The 50 Greatest Nicknames in NBA History

The inspiration for this blog post stems from a conversation yesterday with an old friend of my parents who happens to be a basketball coach. For some reason he began recanting stories about George Gervin, a.k.a. “The Iceman” (including referencing the above poster, which is indeed pretty awesome). I noted that not only was Gervin an exceptional player, he also possessed one of the best nicknames in the history of the NBA.

This gave me the idea to rank the 50 best nicknames in NBA history. I’m sure there are other such lists already floating around the internet, but I didn’t consult any of them. I did consult a rather exhaustive collection of player nicknames, which even included some nicknames I’ve never heard (“Ricky Buckets” for Ricky Davis and “G-Money” for Grant Hill, to name two awful ones).

As a general rule I excluded players whose nickname was better known than and/or effectively replaced their first name. So you won’t see Mookie Blaylock, Muggsy Bogues, Speedy Claxton, Bimbo Coles, Sleepy Floyd, Penny Hardaway, Magic Johnson, Smush Parker, Pooh Richardson, Doc Rivers, Tree Rollins, or Spud Webb on this list. And for players with multiple nicknames, I only ranked what I determined in my opinion to be the player’s “best” nickname.

So without further ado, here’s my Top 50. If you disagree with the order or think I omitted someone, feel free to chime in.

50. Delonte West- “The Uncle” If you don’t get this one just Google “Delonte West and LeBron James mom.”

49. Zach Randolph- “Z-Bo” While I think the “T-Mac” first initial of first name-first syllable of last name style of nicknaming is the laziest trend ever and has greatly hindered the art of nicknaming in the 21^st century, I’ll make an exception for this since there is know “Bo” in Randolph.

48. George Glamack- “The Blind Bomber” Apparently this 1940s star had such poor eyesight he measured his shots using the painted lines on the floor.

47. Darrell Griffith- “Dr. Dunkenstein” I don’t think this nickname has aged all that well. It’s a lot cornier and clunkier than the other classic nicknames from the late 70s-early 80s, but we’ll give it props for the creativity.

46. Billy Cunningham- “The Kangaroo Kid” In case you couldn’t tell, this is a 1960s nickname for a guy who could jump really high.

45. Tim Duncan- “The Big Fundamental” Bland but effective, much like Tim Duncan’s game.

44. Glenn Robinson- “Big Dog” Simple and gruff, perfect for a guy who starred at Purdue and then in Milwaukee.

43. Damon Stoudamire- “Mighty Mouse” I’m pretty sure this is the only guy on the list whose nickname comes from a cartoon character.

42. Kobe Bryant- “The Black Mamba” Kobe contrived this nickname for himself at a stage in his career when he didn’t really need one. Still, it’s so bizarrely creative it deserves a spot on the list.

41. Joe “Jellybean” Bryant Probably the only list where Joe Bryant ranks ahead of his son.

40. LeBron James- “King James” Proclaiming LeBron “King” before he ever played a game was just as premature as the Heat celebrating winning the 2011 title in July 2010, but he’s lived up to the hype and the biblical reference is sharp.

39. Rafer Alston- “Skip to My Lou” All the players on the And1 Mixtape Tour have awesome nicknames, and Alston was the first to go from the And1 Tour to the NBA.

38. Jason Williams- “White Chocolate” Self-explanatory.

37. Isiah Thomas- “Zeke” Slick and monosyllabic. And supposedly created by Bill Laimbeer, which explains the simplicity.

36. Kevin Durant- “Durantula” I don’t know why this nickname hasn’t caught on more. One of the few genuinely creative nicknames in the present day. Yet probably more people refer to Durant as “KD.” Ugh.

35. Vince Carter- “Air Canada” Accurately captured a young Vince Carter as both an amazing dunker and the face of the league’s only Canadian franchise. Also paid a fitting tribute to another high-flying Tar Heel…

34. Michael Jordan- “Air Jordan” A solid nickname for the greatest of all-time. And some pretty sweet shoes.

33. Fred Hoiberg- “The Mayor” Hoiberg actually got this nickname at Iowa State for how popular he was in his Ames, Iowa hometown (where he now is the head coach of the Cyclones), but it stuck with the sharpshooter throughout his pro career.

