Bermanisms
Chris Berman, a sportscaster for the American cable network ESPN, has created countless unique nicknames (sometimes called Bermanisms) for professional athletes. This article lists many of Berman's more notable creations.
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[edit] Baseball
- Roberto "Remember the" Alomar - play on "Remember the Alamo"
- Sandy "Remember the other" Alomar - See above
- Carlos "One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Three if" Baerga - play on Old North Church lamp signals
- Jeff "Brown Paper" Bagwell - Brown paper bag
- Kevin "Smallmouth" Bass - smallmouth bass fish
- Lance "You Sunk My" Blankenship - play on popular Battleship phrase
- Bert "Be Home" Blyleven - play on "be home by eleven"; reportedly a favorite of many Major League Baseball players
- Barry "U.S." Bonds - rock performer Gary "U.S." Bonds
- Wade "Cranberry" Boggs - cranberries are indeed grown in bogs
- Scott "Supercalifragilisticexpiali" Brosius - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
- Ivan "Bubbling" Calderón - bubbling cauldron
- Mark Carreon "My Wayward Son" - A reference to the Kansas (band) hit "Carry On My Wayward Son"
- Ron "Born in the U.S." Cey - Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."
- Jesse "Ichabod" Crain - A reference to the main character in Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- Jim "Two Silhouettes on" Deshaies - play on an oldies song lyric about "two silhouettes on the shade(s)"
- Jermaine "Live and Let" Dye - after the song and James Bond movie Live and Let Die
- Karim "Of The Crop" Garcia - play on the expression "cream of the crop"
- Nomar "Mr. Nice Guy" Garciaparra (a takeoff of the phrase "no more mister nice guy")
- Dwight "Johnny B." Gooden - Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode"
- Dwight Gooden "Plenty" - Reference to the candy Good & Plenty
- Atlee "If I had a" Hammaker - play on the song "If I Had a Hammer"
- Von "Purple" Hayes - play on the Jimi Hendrix classic "Purple Haze"
- Todd "Highway to" Helton - play on the song "Highway to Hell"
- Dave "Harry and the" Henderson - reference to the movie Harry and the Hendersons
- LaMarr "Where Does It" Hoyt - play on "where does it hurt"
- Scott "Rock The" Kazmir - The Clash song "Rock The Casbah"
- Chuck "New Kids on" Knoblauch - group New Kids on the Block
- John "I am not a" Kruk - President Richard Nixon's infamous comment
- Ricky Ledee "the Earth Stood Still" - a play on the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
- Mark "Get Back" Loretta - From the lyrics to The Beatles "Get Back"
- Kirt "What's That" Manwaring
- Oddibe "Young Again" McDowell - play on "oh to be young again"--one of the few nicknames using a player's first name instead of his/her last
- "Me And" Willie McGee - Janis Joplin song "Me and Bobby McGee" (words and music by Kris Kristofferson)
- Fred "The Crime Dog" McGriff - McGruff the Crime Dog
- Mark "Eve of Destruction" McGwire - Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction"
- Eddie "Eat, Drink, and Be" Murray - play on "eat, drink, and be merry"
- Tony "How much they" Pena - play on "how much they paying ya"
- Terry "Pit and the" Pendleton - from the Edgar Allen Poe story "The Pit and the Pendulum"
- Ken "Good Evening Mister" Phelps - catchphrase from Mission: Impossible
- Mike "Pepperoni" Piazza - pepperoni pizza
- Kirby "Union Gap" Puckett - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
- Terry "Swimming" Puhl - swimming pool
- Albert "Winnie the" Pujols - Winnie the Pooh
- Tim "Purple" Raines - Prince's Purple Rain
- Dave "Prince" Righetti - brand of spaghetti
- Jose "Blame it on" Rijo - movie Blame It on Rio
- Kirk "Roto" Rueter - play on Roto Rooter
- C.C. "Splish, splash, I was taking" Sabathia - A reference to the Bobby Darin song, "Splish Splash" (Splish, splash, I was taking a bath)
- Tom "Leave it to" Seaver - TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver
- Gary Sheffield "of Dreams" - baseball movie Field of Dreams
- Eric "Win, Place, and" Show
- Sammy "Say It Ain't" Sosa - phrase connected to Shoeless Joe Jackson
- "The Seven-Year" Ichiro Suzuki - after the movie The Seven Year Itch
- Frank Tanana "Daiquiri" - mixed drink, Banana Daiquiri
- Tony Tarasco "Sauce" - tabasco sauce
- Miguel "Tejada they come.....Tejada they fall" - a takeoff on the phrase "The harder they come the harder they fall"
- Jim Thome "Can You Hear Me?" - reference to The Who's song "Tommy Can You Hear Me"
- Manny "Kingston" Trillo - The Kingston Trio
- Eric "Gave Up Meat" Valent - gave up meat for Lent
- Todd "Snap, Crackle," Van Poppel - reference to Rice Krispies
- Robin Ventura "Highway" - America's "Ventura Highway"
- Gary "Hospital" Ward
- Jeff "I'm a Dream" Weaver - reference to Gary Wright's song "Dream Weaver"
- Mark "Bay City" Wohlers - reference to the Bay City Rollers
- Craig "For What It's" Worthington - play on the saying for what it's worth
- Gregg "Wrath of" Zaun - movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
[edit] Football
- David "Green" Akers - a reference to the 1960's TV comedy show Green Acres
- Shaun Alexander'"s Ragtime Marching Band" - reference to an old Irving Berlin song.
