Ray Fosse’s career when he bowled him over at home plate during an all-star game.
16) The Refrigerator – William Perry
Commonly referred to as “The Fridge,” the Bears defensive tackle developed a cult following after plowing his way into the end zone in Super Bowl XX.
15) Night Train Lane – Dick Lane
The great defensive back’s teammate plucked this nickname from a song that was popular in the Rams locker room.
14) The Iron Horse – Lou Gehrig
Iron horse is an old name for a locomotive, a fitting description for the lean, muscular first baseman who played in 2,130 consecutive games.
13) Mean Joe Greene – Joe Greene
It’s short and simple, but rhymes and is on point. The cornerstone of the vaunted “Steel Curtain” was one of the most dominant defensive players of the 1970’s.
12) Cool Papa Bell – James Bell
This African-American speedster is one of the figures most associated with the Negro Leagues in large part due to his nifty nickname.
11) The Splendid Splinter – Ted Williams
Also known as “Teddy Ballgame,” “The Splendid Splinter” truly captured the artistry and excellence of baseball’s last .400 hitter.
10) The Raging Bull – Jake LaMotta
This nickname was so catchy that Martin Scorsese used it for the title of one of the best boxing movies ever made.
9) The Great One – Wayne Gretzky
The greatest hockey player of all-time was in a class of his own.
8) Dr. J – Julius Erving
Originally just called “The Doctor” for the way he operated on his opponents, the “J” was added later for his breathtaking jams. His nickname has inspired several derivatives, from rapper Dr. Dre to pitcher Dwight Gooden, AKA “Dr. K.”
7) Crazy Legs – Elroy Hirsch
A sportswriter once said of the great running back: “His crazy legs were gyrating in six different directions, all at the same time; he looked like a demented duck.”
6) Chocolate Thunder – Darryl Dawkins
The colorful Dawkins threw it down with such force that he shattered two NBA backboards. He also went by “Sir Slam” and “Dr. Dunkenstein.”
5) Manos de Piedra – Hands of Stone – Roberto Duran
Duran was a brawler who intimidated his opponents by cursing and snarling at them in the ring. The Panamanian took on all comers and began his career with a remarkable 72-1 record.
4) The Galloping Ghost – Harold “Red” Grange
They just don’t have nicknames like this anymore. The legendary halfback was named the greatest college football player of all-time by ESPN in 2008.
3) Stan the Man – Stan Musial
Supposedly, the name originated when an awestruck kid at Ebbets Field said, “Mama there goes that man.” The nickname is now pervasive in American culture and casually used for Stans and Dans everywhere.
2) The Great Bambino – George Herman “Babe” Ruth
“The Babe” acquired many nicknames over the years, though none captured his mystique and grandeur as well as “The Great Bambino.”
1) Magic – Earvin Johnson
A mesmerized local sportswriter came up with the most apropos nickname in sports after watching Johnson play in high school. His court awareness and no-look passes were simply Magic.
Ron Artest has reportedly filed court documents to change his name to “Metta World Peace.” The enigmatic Lakers forward is just the latest in a long line of ballplayers who have officially or unofficially adopted a new name for any number of reasons.
The first person to come to mind after hearing about Artest is naturally World B. Free. The former NBA sharpshooter was born Lloyd Bernard Free, but in December of 1981 decided to officially incorporate his nickname “All World” into his name.
Former Dolphins wide receiver Mark Duper and boxer Marvin Hagler are two other athletes who legally adopted their nicknames, becoming Mark Super Duper and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Two New York pitchers, Boof Bonser of the Mets (originally named John) and the Yankees Joba Chamberlain (originally Justin) officially replaced their given first names with their nicknames.
Of course, there’s an endless list of athletes known exclusively by their nicknames, though they haven’t legally changed their name, from superstars like George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Vincent “Bo” Jackson, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods and Lawrence “Yogi” Berra to role players like A’s center fielder Covelli “Coco” Crisp, former slam dunk champion Anthony “Spud” Webb and his teammate with the Atlanta Hawks, Wayne “Tree” Rollins.