32. Shawn Marion- “The Matrix” Another underrated and under-utilized modern nickname, “The Matrix” does a good job of capturing Marion’s other-worldly athleticism and hectic style of play.

31. Paul Pierce- “The Truth” Pierce’s veracious nickname is well known, but oddly seems to have curtailed in popularity in recent years despite his 2008 Finals MVP performance.

30. Marvin Webster- “The Human Eraser” Classic nicknaming technique: create a superhero-type name that accentuates a player’s most well-known attribute (in this case, shot-blocking).

29. Bryant “Big Country” Reeves The 7 foot, 265-pound small-town Oklahoma native had a much better nickname than NBA career, the latter of which was derailed by injuries.

28. Nate “Tiny” Archibald From “Big Country” to “Tiny.” The 6-time All-Star was selected one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest players and is a member of the Hall of Fame, but more people under 25 probably better identify the name Nate Archibald with a character on Gossip Girl. Sad.

27. Robert Horry- “Big Shot Bob” Not many role players win 7 titles with 3 teams, but Horry had a knack for coming through in the clutch. There seems to be some debate as to whether the end of us nickname should be “Bob” or “Rob,” but I went with “Bob” for alliterative purposes.

26. James Worthy- “Big Game James” Of course, Horry’s nickname is a bit of rip-off of the 1988 Finals MVP’s. That and the fact that Worthy’s individual career far exceeded Horry’s puts him slightly higher on this list.

25. “Clyde The Glide” Drexler Rhyming with a player’s first name is always a nice touch, particularly when it effectively captures the player’s style of play.

24. “Hakeem The Dream” Olajuwon But be it their Phi Slamma Jamma days, the 1995 World Champions, or a list of the greatest nicknames, Drexler was always the Robin to Olajuwon’s Batman.

23. Charles Barkley- “The Round Mound of Rebound” Even his playing days, Barkley was a little on the chubby side, but the loquacious superstar embraced his somewhat derisive moniker.

22. Chris Andersen- “Birdman” I haven’t found a satisfactory explanation of exactly why Andersen is called “Birdman,” but it just seems to fit.

21. Dennis Rodman- “The Worm” One of the NBA’s most eccentric players ever fittingly had an equally unorthodox handle.

20. “Never Nervous Pervis” Ellison Ability to handle pressure is the mark of a great player. When you can capture that unflappability by rhyming with a player’s first name, you’ve got a great nickname.

19. Glen “Big Baby” Davis 6-9, 290 with the face of a 12-year old and a propensity for whining at officials. What else would you call him?

18. Shaquille O’Neal- “The Big Aristotle” Shaq has about 800 nicknames, but I went with my favorite of his self-appointed monikers. A clever and amusing creation from the man with a personality as big as his 7-1, 325 pound frame.

17. David Robinson- “The Admiral” Robinson attended the Naval Academy and postponed his professional career in favor of two years of military service. A great player and an even better man.

16. Darryl Dawkins- “Chocolate Thunder” Just awesome.

15. “Thunder Dan” Marjele “Thunder Dan” was just about everybody’s favorite player in NBA Jam, and one of the great white dunkers of all-time.

14. Robert Parish- “The Chief” Originally named after the silent giant in One Flew Over the Cuckcoo’s Nest, “The Chief” later came to embody Parish’s seniority and longevity as much as his quiet demeanor: his 1,611 games played over 21 seasons is a league record.

13. Karl Malone- “The Mailman” While the NBA’s 2^nd all-time leading scorer had a remarkably consistent career, “the Mailman” didn’t always deliver: he never won a championship.

12. Gary Payton- “The Glove” A fitting handle for one of the game’s greatest perimeter defenders.

11. Jerry West- “The Logo” This nickname didn’t come til late in West’s career, when the NBA unveiled its current logo, which includes a silhouette of the Laker great.

