Interesting CFL personnel Nicknames

[TrueBlue4ever]

45 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Please put some names to them, some I've never heard before.

I’ll let people try and guess and post later today with any ones that can’t be figured out. “Fun and Games Friday” 😁

Hint: all those nicknames are from 1980 and beyond. 

[Rod Black]

4 hours ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Just a few others from my time:

The Birmingham Rifle

The Sheriff of Linden Woods

Bluto

Wild

SWAC

Turtle Man

Flight 87

The Hammer

The Glass Quarterback

The Mayor of Swaggerville

Chuck Diesel

Lambo (or Lamborghini)

Money

Matty Ice

Mini Milt

The Hit Man

 

I’m pretty sure I’d could only name 5 of them. 
 

[bigg jay]

4 hours ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Just a few others from my time:

The Birmingham Rifle  - Dieter Brock

The Sheriff of Linden Woods - Willard Reaves

Bluto - Chris Walby

Wild - James West

SWAC - Elfrid Payton

Turtle Man - Milt Stegall

Flight 87 - Albert Johnson

The Hammer 

The Glass Quarterback - Matt Dunnigan

The Mayor of Swaggerville - Odell Willis

Chuck Diesel - Charles Roberts

Ca (or Lamborghini)

Money - Justin Medlock

Matty Ice - Matt Nichols

Mini Milt - Terrence Edwards

The Hit Man - Benny Thompson

 

Can't think of the Hammer or Lambo/Lamborghini at the moment but the rest seemed pretty straight forward.  How'd I do?

[TrueBlue4ever]

4 hours ago, bigg jay said:

Can't think of the Hammer or Lambo/Lamborghini at the moment but the rest seemed pretty straight forward.  How'd I do?

Bravo, all correct. So “The Hammer” was the nickname of Trevor Kennerd. And “Lambo” is a bit of a chart, but when Sean Millington got brought in by Jeff Reinbold, he was a physical specimen and many commented on his chiseled physique. He commented that diet was a big deal, saying “you want to put premium fuel in the Lamborghini”. When it turned out the muscles were all for show and he was surprisingly weak on contact, especially as the weather got colder, some media wag mentioned that Reinbold brought in a Lamborghini when a Jeep would have been better - rugged, reliable, and able to withstand Manitoba weather, and also more more affordable. Millington actually had a nice resurrection in BC and helped them win the 2000 Grey Cup. 

Edited May 14, 2022 by TrueBlue4ever

[SpeedFlex27]

6 hours ago, Rod Black said:

 Cactus Jack referred to Rick Shaw as the only Japanese player in the CFL. 
 

 

The Argos had a rookie linebacker named Sam Cjivanovitch. (pronounced See-Yan-Ovich). Jack Wells just couldn't pronounce his name. He decided to call him Sam Alphabet. The name stuck. He became Sam Alphabet, middle linebacker for the Argos... across the league. 

Other player nicknames. Not necesssarily started by Jack Wells. :

Herm "Ham Hands" Harrison. TE Stampeders 1960's. 

"Tricky" Dickie Thornton.

"Dirty 30" Jim Young.

""Doctor Death" Dave Fennell

"The Undertaker" Bill Baker

Bob "Hoss" Houmard

"The Little General" Ron Lancaster

Edited May 13, 2022 by SpeedFlex27

[TrueBlue4ever]

Loved the nickname “Dr. Death”. Also James “Quick” Parker, Brian “Howdy Doody” Kelly and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson were other 70’s stars. 

[WinnipegGordo]

10 hours ago, bigg jay said:

No Troypod?

Troy Wide West(wood).

[BBlink]

On 2022-05-12 at 10:57 PM, Mark H. said:

Kamau Incompleterson

My claim to fame lol

[Mark F]

12 minutes ago, BBlink said:

My claim to fame lol

Thats yours?

I was just thinking yesterday, it is my all time all sport favourite nickname.

[BBlink]

3 minutes ago, Mark F said:

Thats yours?