Julius Erving, known primarily as Dr. J, has the greatest nickname lineage of any athlete. Celtics coach Glenn Rivers’ friends called him “Doc” when he was a kid because Erving was his favorite player, and the name stuck. Legendary hip-hop rapper/producer Andre Young took the stage name Dr. Dre because he too idolized the original high flyer. It’s hard to imagine that former Mets phenom Dwight Gooden would have been called “Dr. K” had there not been a Dr. J first.
Brazilian soccer players are often referred to by one-name nickname, the most obvious example being Edison Arantes de Nascimento, commonly known as Pele. There’s star midfielder “Kaka,” (real name Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite), the great scorer “Ronaldo” (real name Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima) and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho (real name Ronaldo de Assis Moreira.) Brazilian basketball player Maybyner “Nene” Hilario followed his fellow countrymen and dropped his last name, legally changing his name to just Nene.
Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was the first prominent Muslim athlete to change his name for religious reasons when he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964. Seven years later, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., known as Lew Alcindor, announced that would be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar going forward. Former Vikings running back Bobby Moore became Ahmad Rashad and one-time LSU standout and one-time Denver Nuggets guard Chris Jackson adopted the name Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
UCLA running back Sharmon Shah changed his named to Karim Abdul-Jabbar while in college. Two years later he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and in 1998 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sued Karim for profiting off of his likeness. Kareem pointed out that in addition to the name, Karim also went to UCLA and wore the same number 33. The court ordered the football player to remove the Abdul-Jabbar from the back of his jersey, at which point he changed his name again to Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar.
A couple of athletes have changed their names in order to avoid confusion. Prior to the 2002 draft, Duke standout poitn guard Jason Williams said he wanted to be known as Jay, to avoid being confused with then Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams and former Net Jayson Williams, who was facing manslaughter charges at the time. Angels pitcher Ervin Santana changed his name from Johan to Ervin in the minor leagues so as to avoid being confused with then Twins ace Johan Santana. According to Santana, “I just came up with Ervin… Ervin Santana, that sounds good.”
Some athletes have changed their names in search of a fresh start (like Puff Daddy becoming P. Diddy after his acquittal on gun possession and bribery charges. He’s since dropped the P. and is just Diddy and his given name is Sean Combs, but rap names are a whole other article.) Albert Jojuan Belle was known as Joey growing up and began going by Albert after a stint in rehab. Looking for a “fresh start” San Francisco Defensive back William James Peterson Jr. dropped the Peterson Jr. from his name when he signed with the Eagles in 2006.
During his college career at UCLA, running back Maurice Drew changed his last name to Jones-Drew in honor of his grandfather who had recently passed away. The late center originally named Brian Williams legally adopted the name Bison Dele while playing for the Detroit Pistons, in honor of his Native American and African ancestry.
Some name changes just didn’t stick. Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson changed his last name to his self-proclaimed nickname, Ochocinco, in August 2008, for no discernible reason other than self-promotion. This past January Chad said he would be changing his last name back to Johnson. In 1993, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Michael Jackson changed his name to Michael Dyson, only to change it back after the first game of the season.
Former female tennis player Renee Richards was born Richard Raskind and it took a lawsuit to enable her to play on the women’s tour after undergoing a sex change. The New York City basketball player known as Shammgod Wells couldn’t afford the cost of changing his name when he enrolled at Providence College and was forced to use his given name God Shammgod.
Midway through his hall of fame basketball career, Nigerian center Akeem Olajuwan added an H to the front of his first name. Speaking of African born basketball players, I believe every athlete who changes his or her name in the future should consider a Congolese name. No country produces better names than the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There’s Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, commonly known as just Dikembe Mutombo, Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka and new Bobcats forward, the 7th pick in last night’s draft, Bismack Biyombo. Neighboring Cameroon may give the Congo a run for its money with Bucks forward “Prince” Luc Richard MBah a Moute and one time Portland Trailblazer Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje.
Last night, two-time NBA MVP and owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS, Steve Nash, laced up his cleats at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan’s Lower East Side for the fourth annual “Showdown in Chinatown.” The event, hosted by Nash, is an 8 on 8 soccer match for charity, involving several NBA ballplayers and current and former soccer players.