10. Robert “Tractor” Traylor A great pun on the late big man’s last name. RIP.

9. “Downtown Freddie” Brown This catchy rhyming moniker is the reason why announcers to this refer to three-pointers as shots “from downtown.”

8. David Thompson- “Skywalker” No, this isn’t a Star Wars reference. David Thompson was Michael Jordan’s favorite player growing up in the 70s. And like MJ, Thompson could fly.

7. Shawn Kemp- “The Reign Man” There were few players more fun to watch in their prime than “The Reign Man,” a nickname which includes wordplay, insinuations of royalty, an allusion to a popular movie, and reference to the Seattle climate.

6. “Earl the Pearl” Monroe Slick, much like the playground legend’s game.

5. Allen Iverson- “The Answer” Far and away the greatest nickname in recent memory. Bold and authoritative, just how Iverson played. While he may not have been the post-MJ “savior” his nickname seemed to suggest, he nonetheless had an exceptional career.

4. Vinnie Johnson- “The Microwave” The mark of a great scorer off the bench, Johnson could heat up in a hurry.

3. George Gervin- “The Iceman” George Gervin and trademark finger roll embodied cool. I mean, check out that poster again.

2. Julius Erving- “Dr. J” Classic. The ABA was full of great nicknames, but it’s greatest player had the best one.

1. “Pistol Pete” Maravich One of the game’s greatest scorers’ nickname might not stand out at first glance with its rather simple alliteration, but it’s held up over the years.

Dwyane Wade: The Forgotten Man of the 2011 Finals

On the eve of the 2011 NBA Finals, the national focus is squarely on two players: Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James. Both players have had wildly successful careers, each is a former league MVP and a perennial All-Star and All-NBA selection. Yet neither has won an NBA Championship, a title all-so important in cementing one’s legacy. In a couple weeks one of these all-time greats will be relieved of the unwanted stigma of having never won the big one, while the other will be forced to bear this burden for at least another year.

There are a number of other longtime league veterans also seeking their first title in this series. Dallas’ Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry, and Peja Stojakovic and Miami’s Chris Bosh, Mike Bibby, and Mike Miller have combined for 23 All-Star selections, 2 Rookie of the Year, and 2 Sixth Man of the Year Awards, but none of them have ever raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy. So yes, there are a lot of legacies on the line in this series.

And then there’s Dwyane Wade. Wade and Udonis Haslem are the only players in this series who already possess a championship ring, as Wade led the Heat to a 4-2 series victory over Nowitzki’s Mavs in the 2006 Finals, just Wade’s third year in the league. D-Wade was named Finals MVP, averaging 34.7 points per game in the series, the third highest average all-time behind Michael Jordan’s 41.0 in 1993 and Ricky Barry’s 40.8 in 1965.

Dwyane Wade enters this series in a position that is pretty much unprecedented historically. In a Finals that is all about cementing one’s legacy with a championship, he already has one. He is one of the top-five players in the entire NBA, yet he’s only the third-best player in this series. When else has a player of Wade’s caliber, a previous Finals MVP in the prime of his career, received so little attention?

The dynamics of the relationship between Wade and James remains the most fascinating long-term subplot for those observing the new look Miami Heat. So far the two superstars have coexisted seamlessly, and each player's presence has seemed to remove pressure from their counterpart. When Wade struggled offensively in the Eastern Conference Finals against Chicago, James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack. At other times during the season, Wade has carried the club when LeBron is slumping.

Yet Wade’s 2006 ring raises questions over whether the two can continue to coexist long-term. If the Heat lose this series, critics will hound James for once again failing to win a championship while Wade’s 2006 performance will largely excuse him from any such scrutiny. If the Heat win the series, Wade will still have one more ring than James and might even pick up a second Finals MVP at James’ expense.

