Hey all,
Was wondering if there is a compiled list or something on a wiki of some of the legendary nicknames of our players.
Lets hear some of the favorites.
Brute force
The Dream
Black Swan
Aircraft Carrier
Doc
Lucky Lloyd
etc etc
Was digging through the archives of the tribune the other day and was quite amused with Bill "uppy" Downy from the 40's!
Quote from: Mike Deane's Seat Belt on January 18, 2019, 09:09:14 AM
Hey all,
Was wondering if there is a compiled list or something on a wiki of some of the legendary nicknames of our players.
Lets hear some of the favorites.
Brute force
The Dream
Black Swan
Aircraft Carrier
Doc
Lucky Lloyd
etc etc
Was digging through the archives of the tribune the other day and was quite amused with Bill "uppy" Downy from the 40's!
JFB
The Black Jerry West
Teenage Assassin.
Cloud Piercer
Looney (Toone)
Oh, and Butch and Bo were both nicknames....
'Herb' Harrison. Oh, wait. That was just ironic.
Goooo
Two pretty important nicknames in MU history.
Spider
McSteal
The Elevator Man
The Enforcer
Quote from: Goose on January 18, 2019, 09:40:19 AM
Goooo
Two pretty important nicknames in MU history.
Yep.
True story. I ended attended the Al McGuire Medalist basketball camp at St. John's Military Academy in the summer of 1973. Al shows up, and we are all expecting him to talk about basketball strategy or maybe the players we knew (Luke, Lackey and such). Instead, he spent the whole time raving about this new kid he had coming in. He kept saying "Bo this" and "Bo that" and I was just wondering who the hell was this Bo guy. Turned out to be a pretty important recruit.
Ox
Grafton Gun
Earl Tatum - "The Black Jerry West"
I was lucky enough to have lunch with Earl a couple of years ago. He said: "When I met Jerry West after signing my contract, we headed to practice and he rolled the ball over to me and said, 'I always wanted to meet the Black Jerry West.'"
Man, Earl had one of the beautiful jump shots I've ever had the privilege to see.
I remember an article on wit and wisdom of al that mentioned a blue collar bench player with a funny workingmans type name that I can't for the life of me remember darn!
Goooo
I was at that basketball camp as well. I attended Al's camp many times over the years. With a little help from Al, I was most improved player three times. Obviously I did not bring much talent to the camp.
Pope
J
Quote from: irishwarrior14 on January 18, 2019, 09:52:03 AM
Earl Tatum - "The Black Jerry West"
I was lucky enough to have lunch with Earl a couple of years ago. He said: "When I met Jerry West after signing my contract, we headed to practice and he rolled the ball over to me and said, 'I always wanted to meet the Black Jerry West.'"
Man, Earl had one of the beautiful jump shots I've ever had the privilege to see.
Yes, his outside shot was a real thing of beauty.
Grasshopper
4ever
Grasshopper is top ten all time favorite player of mine. Pope was a one of a kind guy.
Lloyd Moore "The Incredible Bulk"
Quote from: We R Final Four on January 18, 2019, 09:32:40 AM
Teenage Assassin.
Would've been even better for Howard since he'll be a teenager almost 3 full seasons.
Quote from: tower912 on January 18, 2019, 09:38:18 AM
'Herb' Harrison. Oh, wait. That was just ironic.
You don't remember the "Herb from the Curb" calls?
The Milkman/the Terror of Neenah
Beef and the milkman are the best from the 2010 decade
Quote from: Mike Deane's Seat Belt on January 18, 2019, 09:09:14 AM
Hey all,
Was wondering if there is a compiled list or something on a wiki of some of the legendary nicknames of our players.
Lets hear some of the favorites.
Brute force
The Dream
Black Swan
Aircraft Carrier
Doc
Lucky Lloyd
etc etc
Was digging through the archives of the tribune the other day and was quite amused with Bill "uppy" Downy from the 40's!
"Aircraft Carrier" was not given to a particular player - it is what Al called a big man in the middle.
Quote from: irishwarrior14 on January 18, 2019, 09:52:03 AM
Earl Tatum - "The Black Jerry West"
I was lucky enough to have lunch with Earl a couple of years ago. He said: "When I met Jerry West after signing my contract, we headed to practice and he rolled the ball over to me and said, 'I always wanted to meet the Black Jerry West.'"
Man, Earl had one of the beautiful jump shots I've ever had the privilege to see.
My favorite warrior of all time.
Jockey
One of my all time favorites as well. Absolutely loved watching him play. That jumper was a thing of beauty.
Homer called someone The Sheriff
One of the quickest guards to wear the blue and gold, Marcus(The Fly) Washington.
remember the backcourt of '85 or '86? Benny Moore and Mandy Johnson.
the players referred to them as "Benny and the Jet".
