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Clubhouse Chatter: Which athlete has the best nickname?

What our Sports staff has to say while waiting for the games to resume.

"Sweetness" (for Walter Payton). Enough said, right?

- John Dietz

Of course I'm biased, but my all-time favorite sports nickname is Walter "Sweetness" Payton.

- Kevin Schmit

I don't know exactly why I like the nickname, and he's long gone from the scene, but I was always partial to New York Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson. For classic ballplayers I'd have to go with Washington Senators pitcher Walter "Big Train" Johnson.

- Dave Oberhelman

"Sweetness" (Walter Payton), "The Sultan of Swat" (Babe Ruth), "The Human Rain Delay" (Mike Hargrove).

- Jerry Fitzpatrick

I never enjoyed nicknames for athletes, just because I don't like calling someone a name when I'm not sure if they even like it. But if I had to pick, I'll go with "Silk" for UCLA standout Jamaal Wilkes, "The Shoe" for all-time great jockey Bill Shoemaker and "Pistol Pete" for basketball star Pete Maravich.

- John Leusch

"Air" Jordan, "Magic" Johnson, Walter "Sweetness" Payton.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

I always liked "Dr. J" for Julius Erving, "Charlie Hustle" for Pete Rose and "The Golden Jet" for Bobby Hull. But I'm coloring a bit outside the lines since most of my favorite nicknames (and the greatest ones) came from pro wrestling. Besides Dick "the Bruiser" and his cousin, "The Crusher," my favorites were always "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

- Mike Smith

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