Past participants in “the showdown” included footballers Thierry Henry, Jozy Altidore, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Salomon Kalou and basketball players Baron Davis, Chris Bosh, Nate Robinson and Raja Bell.
Two of the biggest names to compete last night were Nash’s Phoenix Suns teammate Grant Hill and San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker. Phoenix Suns Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley got in on the action, as did former Sun Leandro Barbosa and Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings. Nash’s younger brother Martin, a former member of the Canadian Soccer National Team and the Vancouver Whitecaps also brought his talents to the Lower East Side.
The soccer players who participated included former USA World Cup team captain Claudio Reyna, West Ham’s leading goal scorer this season Demba Ba and current and former international futbol players Patrick Vieira, Giuseppe Rossi and Youri Djorkaeff.
The bleachers around the pitch were filled to capacity and fans stood several rows deep along the chain-linked fences that line the length of the field to get a glimpse of the action. Spontaneous chants broke out for various players and there was at least one vuvuzela in the crowd. The event was free, though viewers could pay for a prime seat around the perimeter of the field. There were also special packages available for sale, some of which included admittance to the “Showdown After Hours” live auction event.
It came as no surprise that Nash was by far the most skilled ball handler among the NBA guys. Soccer was his first sport. But, I was surprised at just how good he was. It was clear that Parker (from France), and the Brazilian Barbosa had strapped on shin guards before, while Brandon Jennings looked particularly out of his element. Suns center, 6 foot 11 Marcin Gortat, AKA the “Polish Hammer” was surprisingly nimble in goal.
There was plenty of laughter on the night. Dudley amused the crowd by summoning his inner Brandi Chastain, ripping off his shirt after scoring a goal and running to midfield before belly flopping on the turf. He also evoked some laughs by poking fun at Gortat’s chinstrap beard, saying “he’s bringing the Abe Lincoln look back.” Nothing was more comical than chubby ESPN.com columnist Marc Stein huffing and puffing his way up and down the pitch.
Proceeds from the game and after party will go to the Steve Nash Foundation and Claudio Reyna Foundation. Nash explained at halftime that his foundation works with Educare, an organization dedicated to providing a quality education to underprivileged children ages 0-5.
Reyna’s foundation, based in New York and New Jersey, is committed to inspiring underserved youth in urban communities with positive experiences through soccer, education and community involvement in hopes of growing healthy bodies, minds and spirits.
For more information about “the showdown” and the Steve Nash Foundation please visit:
We’ve seen many different sides to tennis great Serena Williams: exulted champion, sore loser, controversial superstar, celebrity fashionista, sarcastic diva, feisty competitor and devoted sister, to name a few. But we’d never seen the vulnerable woman beneath it all, until her first round victory over Aravane Rezai of France on Centre Court at Wimbledon yesterday, when Williams buried her face in a towel and began sobbing.
It was certainly unusual for a four-time Wimbledon champion to be that emotional after a first round victory against a player ranked 61 in the world, but Williams has had a very unusual year. It began last July, when she cut her right foot on a piece of glass in Munich, requiring two surgeries to repair a torn tendon.
Just as she was about to return to action in March, a doctor discovered clots in both her lungs, resulting in emergency surgery. Williams hasn’t gone into detail about the condition, though she has since let on that she was on her “death bed.” In an interview after the match yesterday, she revealed that she didn’t think she’d be able to compete at Wimbledon. Left unsaid was her obvious fear that she’d never play tennis again.
Serena’s display of emotion was the latest turn in a career distinguished by controversy, scrutiny and of course, brilliance. To a large extent, the scrutiny that has followed her is a result of her and her sister Venus’s dominance over women’s tennis for a decade. Their background as African-Americans from Compton in a predominantly white sport created curiosity, marketability and some subtle racism. American fans are forever looking for the next Chrissie Evert. The ebony, straightforward Williams is hardly white America’s demure girl next door.