Pat Smith: The Evil Dr. Blackheart
the OP: Mike Dean's Seat Belt
Beautiful Bob Piercy AKA Chicago Eddie
Quote from: Mike Deane's Seat Belt on January 18, 2019, 09:09:14 AM
Was digging through the archives of the tribune the other day and was quite amused with Bill "uppy" Downy from the 40's!
Those guys from the 30's & 40's almost all had nicknames. Sparky, Slim, Moose...
Let's not forget the original free spirit, statement maker, Gary Goose Brell; who cut down championship nets with his switch blade and turned his head away from the American Flag during the national anthem. His time coincided with the Vietnam War. Colin Kapernick is an echo. By the way, we all loved Goose.
Unofficial nickname I gave Chris Otule was Cyclops
Speaking of the Goose, it seems to me the Milwaukee Journal printed a picture of Goose in a barber chair getting his locks trimmed at Al's request. I was in the dressing room at the Arena shortly after he had his hair cut and he jokingly grabbed me around the neck and threatened to cut my hair with a tape scissors.
He said if he couldn't have his hair long, i couldn't either.
Goose is one of the all time best!!!
Quote from: PBRme on January 18, 2019, 11:09:59 AM
Homer called someone The Sheriff
I believe "the Sheriff" was Faisal Abraham.
Quote from: Lazar's Headband on January 18, 2019, 10:12:39 AM
Would've been even better for Howard since he'll be a teenager almost 3 full seasons.
I think the nickname was about appearance, not actual age. The guy looked like he was 16 his entire college career. Still does, if you ask me.
Re: Goose Brell,
I was in a History class with Brell in 1970. We had a final on Saturday @ 8:00 AM (at the end of December finals week). He sat down next to me and said that "he had been arrested last night for interfering with a police officer over a flat tire incident in front of hs Apartment involving his roommate. He had to call Al in the early AM to help post bail." It was a fun story, and I wished him well in that evening's home game at the Arena.
But the real fun was to see Brell that evening at the game, where everyone could see that he had gotten a haircut (real short as ordered by AL). Brell had very long hair - long flowing blond locks.
He was introduced by the announcer that night as follows:
"Clean from the barbershop, number__, Gary Brell" to a standing ovation.
He was a unique personage and a ferocious competitor. He was drafted (walk on, possibly?) by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Quote from: PBRme on January 18, 2019, 11:09:59 AM
Homer called someone The Sheriff
Faisal Abraham.
Oops - Brew beat me to it....
Quote from: MU 1971 on January 18, 2019, 12:19:37 PM
Re: Goose Brell,
I was in a History class with Brell in 1970. We had a final on Saturday @ 8:00 AM (at the end of December finals week). He sat down next to me and said that "he had been arrested last night for interfering with a police officer over a flat tire incident in front of hs Apartment involving his roommate. He had to call Al in the early AM to help post bail." It was a fun story, and I wished him well in that evening's home game at the Arena.
But the real fun was to see Brell that evening at the game, where everyone could see that he had gotten a haircut (real short as ordered by AL). Brell had very long hair - long flowing blond locks.
He was introduced by the announcer that night as follows:
"Clean from the barbershop, number__, Gary Brell" to a standing ovation.
He was a unique personage and a ferocious competitor. He was drafted (walk on, possibly?) by the Milwaukee Bucks.
#31 was a third round choice of the Bucks.
Freeway
The answer is Jimmy F. Butler.
We used to call Dan Fitzgerald Skeletor.
Pops
DWade
Piano Man
How have we not mentioned "The Engine" yet?
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 18, 2019, 12:56:44 PM
How have we not mentioned "The Engine" yet?
They need to bring back Thomas Bilde every summer just to give all the new players nicknames.
Quote from: BrewCity83 on January 18, 2019, 12:11:39 PM
I believe "the Sheriff" was Faisal Abraham.
and Abel Joseph was "the Deputy"
Warriors.
End. Of. Thread.
Mannion
You win!!
Pops Sims
Avante is what Buzz called Gardner in practice. No D!
Quote from: Gato78 on January 18, 2019, 11:32:02 AM
Pat Smith: The Evil Dr. Blackheart
Could be the greatest nickname. Reminded me of this story from a Pete Axthelm SI article on the McGuire family back in 1967:
Al played with broken jaws and broken noses as a pro, and he clearly expects the same from his players. In return he treats them like men—men he happens to like and respect. "I coach on a man-to-man basis," he explains. "I don't set strict rules. I just tell them not to hurt the university or me. In return I'll protect them at all costs."
