some of my web favorites
  • Notes From Dave
    • my thoughts on some of the tough issues of short-term missions
  • God's Politics
    • jim wallis' smart, political, and God centered take on the issues of today
  • Progressive Eruptions
    • the liberal side of politics from shaw kenawe. a daily read of mine.
  • Conservatism With Heart
    • a conservative take on life and politics from a well connected missouri mom
  • Truthdig
    • left of center, and very informative. bob scheer's online journal
  • Coffee Klatch
    • home of the best coffee roaster in So. Cal. and where i learned to love coffee
  • The Coffee Geek
    • everything you need to know about coffee and how to make a great cup o' joe
  • Bleacher Report
    • varied sports blog, lots of attitude, and sometimes i'm a featured writer
  • Aubievegas
    • a mix of sports in general with a bent towards vegas and auburn

About Me

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Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

I am a self proclaimed coffee addict and Executive Director of a non profit missions agency working primarily in the Mexican cities of Oaxaca, Guadalajara, and Ensenada. I've been married for over 30 years to Chelle, and we have one grown son, Joseph, a graduate of Auburn University in Alabama.

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Friday, May 25, 2007

What's in a Name?

Last weekend I was in Las Vegas. My wife and I lived there for 11 years after we were married in 1979 and for those of you wanting to do the math, I’ll save you the time. It’ll be 28 years next week. Anyways, after too many years in Los Angeles, we are returning to Sin City. On Saturday, May 19th, the paper of record in that area, “The Review Journal,” ran a front page story on the murder of Tony Spilotro. For you non Mafioso’s, Tony (pictured here with his lawyer and current Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman) was the head of the Las Vegas business for the Chicago mob in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Until he was whacked and buried in a potato field in Indiana with his brother Michael. The crime had gone unsolved until now.

But here is what struck me as I was retelling the story to a friend the other day. We don’t use nicknames any more. At least not good ones. Spilotro was known as “The Ant.” One of his bosses in Chicago was “Joey the Clown.” The Los Angeles mob man in Vegas at the time was Jimmy “The Weasel.”

But the Mob did not have the corner of the market on good nicknames. I think that honor goes to the sports world. Willie Mays was “The Say Hey Kid.” Then there was Sal “The Barber” Maglie. The Bambino. Hammerin’ Hank. The Yankee Clipper. Night Train Lane. Crazy Legs Hirsch. Wilt “The Stilt.” Dr. J. Sweetness. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. “Mean” Joe Greene. “Too Tall” Jones. "Broadway" Joe and even Magic.

There were even a few good political ones. Dutch, Honest Abe, Old Hickory, The Hammer, and of course, W.

Whatever happened to nicknames?

posted by Dave Miller at 12:35 PM

Comments on "What's in a Name?"

 

Blogger Rell said ... (10:38 AM) : 

People are too lazy now.

We just take the first letter of someone's first name and shorten their last name or just use initials.

KG,A.I., Melo', Arod, W, etc.

 

Blogger Dave Miller said ... (8:18 AM) : 

Ain't that the truth. Thanks for stopping by Rell.

 

Blogger timmer said ... (8:58 AM) : 

Wasn't that story inspiration for Casino??

About the nicknames...we're either lazy, of all the good ones have been taken.

You want good nicknames?? Look to the poker world...Texas Dolley, the Grinder, Devilfish, Skyhamk, the Bubble, the Ripper, the Mouth, Poison, Fossil Man, and the list goes on.

And there are some good nicknames out there... El Duque, The Big Hurt, the Glove...there just aren't that many

 

Blogger Dave Miller said ... (9:06 AM) : 

Yes it was part of the Casino movie. Tony the Ant was played by Joe Pesci. As an aside, a friend of mine called early in the morning to let me know that they were going to find Tony later that day in the potato field where he was fertilizing the crops.

 

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