Payton's defense is the stuff of NBA legend. The #7 has been passed down from Kevin Keegan to Kenny Daglish to Luis Suarez, and many others have held the honor of wearing the most iconic number for one of Englands most decorated football clubs. Floyd's nickname is used to describe the consistent look on his face, and how his complexion reminds on-lookers of someone who looks tired or "sleepy.". Right after the Bulls and Michael Jordan won the 1991 NBA title, Gatorade la Forever remembered for his involvement in the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was known for his lightning-quick feet and agility, earning the moniker that would become inseparable from his legacy. Muhammad Ali. Rose is the career MLB hits leader, having recorded 4,256 knocks. The ability to play both QB and WR gave Stewart the nickname "Slash," as in quarterback/(slash)receiver. Numbers are now considered a common feature for uniforms in every team sport. the bat to Trumper. Legendary NFL players with number 18 jerseys include Peyton Manning, Charlie Joiner, and Emmitt Thomas, all Hall of Fame-level players whose career . The longtime Dallas Cowboy was caught with nearly 400 pounds of marijuana combined in two separate incidents. Rices legendary hands were developed throughout his childhood, when he worked as a brick mason. Clyde Drexler. He is also one of the most dominant. When he was not allowed to play with his friends on the peewee team due to his size, he was told he must play with older kids. 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Smith spent 11 years in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings (19871990),Atlanta Hawks(1990),Houston Rockets(19901996),Detroit Pistons(1996),Orlando Magic(19961997) andDenver Nuggets(1997). . Manager Alfred Lawson chose to put numbers on his teams jerseys in order for fans to easily identify each of the players. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at age 53. Brown played . Chamberlain is still holds the NBA record for points scored in a single game, and the paper he is holding is the number of points he dropped on the New York Knicks in 1962 as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes . McGriff's alias is just one of the many nickname brainchild ideas of ESPN analyst Chris Berman, who noticed the slugger's name resembled that of the National Crime Prevention Council mascot "McGruff.". Like English . Montana became a football great with the San Francisco 49ers, finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and compiled a career rap sheet that looks like this: The Hall of Famer lost his index finger in a gruesome farming accident, in which he was putting material into a feed chopper, slipped and got his hand mangled. April Holmes has one gold medal and two bronze . Moses Malone . A 7'1" tree with more nicknames than points per game (4.0 career average), Joel Przybilla is a force to be reckoned with; if mostly in the Name Hall of Fame. Namath's nickname "Broadway Joe" was given him bySherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate. In 1993, he signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history (at that time) to play for the Hornets, a 12-year, $84 million deal. Ranking the greatest athletes of all-time by jersey number Let's start with the two most simple nicknames: Mike and MJ. There's something about being a football player while making a living in Chicago that attracts nicknames like a moth to a flame. Clayton Kershaw. He currently weighs 220 pounds and it's no longer a good past-time to poke fun at his weight, just all the loose skin that now must hang from his neck, arms and thighs. The Dodgers won theWorld Series in 1955and in1959. However, he is also known as "Wild Thing" for his unusual delivery to the plate. Along with Aaron's power, his longevity also is worth noting. After playing for a minor . One of the greatest athletes ever, Usain Bolt is popular by the nickname 'Lightning Bolt'. Pele | Biography, World Cups, & Facts | Britannica Best player to wear each jersey number in NFL history: Tom Brady leads Die-hard Seattle Mariners fans remember the smooth delivery and fantastic catch phrases of broadcaster Dave Niehaus and the way he would refer to Johnson as "The Big Unit" instead of his actual name for the entire duration of the tall lefty's playing days in Seattle. Dykstra was a three-time All-Star, World Series champion and Silver Slugger Award winner while playing for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. In the News: Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady. Jim Umbricht (Houston Astros) 10. No. The Wu-Tang Clan references are as . Brown has inspired generations of running backs to wear #32 in his honor including Marcus Allen and OJ Simpson. Best all-time MLB players at each jersey number, 1-99 Oh yeah, he also played basketball for five NBA teams in 15 years and won four NBA championships with three different teams. Davis would often cry to his coach, begging the man to let him play with his friends and the coach would say, "stop crying, you big baby!" Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recognized these qualities and made Johnson head coach of the team in 2004, before Avery moved on to the New Jersey Nets in 2010. Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. The most famous athlete from each of Michigan's 83 counties This moniker has nothing to do with Smith on a personal level, other than his ability to make spectacular plays and do back flips off the turf. The nickname may not be specific to the Yankees shortstop, but he personifies the alliterative nickname with consistent big hits when needed most. In his playing days, Jerome was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". The #7 shirt at Liverpool has a long and storied history that has seen some of the clubs best players wear the number. Angel Di Maria currently wears the #7 shirt after his blockbuster transfer deal this summer. In 2005, Traylor failed a physical exam (surprise) and has played overseas ever since. Also called "Golden Joe"and "Comeback Joe," Joe Montana earned his nickname for his ability to stay calm under pressure and come through in the clutch with key passes and throwing accuracy. Jackson spent 12 years in the majors with thePhiladelphia Athletics(19081909),Cleveland Naps/Indians(19101915) andChicago White Sox(19151920). "The Glide" is a member of the Hall of Fame and captured the 1995 NBA championship with the Houston Rockets. Wooden disapproved so mightily of individual achievement, he wouldn't even allow his players to dunk the ball. Williams is perhaps best known for giving up the game-and-World Series-winning home run to Joe Carter and the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Dan Marino, practically reversed the belief that 13 is an unlucky number. Names that come to mind are Michael Jordan, Ryne Sandberg, Troy Vincent, David Beckham, Bob Gainey, and Ron Lancaster. Rod "He Hate Me" Smart was the shining star of the Vince McMahon's XFL, which lasted all of one season. 2 - Secretariat. 4 in assists and Nash, another who wore No. As captain of the Yankees, Jeter epitomized the clubs ideals and excelled on the field. and the name stuck. Each sprin If the Cuban pitcher ever wanted to sue the founder of Pilates, he may have a solid case. Dominique Wilkins. 3 - Babe Ruth. Very few athletes have earned their nickname quite like Dominique Wilkins. Payton is no exception and quickly garnered the nickname "Sweetness" for his ability to make plays, and slide through the defense with ease. White was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection. The world's 50 highest-paid athletes collected an astounding $2.97 billion before taxes and agents' fees over the last 12 months, smashing last year's record total by 8%more than $200 . Other nicknames include "Pillsbury Throwboy," "J. So, Jordan divided it in half and wore #23. He wore the #3 for his entire baseball career and has had that number retired by the New York Yankees. No list of the best athletes is complete without "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali. "Prime Time" was more than just a nickname for Sanders, it became his alter-ego, and it became difficult to separate the man from the legend. Venus Williams has seven grand slam titles, of which 5 are at Wimbledon, making her one of the best in the game. Over the course of his prolific career, he wore the #80 for three different teams, but is best remembered for wearing it in the red and gold of the San Francisco 49ers. He still embraces the persona of the Rock to this day, and the nickname is too perfect. At nine years old, Davis was already 5'6" tall and weighed 160 lbs. Olajuwon's first name was spelled "Akeem" in his college days at the University of Houston and early into his NBA career. The switch worked because Magic and the Showtime Lakers won the NBA Title in 1980 and would go on to win four more before the end of Magics career.