Re-Imagining Athletes as Their Famous Nicknames

I love a good nickname in sports. (In fact, I love it so much, I compiled the 100 Best Nicknames in Sports History.)

And it got me to thinking: What would some of these athletes look like if we applied their nicknames to their physical appearances?

And yes, I do have a lot of time on my hands, thank you very much.

From "The Georgia Peach" to "Kung Fu Panda," I've adorned several athletes in the style of their iconic nicknames.

Enjoy!

Fred McGriff

Nickname: The Crime Dog

McGriff may not have taken a bite out of crime, but he took a bite out of a few wayward pitches in his career, that much is certain.

O.J. Simpson

Nickname: The Juice

With the help of his offensive line—nicknamed "The Electric Company"—the Juice was often loose during his playing days.

I don't feel like making a post-career joke about O.J. Simpson, so just insert your own here.

Wilt Chamberlain

Nickname: The Big Dipper (Also, The Stilt)

Sadly, Bill Russell often slapped him around with Orion's Belt.

Yup, I just made a constellation joke.

Lou Gehrig

Nickname: The Iron Horse

Okay, so he looks more like "The Iron Centaur" here, whatever. His nickname originally spawned from locomotives and more specifically how the Indians described them, as "Iron Horses."

But I went more literal and hence created "The Iron Centaur."

George Gervin

Nickname: The Iceman

It certainly would have been even harder to defend him had he left a patch of ice in his wake, no?

Earvin Johnson

Nickname: Magic

Magic pulled more than a few rabbits out of his hat in his legendary career.

Pablo Sandoval

Nickname: Kung Fu Panda

This is one of my favorite modern nicknames, probably because it is so goofy. You be the judge as to which Giants should round out the other characters in this picture.

Ty Cobb

Nickname: The Georgia Peach

It may only be because I am a baseball-history dork, but seeing the salty and racist Cobb wrapped in a giant peach is absolutely hysterical to me.

The best (unintentionally) ironic nickname in sports history.

Calvin Johnson

Nickname: Megatron

Not only is Calvin Johnson one of the best receivers in football, but I'd much rather watch him play than sit through any of the Transformers movies.

Red Grange

Nickname: The Galloping Ghost

No wonder it was so hard to tackle him...

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