The media was tough on the Williams girls from the start. They were guilty by association for the outlandish comments of their bombastic father Richard Williams. Members of the media routinely alleged that Serena, Venus and Richard decided before the match who would win when the sisters faced each other. In one instance, the press questioned Serena’s sincerity when she withdrew from a tournament due to an injury rather than face Venus in the finals.
Some of the criticism about Serena has been more sinister. Sportswriters and bloggers have made vicious comments about her muscular body type and her weight. They’ve portrayed her as a pariah in the locker room and irreverent towards the history of the sport.
Serena hasn’t helped herself either. A few public outbursts have created the perception that she’s pretentious and a sore loser. During and after a loss to Jennifer Capriati in the quarterfinals of the 2004 U.S. Open she lashed out at the chair umpire and line judges. In 2009, Williams erupted on a line judge after being called for a foot fault, which led to match point against her. The lines woman alleged that Serena threatened her, which Williams denied. Her tirade led to another point against her, which was the match, and she was fined $82,500.
Williams also antagonized the media with her demeanor during post-match interviews. She was jubilant on the court and has displayed a sense of humor, but that rarely carried over to interviews, where she was typically standoffish at best. Her answers to questions were often sarcastic and condescending and she gave the impression that she’d rather be doing anything else.
The harshest criticism leveled at Serena had less to do with her disposition than her dedication to tennis. Critics pointed to her foray into fashion, stake in the Miami Dolphins and a book about her life which she co-authored as evidence that tennis wasn’t the central focus of her life. Evert is one of several former players who suggested that Williams was squandering her talent. Serena didn’t do much to quell those concerns, rather she defended her right to do other things.
At first glance, questions about Williams dedication to the game seem laughable. She’s been ranked number one in the world, won two Olympic gold medals, all four Grand Slam tournaments at least once and 13 total, as well as 12 Grand Slam doubles titles with Venus. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, it takes hard work and determination to achieve those milestones.
Still there have been periods in Serena’s career when she appeared distracted or overweight and didn’t reign over the sport the way she was capable of. With her unparalleled combination of athleticism, strength and skill, there’s no reason she couldn’t have challenged Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles and staked her claim as the greatest women’s tennis player ever.
After her victory yesterday, Serena continued to tear up as she conducted a post-match interview with the BBC. “I usually don’t cry … but it’s just been so hard,” the defending Wimbledon champion said. “I never dreamt I would be here right now. And then to win. I just wanted to win at least one match here.”
A brush with mortality can bring one’s priorities into focus or even change them completely. Yesterday, a teary-eyed, Serena revealed a vulnerable side we’d never seen before and her true feelings towards the sport she’s dominated. “It’s been a disaster year, but you know I’ve been praying and I have my family. . . and I love tennis.”
Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal doesn’t have the pageantry of the Super Bowl, the tradition of Michigan vs. Ohio State or the rancor of Red Sox – Yankees; what makes their matches so spectacular is the quality of play. Theirs is a rivalry built on brilliance and artistry, desire and power, spins and angles. It’s two legendary warriors battling for every point, until one champion is left standing.
Together Federer and Nadal have dominated men’s tennis for the past eight years. From the the 2003 Wimbledon through the 2010 U.S. Open they won 25 of 30 majors and one of the two has been seeded number one at the last 30 Grand Slam tournaments.
Federer is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all-time. From his feathery touch on half-volleys to his lethal forehand, never has an athlete made the sublime look so ordinary. He has no holes in his game and has prevailed on every surface. The Switzerland native holds the men’s record for most Grand Slam titles, with 16, and his 23 consecutive semi-finals appearances in Grand Slams may be the most remarkable feat in all of sports.
Whereas Federer is the epitome of grace, Nadal is like a bull, who flattens opponents as much with his sheer will as his crushing ground strokes. Born and raised on the Spanish Island of Majorca, Nadal developed a fierce whipping motion on his forehand which creates a heavy topspin ideal for clay surfaces. The southpaw has won six of the seven French Opens he’s entered and at the age of 25 is already considered the greatest clay court player ever. Over the past few years, increased velocity on his serve and an improved net game have enabled him to translate his success to other surfaces.