The cost almost got to be very high last January, after Marquette had lost in a two-point upset at the University of Detroit. Al was walking slowly off the court, not saying anything or paying special attention to anyone around him. "I still remember what I was thinking," he says. "I was wondering who we could upset to make up for that loss. Then all of a sudden I saw Pat on the ground." Reserve Center Pat Smith had been jostled by some happy Detroit fans and, in turn, had knocked someone down. Now Smith was being pinned against the bleachers by two guys in blue shirts. "They had no caps on, and I just thought they were ushers or something," says Al.
One man happened to be Patrolman James Tanderys of the Detroit Police Department. But even if Al had known that, it is doubtful that he would have reacted any differently. His kid was down, and he almost instinctively moved to pull the man off him. The cop somehow caught a hand or elbow in his face during the skirmish and quickly blamed Al. For several days Al worried about the bad publicity and the charges, until the patrolman decided that nobody had hit him after all, and the affair was dropped. "If I had hit him," Al said, "don't worry, he wouldn't have had any doubts about it."
The Warriors.
The Warriors.
Repetition is the key to adult learning.
Seem to recall some nicknames for Davante:
Big Smoove
Dancing Bear (might just have been made up by me...don't recall anymore, these things all blend together now)
Hutch was the "Little General".
Sacar "Missing" Anim
The Engine, Traci.....
Quote from: gsteinbrenner on January 18, 2019, 03:03:12 PM
Hutch was the "Little General".
I like Clutch as Hutch's nickname
THE ANSWER
Quote from: Goose on January 18, 2019, 10:51:26 AM
Jockey
One of my all time favorites as well. Absolutely loved watching him play. That jumper was a thing of beauty.
He was a beautiful player to watch and as talented as any Warrior ever. He was just too easy going of a guy - didn't have the killer instinct that a superstar needs to have.
Ish. (Dameon Mason)
Chocolate Moose
Quote from: GooooMarquette on January 18, 2019, 02:42:00 PM
Affirmative.
Unless Homer used the nickname on multiple players, "The Sherrif" was Jon Harris. I still remember the first time I heard it in our house on Michigan Street.
Quote from: Oregon Warrior on January 18, 2019, 10:29:52 PM
Unless Homer used the nickname on multiple players, "The Sherrif" was Jon Harris. I still remember the first time I heard it in our house on Michigan Street.
John "windex" harris
Quote from: Oregon Warrior on January 18, 2019, 10:29:52 PM
Unless Homer used the nickname on multiple players, "The Sherrif" was Jon Harris. I still remember the first time I heard it in our house on Michigan Street.
He did use it on multiple players, which I always thought was pretty weak...and I love Homer.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on January 19, 2019, 07:20:06 AM
He did use it on multiple players, which I always thought was pretty weak...and I love Homer.
Marcus Jackson got it too
Junior Mint
I do have a funny Gary Brell story from his days in Alaska.
It was either in the late 80's or early 90's and my brother worked at city owned recreation center in Cordova, Alaska. They hosted a large basketball tournament that was attended by teams from distance, including Anchorage.
My brother got a call one day from a guy asking. "Is Goose's team playing? If they are, we aren't coming". My brother asks him who Goose is and the guy responds "Goose who played at Marquette". My brother wasn't a Marquette fan and the only name he can come up with was Earl Tatum because of Goose Tatum of the Globetrotters. The guy responds, "No, Gary Brell".
My brother later found out that Brell had become something of a cult hero in men's basketball tournaments in Alaska, not only because his teams almost always won, but also because he was a talented player who was a pain in the ass to deal with on the court.
Ted Baxter
Goose Brell is a cult hero wherever he goes. Last time I saw him, which was quite some time ago, he still was the star of the show. My daughter is living in Alaska, and I told her the most famous ball player living there is from the near west of MKE. Goose Brell will always be a cult hero at my house.
Glad someone remembered the "Cloud Piercer". James Dudley was from
South Milwaukee, Wis. Don't forget the "Black Swan" Bob Lackey.
JFB > JGB
The G stands for "gets"? smh
#31 occasionally posted on this board. Would be interesting if he chimed in now and again.
4ever
It has been quite some time since we have heard from 31 on here. With my daughter out there, I thought about him quite a bit of late. He was one of a kind.
4ever?
Seems appropriate for otule since he seemed like he was on the team for 8 years
Who is 4ever
Eye'm yo brother from a different mudder, aina?
Big Smooth
Automatic
I Be Chillin' Doe
The Machine
Quote from: BossplayaOtto on January 19, 2019, 08:01:00 PM
Big Smooth
Automatic
I Be Chillin' Doe
The Machine
You forgot ox
Quote from: BossplayaOtto on January 19, 2019, 08:01:00 PM
Big Smooth
Automatic
I Be Chillin' Doe
The Machine
I used to like callin' him The Big Shrug.