Moreover, the Heat remain Wade’s team, whereas James is more of a mercenary figure. Will this dynamic change if the Heat win multiple titles and James clearly establishes himself as the team’s alpha-dog? Or will D-Wade’s previous accomplishments still cement him as the “King” of South Beach? Will the two maintain their close friendship over the next five years or will concerns for individual legacy pull them apart?

These are long-term questions that we will not know the answer to for some time. But one thing we do know is this: while a lot of players’ legacies are on the line in this series, Dwyane Wade’s is remarkably secure. And with that in mind, don’t be surprised if he has a big series.

Remembering 2,131

I haven't been able to post here recently as I've been busy with work. But since today is Labor Day, and Labor Day this year happens to fall on September 6, I have the time to remark on the 15th anniversary of Cal Ripken, Jr. playing in his 2,131st consecutive game---breaking the record previously held by Yankee legend Lou Gehrig.

September 6, 1995 was the day I permanently fell in love with sports. By 1995 I was already firmly entrenched as an Orioles fan. My parents had begun preparing me for Cal's inevitable breaking of Gehrig's record sometime that winter, when they taped a Headline News interview with Cal before Spring Training that I must have watched upwards of twenty times in the months leading up September 6. My grandmother in D.C. began to send me clippings about Cal and the Orioles from the local papers in the mail and I was beginning to master the art of reading the daily boxscores in the sports section. On the morning of September 6, I remember delightedly spotting a "HR- Ripken" in the box score from the previous night and reading a short recap of Cal's hitting a home run on the night he tied Lou Gehrig's record.

That night my parents let me stay up and watch the record-breaking game all the way through the 5th inning---long enough to see Cal's home run in the bottom of the fourth and the spontaneous 22-minute standing ovation when the game and record became official in the middle of the 5th inning. When they finally sent me to bed way past my usual bedtime, I lay awake listening to the last innings on the radio and made sure my parents taped the conclusion of the game and the postgame ceremony.

The following morning I remember sitting at my desk in my 2nd Grade classroom, writing the boxscore from Game 2,131 over and over again, etching the names "Ripken," "Bonilla," "Anderson," and "Palmeiro" on the side of my times table worksheets. That afternoon I raced to the den as soon as I got home to pop in the VHS and watch the postgame ceremony my parents had taped. I even recall at one point deciding to memorize Cal's postgame speech, and I still remember bits and pieces of it to this day ("I know that if Lou Gehrig is looking down on tonight, he isn't concerned about someone playing one more consecutive game than he did, but rather he's viewing tonight as just another example of what is good and right about the great American game.").

I recently rewatched the record-breaking moment, thanks to the miracle of YouTube. I guess I've become cynical over the past fifteen years, because I was expecting the moment to come across as more contrived and less magical than I remembered it. To my great surprise, I was wrong. The extremely warm reception from the fans (when will there ever be another game delayed in the middle for a TWENTY-TWO MINUTE standing ovation) comes across as completely genuine. And Cal's iconic lap around the stadium---high-fiving fans, hugging family members, and shaking hands with each of the gracious and classy visiting California Angels---was far from contrived. Cal repeatedly recedes into the dugout but the fans nonetheless continue applauding until finally Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby Bonilla shove him out of the dugout after it becomes clear the fans aren't going to stop anytime soon.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the moment for me was ESPN's broadcast. They don't go to commercial and stay with the broadcast for the entirety of the ovation. And the announcers are virtually silent for the entire 22 minutes, just allowing the moment to sink in---a fact almost shocking given that the play-by-play announcer that night was the loquacious Chris Berman.

The guest list for that night was remarkable. The entire Ripken baseball family was in attendance, including Cal's wife and kids, former manager and father Cal, Sr., and former teammate and brother Billy. An array of Orioles legends showed up, including Earl Weaver, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer. In addition, the reclusive "Yankee Clipper" Joe DiMaggio, who had played with Gehrig, was there to witness the record-breaking night. And both President Clinton and Vice President Gore were in attendance---something unlikely to happen again at a sporting event for security reasons. President Clinton was even in the local radio broadcast booth with announcer Jon Miller when Cal homered in the bottom of the 4th (Cal had a way of rising to the occasion) and even essentially called the home run (scroll down for Miller's version of the story).