Federer and Nadal have clashed 25 times since 2004, with Nadal winning 17 of them, though the majority of their matches have been played on clay. Nineteen of those took place in the finals of a tournament, including 8 Grand Slam finals. In the early years, the edge belonged to Federer, then in his prime and nearly unstoppable on grass and hard court.
The 2008 Wimbledon was the turning point in the ongoing feud. Nadal was 22-years-old and his game was beginning to click on all cylinders. He had pushed Federer to five sets in the Wimbledon final the year before, and though the five-time defending champion showed no signs of slowing down, there was a sense that it might be the young Spaniard’s time.
The drama of the finals matchups between Federer and Nadal is inherent in the nature of the tournament. For two weeks, the excitement rises and pressure mounts as fans witness stellar shot making and five set contests in anticipation of the two champions on different sides of the bracket facing off at the end.
It’s a crescendo similar to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, except these men stand alone. They don’t have any teammates to share the spotlight or the blame, to confer with about strategy or lean on during difficult stretches. They live inside their own heads, relying on the discipline, intelligence, focus, determination, resilience, confidence and courage that got them there.
Federer and Nadal cruised to the 2008 Wimbledon finals. What ensued was a match no tennis fan will ever forget; the two champions at the height of their powers slugged it out for a thrilling five sets. Nadal was nearly flawless as he grabbed the first two sets, but the five-time defending champion would not go quietly. He clawed his way into the match and though unable to convert on several break points, won the third and fourth sets in tie-breakers.
The fifth set was awe-inspiring, with seemingly every point ending on a stunning winner. With darkness threatening, Nadal finally captured the fifth set 9-7, and promptly collapsed on his back in utter joy. The match was the longest Wimbledon final ever at 4 hours and 48 minutes. Three-time Wimbledon champion and commentator John McEnroe, himself a one time participant in a five set finals thriller against Bjorn Borg on that same court, was one of many people to declare it the greatest match they’d ever seen.
The rivalry has taken on another dimension over the past few years, as both men have made themselves more vulnerable and revealed a fondness for one another. Devastated that his best effort was no longer enough to beat Nadal, Federer broke down in tears after losing to his rival in the finals of the 2009 Australian Open. Nadal responded by putting his arm around his opponent and went out of his way to praise Federer, stating that he would certainly break Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Federer, for his part, calls Nadal by his nickname Rafa.
Nadal still routinely refers to Federer as the greatest player of all-time and it’s difficult to argue with him. What’s become equally apparent is that Nadal is one of the five greatest players ever himself. When else have two of the top five players in the history of an individual sport faced off against each other? Perhaps Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. That may be the best analogy for the Federer-Nadal rivalry, the 2008 Wimbledon final was their Thrilla in Manilla.
In August of 2008, Nadal secured the world number one ranking and never looked back. Federer, who turned 27 that summer, began to slip just a bit, though he was far from done. In fact, he rallied to win the French Open and Wimbledon the following year. Nadal had gained the upper hand in the rivalry, though the clashes remained as intense as ever.
The two champions most recently squared off at the Finals of the French Open earlier this month. Novak Djokovic had been the big story heading into the tournament due to his undefeated record this calendar year. The Serbian was seeded number two behind Nadal and if he had beaten Federer in the semi-finals would have been the number one player in the world. Perhaps inspired by the doubters, Federer turned in his best performance in years and knocked off Djokovic in four sets.
His finals matchup with Nadal was riveting once again. Federer was surgical early in the first set, moving the Spaniard around by mixing up speeds, spins and location. He had Nadal on the ropes, up 5-2, but lost the next five games and the set. It looked like Nadal might roll over him at that point, but a proud Federer continued to fight. He surprised Nadal with well disguised drop shots and swung away for the corners, ripping several backhands down the line for winners.
Equally impressive was Nadal’s ability to run down and return many of those shots. Federer lost a heartbreaking second set tiebreaker, but rallied to take the third 7-5. Then Nadal took control of the tempo with his powerful ground strokes and pounded Federer into submission, 6-1 in the fifth, for his sixth French crown.
