They forgot a few:
"Reverend Ike" Isaac Bruce was fittingly nicknamed for his faith and the namesake radio evangelist, Reverend Ike. Bruce made his faith-first priorities clear while he played, and is now a full-time evangelist and preacher. Here's a link to Reverend Ike Bruce today: [
bleacherreport.com]
When I was a kid following the Rams after their move to LA, I didn't even know the first name of their fullback, Tank Younger. How'd the writer miss it? That's one of the best all-time nicknames in football. The nickname was well-earned. He'd lower his head ande plow through anybody - or anything - in his way. He once bent a goalpost (they were set on the goal line, then) on a goal-line run for a score.
He played for a brief time in the same backfield with Deacon Dan Towler, another great nickname and the first Ram to be called Deacon, who lit up the NFL before becoming a full-time pastor. Here's the link: [
en.wikipedia.org]
And how about Big Daddy Lipscomb? He was a big, lean, and well-muscled man who couldn't wear an off-the-rack suit, and like many Rams during the '50's, bought his clothing at Gair's Men's Clothes in Redlands, California where the Rams trained. Milt Gair took extra care to have suits and sports jackets altered to fit Lipscomb and the two became good friends. Lipscomb always called Milt "Mister Gair.' Milt was visibly shaken years later at Lipscomb's tragic death from a drug overdose.
Milt was an encourger, an inspiring man who uplifted those around him - and who extended his reach by writing personal hand-written notes to athletes, students, kids and grown men alike. He read all the local papers - clipped articles or mentions of people doing something he saw as admirable, and sent them with his notes to the people he wanted to encourage. It was such a note to this unheralded ex-Marine with no college background who stepped onto the Rams practice field, at the invitation of Pete Rozelle, that befriended Lipscomb to Milt. The two remained friends until Lipscomb's death.
The fascinating and tragic story of Eugene Lipscomb is well wortth your time to read. [
www.profootballhistory.com]