I was too young to really grasp it at the time, but that record was perhaps most important because of its timing. The 1994 strike had led to the cancellation of the World Series, and many fans had begun to sour on baseball. While today popular memory credits Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's chase of Roger Maris' single-season home run record in 1998 as the event that "saved" baseball, 2,131 came first and at a time when fans' loyalty to baseball was much weaker. Ripken's record was something that working-class fans could identify with and appreciate---a man who came to work every day for 13 straight years---and Cal's work ethic and loyalty to his hometown organization and fanbase endeared him to fans at a time when the relationship between the fans and the players and owners was particularly strained. And while the 1998 home run chase has since been tainted by accusations of steroid use, Ripken's record remains untainted and pure.

Fifteen years later, I'm still madly in love with sports. I guess September 6 is almost an anniversary of sorts. I've seen so many great games and incredible moments in sports over the past fifteen years. But none will ever top 2,131.

Alma Mater Alterations

My proud alma mater, Davidson College, unveiled today a new set of "spirit marks" (a.k.a. logos) that will debut this upcoming athletic season. I tend to be rather conservative when it comes to these sorts of changes, so needless to say I was initially rather disappointed with the new look. But after further thought and examination, I tend to have somewhat softened my stance on the changes. I thought I'd offer my thoughts on the various changes and since Davidson insisted on assigning me grades for four years I thought it's about time I returned the favor.

Labeling: F

The name "spirit marks" is an absolutely ridiculous phrase. What's wrong with the word "logo"? "Spirit marks" sounds like a corny name for face painted paw prints at a junior high pep rally. I also don't get the idea for having multiple "spirit marks" in addition to a "youth spirit mark," but I can live with multiple logos- JUST CALL THEM "LOGOS".

"Primary Spirit Mark": B

The "primary spirit mark" of the Wildcat face on a diamond background actually isn't terrible. It pays homage to the old logo, which seemed to be generally well-liked. I like keeping the diamond background and I agree that the old Wildcat probably was due for an upgrade (the old one looked it came straight out of Microsoft Word's clip art). The new Wildcat is a little cartoonish for my taste and seems slightly less intimidating than the old one. Still, it could have been worse. Also, I'm not sure while there are two different colors for the diamond background. I actually prefer the black background with this particular Wildcat over the traditional red diamond. Overall, not bad.

"Secondary Spirit Mark": A-

The secondary logo is a "Davidson D" with claw marks through it. Using the first letter of a school's name is a classic collegiate logo look, and I like the effect of the claw marks. While I was initially ambivalent towards the two-tone color scheme and the outlining, both features have grown on me with further consideration. The logo looks fine on its own, but it looks better on football helmets and especially integrated within the words "Davidson" or "Wildcats" (see images 3, 14, and 18 here).

"Tertiary Spirit Mark": D+

The phrase "tertiary spirit mark" sounds both pretentious and corny, and the actual look of the third logo is not much better than its ridiculous name. I'm not a big fan of paw print logos regardless. They seem pretty cliche and a little too obvious for any school whose mascots have paws (there are 29 Division I schools named Wildcats, Tigers, or Panthers alone). On top of that, apparently that red blob is supposed to be a letter "D," something I only was able to notice after reading the official press release. Not only does it not look like a "D," the paw print seems to rip off the University of Cincinnati's logo, expect ours looks worse. Fortunately, this is only the "tertiary" logo, so hopefully it won't feature too prominently.

Overall, I'm actually okay with the new look. The "primary" and "secondary" logos are pretty solid, although I hope the school cans both the phrase "spirit mark" and the "tertiary" look. Still, I'm a little disappointed they didn't attempt to recreate the classic 1950s-era logo of a well-dressed Wildcat working away at a typewriter, although that might have been a little too accurate depiction of a Davidson student's life.