Wimbledon begins on Monday, with Federer and Nadal both chasing history. Federer is pursuing his seventh Wimbledon crown, which would tie him with Sampras for the most ever, and Rafa is chasing Federer. With ten Grand Slams of his own, Roger’s 16 is in his sites. Nadal is the number one seed and Federer number three, so if they meet once again it will be in the finals. Let’s hope they do. They’re the greatest show in sports.
On August 7, 2007, the Yankees called up 21-year-old flamethrower Joba Chamberlain to fill their desperate need for a set-up man for Mariano Rivera. All the kid did was strike out 34 batters, while allowing just one earned run in 24 innings and help the Yankees recover from a dreadful start of the season to earn the Wild Card. Like that, Joba Chamberlain was the most popular athlete in New York.
Born Justin Chamberlain, his baby cousin called him Joba because he couldn’t pronounce Justin. Chamberlain once said that he thought the name sounded “dynamic,” so he adopted.
Dynamic, was how Yankee fans saw the 21-year-old with the rising fastball that reached triple digits at times on the radar gun. He complemented the heater with a filthy slider in the low 90’s. In addition to his nasty stuff, the rookie had swagger. He gyrated and pumped his fists on the mound after big strikeouts and though many opposing players thought he was showing them up, his emotion invigorated a veteran Yankee team that had been plodding through the season.
The man with the dynamic name was also a public relations man’s dream. Newspaper and television headlines ran with the obvious Jabba the Hut Star Wars references and the Yankees jumped on the phenomenon by selling “Joba Rules” t-shirts, a play on the innings and appearance limitations imposed on the youngster by the organization. Fans and writers began comparing him to another husky right-hander, Roger Clemens, and some proclaimed him the eventual replacement for the great Mariano Rivera.
Soon we learned that Joba was raised by a single dad, Harlan Chamberlain, who’s confined to a motorized scooter due to a childhood bout with polio. Harlan is also a Native American and has several relatives who still live on the Winnebago Indian Reservation where he was born. The TV cameras caught the elder Chamberlain, whom Joba described as his best friend, shedding tears of pride as Yankee fans serenaded his son the first time he witnessed Joba pitch in the big leagues in person.
As Joba-mania reached a level of hype not seen in New York since Doc Gooden, I grew skeptical. Sometime during his splendid run in the summer of ’07, I began calling him Steve. It was my way of staying grounded as a Yankee fan. I knew that more than likely, Joba would have fairly ordinary career; It was his name and story that were somewhat unique, and that’s what fans hung on to. I was convinced that if he were a white man with an ordinary name like Steve, instead of a Native American named Joba, there would have been much less hype.
I recognized that Chamberlain’s stuff was electric and there’s no denying the quality and impact of his performance upon being called up to the big club, but I didn’t believe his talents were as rare as many Yankee fans did. Every season several teams around the league call up a pitching prospect or two who throw in the mid to upper 90’s. The majority of them don’t develop into top line starters or closers, even among those who experience immediate success as Joba did.
Most pitchers who thrive immediately are unable maintain their production, either due to the psychological rigors of being a major league pitcher or because the hitters in the league make adjusts and catch up to them. The other major obstacle to long term success for a young flamethrower is arm trouble. For every great strike out pitcher who had an illustrious career, you can point to two who burned out early. The statistics were simply not in Chamberlain’s favor.
Another red flag was the small sample size of Joba’s success. He hadn’t been a huge prospect like fellow ’07 call-up Phil Hughes and since he’d pitched just a season and a half of minor league ball the Yankees had a limited body of work from which to evaluate him. He hadn’t pitched nearly enough innings to demonstrate that he could be an effective starter at the major league level, as the Yankees projected.
Like everything else pertaining to the Yankees, their prospects and young stars receive greater hype than those in other organizations. I’d seen way to many uber prospects and fast starters pass through the Yankee organization, only to disappear into oblivion. Over the previous two decades there was Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens, Kevin Maas, Ruben Rivera, Brien Taylor, Drew Henson, Sam Militello and Russ Davis, to name a few.