I was just thinking yesterday, it is my all time all sport favourite nickname.

Yup! I wish I could prove it somehow but there may be a couple people here that can vouch for me.

[TBURGESS]

Jame Wild Wild West

Bennie The Hit Man Thompson

 

[17to85]

5 hours ago, BBlink said:

Yup! I wish I could prove it somehow but there may be a couple people here that can vouch for me.

I don't remember who so I will give you the benefit of the doubt but definitely originated on ourbombers.  People were going nuts over signing Peterson and I was like "yeah but his hands suck" hard to be right all the time.

[Rod Black]

On 2022-05-13 at 4:57 PM, SpeedFlex27 said:

The Argos had a rookie linebacker named Sam Cjivanovitch. (pronounced See-Yan-Ovich). Jack Wells just couldn't pronounce his name. He decided to call him Sam Alphabet. The name stuck. He became Sam Alphabet, middle linebacker for the Argos... across the league. 

Other player nicknames. Not necesssarily started by Jack Wells. :

Herm "Ham Hands" Harrison. TE Stampeders 1960's. 

"Tricky" Dickie Thornton.

"Dirty 30" Jim Young.

""Doctor Death" Dave Fennell

"The Undertaker" Bill Baker

Bob "Hoss" Houmard

"The Little General" Ron Lancaster

Those are the classics. I was certain you, at some point would include, Wayne Thumper Harris and Granny Liggins. 

[bb.king]

Jackie "Ol' Spaghetti Legs/Crazy Legs" Parker

[SpeedFlex27]

"Prince" Hal Patterson.

7 hours ago, Rod Black said:

Those are the classics. I was certain you, at some point would include, Wayne Thumper Harris and Granny Liggins. 

I want others to partake. Figured I'd leave a few for them. 

[Booch]

Stick.....a.k.a Juron Bolden

[Arnold_Palmer]

Charles”Blink” Roberts was pretty good. 

[HardCoreBlue]

On 2022-05-12 at 6:23 PM, roddy315 said:

Blink.....Charles Roberts 

Thunder and lightning 

Sellers and Roberts

Man I loved that duo

Not much of a nick name but what about Joe Pop.

Had lots of favs but him and Rick House were high up my list of favs.

[Tracker]

And what about "Silent Joe" Critchloe?

[Y2C]

I suppose it's not a nickname, but

K

D

WILLIAMS

[SpeedFlex27]

On 2022-05-14 at 5:46 PM, bb.king said:

Jackie "Ol' Spaghetti Legs/Crazy Legs" Parker

Spaghetti Legs

[SpeedFlex27]

I remember watching 36 year old Jackie Parker come out of retirement in 1968 when all the BC Lions qbs got hurt & no one could play. I also remember how much in awe the tv announcers were at the time with him putting his helmet back on at his age with no physical preparation at all. Parker was an assistant coach with the Lions at the time & hadn't played since 1965. He played 8 games. The Lions went 2-6 when he came back but Jim Young in his book said it was the damndest thing he ever saw. 

In those days players didn't take care of themselves like they do today. Training camp was for getting in shape & losing the 10-15 lbs they gained over the winter. There were no protein shakes but they had steak & beer. Most players smoked.

Careers didn't last much past 30 years of age. By then, players were so beat up physically they could no longer play. Especially at qb where defensive players could take their heads off. So, in 1968 when a player like Parker came back at 36 after being retired for 3 seasons he was considered a senior citizen. It was a huge deal.

Not many players played until they were 36 years of age in the 1960's. Ken Ploen retired at 32. Russ Jackson was 33. Sam Etcheverry was 32. All the punishment they took wearing inferior equipment compared to today took its toll. Back then players even looked older at the same age than their counterparts of today. It's all about lifestyle, diet & nutrition.

 

 

George Blanda at 46 in 1970.

Tom Brady at 46.

Times have certainly changed.

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by SpeedFlex27

[bearpants]

Tom Brady spends more money on his skin care routine the first five mins of every morning than Blanda did in his entire life 😂