Pu-Pu Platter of Stories

In honor of my recent cameo as a delivery driver for a local Chinese restaurant, I thought I'd deliver a post modeled after the biggest dish on their menu- the Pu-Pu Platter. That is to say, a seemingly unrelated compilation of individual dishes/stories thrown together on one oddly-named platter/post that nevertheless leaves you satisfied at the end.

Enjoy:

I. I caught part of Brazil's 2-0 victory over the USA in Tuesday's friendly soccer match at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. Only a handful of key players from either side's World Cup squads participated, with a lot of younger players getting big minutes. None shone more brightly than Brazil's Neymar, the 18 year-old scoring sensation. Despite an endorsement from the great Pele, Neymar was left off Brazil's World Cup roster by former head coach Dunga. In his senior national team debut Tuesday night, he tore apart the US defense and tallied the opening goal.

Neymar certainly seems to have all the makings of the next Brazilian superstar. He combines the flash of Ronaldinho with the precision of Kaka. And like most international soccer superstars, he has a proclivity for sporting funny haircuts (see above). He currently plies his trade at the club level with Brazilian club Santos, but it is only a matter of time before he moves over to a major European club- in all likelihood English powerhouse Chelsea. Remember his name in four years when 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil seek to take back the title for a record sixth time.

II. In the NBA, yesterday Houston, New Orleans, Indiana, and New Jersey pulled off a four-team, five-player trade. Deals like this tend to be confusing, so let me try to explain in the simplest manner possible:

The Rockets traded SF Trevor Ariza to the Hornets. The Hornets sent PG Darren Collison and SF James Posey to the Pacers. The Pacers sent PF Troy Murphy to the Nets. The Nets sent SG Courtney Lee to the Rockets. Got it?

Basically, the trade involved a bunch of decent role players moving from one lottery team to another. Still, the deal actually makes sense from a personnel and/or financial standpoint for all four participants. The Rockets sacrificed defense for salary cap relief, moving Ariza and his contract for an offensively as talented, cheaper, and younger player in Lee. The Hornets moved the likewise expensive and older Posey for Ariza and attempted to appease disgruntled star point guard Chris Paul by moving Collison. The Pacers got a two-for-one package, moving Troy Murphy for Posey and Collison, the latter their possible point guard for the future. And the Nets moved Lee in exchange for Murphy, a power forward who can stretch the defense with his shooting but also rebound, a nice compliment to star center Brook Lopez.

III. The Eagles asked a fan at their practice yesterday to remove the Donovan McNabb Redskins jersey he was wearing. Security told the fan in question the request came from head coach Andy Reid, though the team later denied that claim.

Regardless of whether this came from Reid or not, this is just ridiculous. The fan is an actual Eagles fan who said he wore the jersey "to get reactions from the fan base." The logic there is kind of amusing. I personally would never wear Yankees or Cowboys gear, even as part of a pseduo-social experiment. But to each his own.

As for the Eagles, how can you make a big fuss over this? All it does is make you look stupid. It's not like McNabb pulled a LeBron and left Philly out to dry. YOU TRADED HIM AWAY! Maybe you should focus on your actual practice instead of what jerseys fans on the sideline are wearing. Just a thought...

IV. Finally, the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals got in a bench-clearing brawl Tuesday night. The incident stemmed from Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips' comments describing his "hate" for the Cardinals and insinuating that they complain too much (in more vulgar language). When Phillips stepped into the batter's box in the first inning, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina stood up and began to express his disagreement with Phillips' comments. Things turned ugly when both men removed their helmets/masks and both dugouts cleared.