I’d also seen what the media could do with an intriguing story line. Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez had an impressive career with the Yankees, especially in the playoffs, however, it was his story that made him a compelling figure. He arrived in New York through a remarkable, if not entirely true, tale of fleeing Cuba on a raft in shark infested waters. Combine that with a classic nickname, a distinctive leg kick and an air of mystery that arose from his refusal to conduct interviews, based on his supposed inability to speak English, and you have a media sensation.
Yankee fans, starving for a young pitching prospect, were particularly susceptible to the Hollywood storyline. The last Yankee farmhands to develop into consistent contributors on the rubber were Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, both of whom made their Pinstripe debuts in 1995. New Yorkers were also wary of losing the arms race with the rival Red Sox, who had traded for Josh Beckett during the winter of ’06, signed Japanese star Daisuke Matsuzaka prior to the ’97 season and had two promising young starters of their own in Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.
The Yankee organization also contributed to the expectations for Joba by the way they handled him. General Manager Brain Cashman made it clear that he intended to build the team around Chamberlain, Hughes and fellow hurler Ian Kennedy. Chamberlain was branded untouchable during Cashman’s trade negotiations with the Minnesota Twins for their star pitcher Johan Santana.
Cashman was afraid to blow out his prize possession’s arm, so he had manager Joe Girardi handle his young stud with kid gloves. The team announced during spring training of 2008 that Joba would begin the season in the bullpen, in order to limit his innings. In mid May, Girardi announced that Joba would join the rotation and after being stretched out in the minors he made his Major League debut against Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays on June 3rd.
Chamberlain had mixed success in the rotation before being placed on the disabled list in August with rotator cuff tendinitis. He was 3-1 as a starter with eight no decisions and finished the season with a 2.60 E.R.A. and 118 strikeouts in just 100 innings.
Following the 2008 campaign, the Yankees indicated that Chamberlain would be in the rotation in 2009, in what many in the organization expected to be a breakout year for the fireballer. But, Chamberlain’s fastball, which cracked triple digits in ’07 was topping out at 92-93 M.P.H. and decreased in velocity as his pitch count climbed. He lost control of the strike zone and his confidence spiraled downward.
To make matters worse, the Yankees instituted a low ceiling on his pitch counts late in the season in order to preserve his arm. Then Girardi moved him back to the bullpen for the playoffs in 2009, where he served as Rivera’s set-up man during the team’s championship run. Once again, Chamberlain didn’t know what his role was with the team.
Heading into the 2010 season, Girardi declared an open competition for the fifth spot in the Yankees rotation between Chamberlain, Hughes, Alfredo Aceves and Sergio Mitre. Hughes won the job and Chamberlain was banished to the bullpen once again, where his velocity was still down and control continued to suffer. His E.R.A topped out over five at the All-Star break, though he finished the season strong.
The Yankees didn’t exactly give Joba a vote of confidence by signing former Tampa Bay Rays closer Rafael Soriano in the winter of 2011, to a staggering 3 year $35 million contract to be the set-up man and eventual successor to Rivera, the role Joba was once supposed to fill. Chamberlain still hadn’t fully regained the pop on his fastball, though he pitched well early in the season, posting a 2.83 E.R.A in 27 appearances.
Then his career took another turn for the worse when he tore a ligament in the elbow of his throwing arm last week. Joba required the dreaded Tommy John surgery, which will keep him off the field for 10 to 14 months. The procedure has become commonplace in baseball and many players have returned to form a year or two later. Some have even throw harder after the surgery than they did before the injury. However, for many players the procedure essentially marks the end of their career, as they never regain their pre-injury form.
Joba burst onto the scene like a rock star and emerged as the crown jewel of the Yankee farm system, projected to be either a future number one starter or Rivera’s successor. Four disappointing years later, he blew out his arm like so many hot shot hurlers before him, and at the age of 25, his career is in jeopardy. Even if he fully recovers he’s likely destined for a career in middle relief. If his name was Steve nobody would even remember him in 20 years.
Basketball is a team game, though often performed at the highest level when two players work in concert. The pick-and-roll remains the most productive offensive set and no play is more enthralling than an alley-oop. Rarely has a lone superstar carried a team on his back to an NBA championship. Shaq needed Kobe, Jordan needed Pippen and Isiah needed Dumars.
