Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Best: Names in sports

Welcome to "The Best," a new series from the people who brought you "Would You Do," "Blogger Interviews" and "What Really Grinds My Gears."

It's just what it sounds like: what's the best ______? "Best" is such a subjective word and that's really the point -- let's get you guys talking! If this works, there will be intelligent, thoughtful debate on the day's topic. And if it doesn't work, well, back to the drawing board.

Nothing distinguishes a person quite like a name does. It, in a way, defines who we are.

We're known as the guys who have really long, hard-to-pronounce last names. Here's how a typical conversation regarding our name goes:

Typical idiot: Why do you have a dash in your name?
Us: It's called a "hyphen."
Typical idiot: So you have two last names?
Us: No, just one, but it's hyphenated. It's Landres hyphen Schnur.
Typical idiot: How do you say that?
Us: You know what? Forget it. Just forget it.

See, names are fun! And there are a myriad of professional athletes, past and present, with great ones. Here's our take on the best name in sports:

5. Coco Crisp
4. Stubby Clapp
3. Speedy Claxton
2. Quint0n McCracken.
1. God Shammgod

Now you go.

26 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:42 AM

    5. Plaxico Burress

    4. Dick Butkus

    3. Milton Bradley

    2. Mookie Wilson

    1. Former FSU Reciever De'Cody Fagg

    ReplyDelete
  2. - I.M. Hipp - Nebraska rb from the 70s
    - Jarvis Redwine - Nebraska rb from the 70s
    - Slick Watts - Seattle Supersonic from the 70s

    Give me some time, I will come up with more later...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7:10 AM

    * Dick Trickle of NASCAR fame

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  4. Anonymous7:23 AM

    Lastings Milledge.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous7:27 AM

    oh and there was this kid that played basketball at UVA while I was there named, get this, Majestic Mapp

    ReplyDelete
  6. Three of my favorites from college hoops:

    Reuben Boumtje-Boumtje - G'Town
    Pops Mensah-Bonsu - GW
    Duany Duany - Wisconsin I think

    ReplyDelete
  7. Boubacar Aw has to be up there.

    Two from minor league baseball:
    Keltavious Jones - Dayton Dragons (A)
    Henry Henry VSL Pirates (Rok) - never trust a man with two first names.

    ReplyDelete
  8. - Dick Button - figure skater

    - Shug Jordan (pronounced Jerden) - former Auburn football coach

    - Quinn Early - Iowa wr from the 80s

    - Major Ogilvie - Alabama rb from the 70s

    ReplyDelete
  9. Michigan is getting a QB next year whose name is Shavondrick Beaver

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous8:47 AM

    That Majestic Mapp kid at UVA had a brother who's name was....and I'm not kidding:

    Scientific Mapp

    Oddly enough, he wasn't much of an athlete

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lucious Pusey - LB, Eastern Illinois.

    Has since changed his surname to Seymour. Why?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje - C, Georgetown

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous11:10 AM

    I always liked Steve Schnur -- Northwestern QB.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Some GREAT ones, guys. Another couple we really like:

    -Pokey Reese
    -Scoonie Penn

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous11:57 AM

    jerametrius butler

    absurd...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous12:03 PM

    Rusty Kuntz was always my favorite.

    For women, Misty Beaver and Misty Hyman are the tops.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Elvis Peacock-Oklahoma RB if my memory serves me correctly.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous8:32 PM

    Tito Fuentes; real name is Rigoberto Fuentes

    Zarley Zalapsky

    Smead Jolly (Chisox and Bosox, 30's)

    Mark Lemongello

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12:55 AM

    helio castronieves just sounds cool
    i also like butch huskey and wily mo pena.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous5:15 AM

    I began reading the comments firm in my belief that God Shammgod was not just the best sports name ever, but possibly the best name ever period. With all due respect to Shavondrick Beaver, a worthy contender indeed, I remain unswayed in this conviction.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous1:20 PM

    Jarko Ruutu. You couldn't make up a better hockey name. The custodian at my high school gym was named Golden Day. Always sounded like a scented douche.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous8:12 PM

    Jeff Beukaboom

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  23. Anonymous7:16 PM

    Sport appropriate names

    Race Car drivers
    Scott Speed
    Scott Goodyear

    Baseball pitcher
    Bob Walk

    Hockey
    Jeff Freizen

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jeff Beukaboom

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  25. You are quite right those are awesome names that a athletes can have.

    ReplyDelete