The highlights of the brawl included Johnny Cueto, the Reds starting pitcher that night, crazily kicking at Cardinals players against the backstop (Cueto has since been given a seven game suspension for his part in the melee). The Reds also wisely tracked down Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter (who had beaten them the night before) and managed to pin him against the netting of the backstop in a rather vulnerable position (fortunately for the Cardinals, Carpenter was not hurt). And the two managers, St. Louis skipper Tony LaRussa and Cincinnati's Dusty Baker, went straight for each other and held a passionate screaming match in the middle of the chaotic scene (LaRussa and Baker were the only participants who were actually ejected). Still, no one topped the utter rage of the Ohio woman who tried to order McNuggets during McDonald's breakfast hours.

Well, that's its for the inaugural Pu-Pu Platter, hope you enjoyed it.

Why I'm Still Rooting For Tiger

Tiger Woods shot a 7-over par 77 today in the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational, finishing a dismal week that saw him post a career-worst +18 in the four-day event. Given his highly-publicized trangressions off the golf course, I would venture to say that a fair amount of people are not at all saddened- and perhaps even happy- to see the once dominant golfer struggle mightily on the course.

But as for me, I'm still rooting for Tiger.

Now let me make clear that I in no way condone Tiger's many marital transgressions. I don't like his club-throwing and cursing after he hits bad shots. I agree that Tiger has been a poor role model. I don't feel sorry for Tiger because he is struggling on the golf course.

Still, I'm rooting for Tiger. I'm rooting for him because, as a sports fan, I want to see golf played at the highest level possible.

Tiger Woods at his best plays golf on another level from the rest of the world. No one, not even Phil Mickelson, can do the things Tiger Woods can on a golf course. Tiger hits shots that no one else can hit. He won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes, shooting -12 when no one else could even shoot even par. He won the 2008 U.S. Open playing 90 holes with broken leg. He's the most dominant golfer of all-time.

Some people may find it humbling to see him struggle on the golf course like a mere mortal, shooting +18. Me, I just find it sad that we're being deprived of witnessing greatness.

Don't you want to see sport played at it's highest level? Don't you want to see the best in the world at their best? Don't you want to see this again? I, for one, do.

If Tiger plays well again, fans will inevitably return to loving him. It's a veritable certainty.

The "comeback" is an American sports phenomenon. We love athletes who come back from just about anything- illnesses, injuries, or personal problems. The "comeback" story is so popular that it has become overplayed. The NFL and MLB both give out trophies to the "Comeback Player of the Year" in addition to the awards for MVP and Rookie of the Year.

Furthermore, American sports fans are quick to forget a player's personal transgressions in time as long as they return to performing well in the arena. Look at the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant was once villified for his highly-publicized infidelity, but now he is probably the most popular player in the NBA. His teammate Ron Artest iniated one of the ugliest episodes in sporting history by charging into the stands and brawling with fans in Detroit. Now Ron Artest has become a loveable figure and media darling- America's favorite crazy person.

If Tiger Woods resumes his winning ways, he will eventually win back the support of the general public. He'll be hailed for his "comeback" and announcers will gradually phase out any mention of his off-course failings. And if and when that happens, I'll have mixed emotions. In some ways the forgiving nature of American sports culture is commendable that we are so willing to forgive our fallen heroes. In other ways it's rather sad that we tend to forget athletes' personal transgressions and return them to atop a false pedestal.

I realize that this post probably comes across as contradictory. I recognize the contradictions in my own thought. If Tiger Woods does start to win again, he'll probably be let off too easily. But I'll root for him nonetheless, contradictions be damned. Just for my own viewing pleasure.

Super Early NFL Preview: Washington Redskins

It's a slow time in the sports world, so I figured I'd do some quick NFL previews. We'll start with probably the strongest division in football, the NFC East. Just for kicks, I'll go in reverse order-of-finish from 2009, so we'll start with the Washington Redskins.