During past this season LeBron James and Dwyane Wade distinguished themselves as the most dynamic duo in the league, even though they fell just short of a championship. Before they can be considered among the elite duos to ever player the game they have to do it for more than one season.
These are the ten greatest NBA duos ever.
10) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson (Milwaukee Bucks)
“The Big O” and Lew Alcindor teamed up for the 70-71 season and led the Bucks to a league best 66 wins. They rolled to the NBA Finals, where they defeated a Baltimore Bullets team led by Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld 4-0. The next day Alcindor announced that he’d changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The two hall of famers played just three more seasons together and never returned to the finals, as Robertson’s skills declined in his mid-30’s.
9) Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars (Detroit Pistons)
Isiah and Dumars teamed up four nine seasons as the starting bakcourt for the Detroit Pistons. Isiah handled the ball and Dumars knocked down jumpers, while locking down the best shooting guards in the league. The “Bad Boys” won back-to-back championships together in 1989 and 1990. Dumars won the 1989 Finals MVP and Isiah took the award in 1990.
8) John Stockton and Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
Stockton and Malone mastered the pick-and-roll over their 18 seasons together and went to the playoffs in every one of them. The NBA’s all-time assist leader and second all-time leading scorer led the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals five times in seven years, including back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, but weren’t able to get past Jordan and the Bulls.
7) Tim Duncan and David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
Robinson’s injury during the ’96-’97 season was a blessing in disguise for the Spurs. With the first pick in the ’97 draft they landed Tim Duncan, creating the twin towers that would lead the Spurs to the promised land. San Antonio defeated the Knicks in five games in the ’99 Finals and after a three-peat by the Lakers, Duncan and company delivered Robinson a second ring as a retirement gift in 2003. Duncan was named the MVP of both finals.
6) Wilt Chamberlain & Jerry West (Los Angeles Lakers)
West and the Wilt played together in L.A. for just five seasons, though they advanced to the NBA Finals in four of them and defeated the Knicks to get “the logo” his first ring in 1972. That season West and “The Big Dipper” led the Lakers to 69 wins, including 33 consecutive wins, a record which still stands today.
5) Larry Bird & Kevin McHale (Boston Celtics)
Bird and McHale made five trips to the NBA Finals during their 12 seasons together in Boston, winning championships in ’81, ’84 and ’86. Larry Legend ripped teams hearts out with his long range shooting, while McHale dominated inside with a vast array of post moves. Were their careers not derailed by injuries (McHale never fully recovered from playing on a broken foot in the ’87 playoffs and Bird’s back gave out on him), they may have won more rings.
4) Bill Russell and Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics)
Russell and Cousy were the first dominant duo in the league, both innovators who changed the way their positions were played. They won 6 championships in the late ’50’s and early 6o’s before Cousy retired in 1963. They don’t rank higher on this list because they had so much talent around them, especially Russell. In fact, you can argue that Cousy wasn’t even Russell’s greatest wing man. Slick-shooting Sam Jones was by Russell’s side for 10 of his 11 rings and Havlicek joined him for the later years of his career.
3) Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
Shaq and a young Kobe joined forces to form an indefensible inside-outside punch which carried the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000-2002. Shaq won the Finals MVP each time. Ultimately, the only thing that stood in between this dynamic duo and several more rings was their own egos.
2) Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
No two players have ever controlled the perimeter on both sides of the court like MJ and Pippen. Together, they led the Bulls to 6 championships, by way of two different three-peats, ’91-’93 and ’96-’98. Had Michael not walked away from the game for nearly two seasons they likely would have won eight in a row.
1) Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
They’re two of the top five players to ever to play the game, the flashy point guard, with the no-look passes and the dominant big man with the unstoppable hook-shot. Magic and Kareem won five championships together and appeared in 8 NBA Finals over their ten seasons as teammates. Kareem led the way in the early years, then Magic carried the load as Kareem grew older.
Honorable Mention:
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor (Los Angeles Lakers)
Moses Malone and Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers)
Paul Knepper 