Washington Redskins

2009 Record: 4-12 (4th in NFC East)

Head Coach: Mike Shanahan

Significant Additions: QB Donovan McNabb, RB Larry Johnson, RB Willie Parker, WR Bobby Wade, OT Trent Williams, OT Jamaal Brown, DT Maake Kemoeatu, DE Vonnie Holliday, CB Phillip Buchanon, P Josh Bidwell

Significant Losses: QB Jason Campbell, RB Rock Cartwright, WR Antwaan Randle El, OG Randy Thomas, DT Cornelius Griffin, CB Fred Smoot, P Hunter Smith

Major Offensive Issue: Offensive line. The o-line was ravaged by injuries last season and as a result was utterly horrific. The retirement of All-Pro LT Chris Samuels, release of G Randy Thomas, and season-ending injury to G Mike Williams means a lot of new faces along the offensive line. The key will be the play of the two new tackles, top draft pick Trent Williams and former Saint Jamaal Brown. Donovan McNabb is a significant upgrade at quarterback, but he desperately needs the line to give him enough time to find his targets. And the Redskins veteran running back trio of Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker desperately need good blocking as they lack some of the explosion and elusiveness they once possessed earlier in their careers.

Major Defensive Issue: Anytime a team switches from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, changes have to be made. Despite the national hullabaloo over where defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth fits in on the team, the key to the success of the Redskins defense lies in how the linebackers adjust to the new defense. 3-4 outside linebackers are really a hybrid between linebackers and defensive ends and spend a lot of time rushing the passer. For that reason Brian Orakpo, who registered 11 sacks as a rookie last season while splitting time between OLB and DE, should thrive in a 3-4. Andre Carter, the other projected starting outside linebacker, also tallied 11 sacks last season, but has spent his entire 9 year career at defensive end. Can he continue to rush the passer while also holding his own in pass coverage? Meanwhile London Fletcher has routinely been near the top of the list of the NFL's leading tacklers in his long career as a middle linebacker in 4-3 defenses. But Fletcher's smaller frame makes him less suited for a 3-4, where middle linebackers have to take on more blocks from offensive lineman and have less freedom. And how will he react to sharing the middle with converted OLB Rocky McIntosh. Talent-wise, linebacker is probably the deepest position on the entire roster, yet the adjustment to new roles across the board as a result of the change in defense makes it the area to watch.

Major Current Storyline That Should Have Little Effect On The Actual Season: The whole Albert Haynesworth saga is great for the media. And yes, his refusal to participate in the Redskins' offseason workouts was selfish. But he's under contract and the Redskins aren't going to trade him (and there aren't many teams that are willing to take on his huge contract given his attitude problems). Once he eventually passes Mike Shanahan's conditioning test seemingly designed for Haynesworth to initially fail and face public embarassment, expect Haynesworth to keep quiet and play. And if healthy, he will be an immense asset (no pun intended) to the defensive line, especially if he is able and willing to play both defensive end and nose tackle.

Key Schedule Stretch: Weeks 4-6 (@ Philadelphia, vs. Green Bay, vs. Indianapolis). The Skins should emerge from the first three weeks of the season (vs. Dallas, vs. Houston, @ St. Louis) no worse than 2-1. The next three games feature Donovan McNabb's return to Philadelphia, followed by visits from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers (the favorites in the NFC North if Brett Favre is actually retired) and Peyton Manning and the Colts, the latter on Sunday Night Football. The remainder of the schedule is quite favorable, so if the Skins can emerge from that stretch 4-2 or even 3-3 they should be in good shape to make a run at the playoffs.

Best Player Name: I figured I should throw something fun in here, and what better for a guy named Wheat to do then scour teams' preseason rosters for the coolest-named player? NT Maake Kemoeatu has the best name of the defensive players in a landslide. OG Kory Lichtensteiger is a another strong candidate for the honor. But I'm going to have to give the nod here to OT Selvish Capers, the Redskins' 7th round draft choice out of West Virginia.

Predicted Pro Bowlers: QB Donovan McNabb, TE Chris Cooley, OLB Brian Orakpo

Final Record Prediction: After studying the schedule, I've vacillated between 9-7 and 10-6. I'll go with 9-7 for now. And here's one more prediction for you: the season finale January 2 between the Redskins and Giants at Fed Ex Field will be for a Wild Card spot in the NFC.