- Mike "You're in good hands with" Alstott - slogan for Allstate insurance
- Eric "Sleeping with" Bienemy - The movie Sleeping with the Enemy
- Rob "My" Bironas - reference to the song "My Sharona"
- Matt "Werewolves of" Blundin - reference to Warren Zevon song "Werewolves of London"
- Tom "Here's the story of a man named" Brady - reference to the theme song to The Brady Bunch
- Troy Brown "and his Band of Renown" - reference to Les Brown and his Band of Renown, a swing band for over 50 years
- "The Reverend" Isaac Bruce
- Tedy "Ice Cold" Bruschi - a reference to a cold beer (or "brewski")
- David "Please come to" Boston - a reference to the song "Please Come to Boston" by Dave Loggins.
- Marc "Ray" Bulger - a reference to actor Ray Bolger who played the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, usually accompanied with a few lines of the scarecrow song
- Dom Dom Dom, Dom Be Dooby Dom Dom Dom (Dom Capers) - reference to the Clarence E. Quick pop song. Berman has also used the popular beginning to the theme of Dragnet, after a Houston Texans loss.
- Matt "White" Cassel - White Castle fast food chain
- Chris Chambers - after the Miami Dolphins wide receiver makes a catch, Berman exclaims "Time Has Come Today!" This is a reference to The Chambers Brothers song
- "Hey you get off of" Mike Cloud - reference to the Rolling Stones song "Hey You, Get off of My Cloud"
- Ben "Winter" Coates - "Winter coat"
- Jose "Baby" Cortez - reference to musician Dave "Baby" Cortez
- Alge "Cinnamon" Crumpler
- Karlos "Tiny" Dansby - reference to Elton John song "Tiny Dancer"
- Jake "Daylight Come and You Gotta" Delhomme - reference to a line from Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song"
- Willie "Soviet" Drewery - Soviet Jewry
- Warrick "Well" Dunn
- Tim Dwight "Good Night"
- Kevin "Slicin" Dyson
- "Robin Hood and Little" John Elway
- Brett "Long Ago and" Favre "Away"
- Harry "The S stands for Sweetness" Truman
- "Marshall Marshall Marshall" Faulk - parody of phrase "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" from The Brady Bunch
- Zeron "(gagging)" Flemister
- "Sister" Christian "Motor In"
- Christian "Eu" Fauria - "euphoria"
- Jeff "Philadelphia" Feagles (Feagles actually did play for the Eagles at one point in his career)
- A.J. "Touchy" Feeley - "touchy-feely"
- Jay "See Me" Feely "Kicky Goody" - sung to the tune "See Me Feel Me" by The Who
- Jay Fiedler "on the roof" - parody of Fiddler on the Roof
- "Werewolves of" London Fletcher - reference to Warren Zevon song "Werewolves of London"
- Doug "The Magic" Flutie Reference to the opera "The Magic Flute"
- Barry "Bananas" Foster - Former running back of the Pittsburgh Steelers, referring to the dessert bananas foster.
- Deshaun "Bananas" Foster - same reference to the dessert Bananas Foster
- Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala...He's a bad Ma'afala! (Shut your mouth!) Just talkin' 'bout Ma'afala!!! - reference to Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft"
- Samkon "In" Gado "We Trust"- twist on the motto of the United States of America
- Rich "Loose" Gannon- "loose cannon"
- Robbie "Solid" Gould- Reference to TV show Solid Gold
- "Starvin" Marvin Harrison - reference to South Park
- Joe "don't bother me, I'm on the" Horn - reference to his 2003 end zone celebration where he pulled a cell phone (horn) from under a goalpost
- Michael "Como Esta" Husted - Spanish expression.
- Martay "O-Tay" Jenkins
- "Temple" Bethel Johnson - Many Jewish temples go by the name Temple Beth-El
- "Grandmama" Larry Johnson - a reference to the basketball player of the same name who starred in a commercial where he dressed up as an old lady called "Grandmama"
- Pacman Jones - any NFL Primetime highlight featuring Jones, Berman and co-host Tom Jackson make sound effects from the popular video game Pac-Man. Note that the nickname itself is not a Berman creation, as Jones had that nickname at West Virginia University, and possibly earlier.
- John Kasay "at the foot" - parody of poem "Casey at the Bat"
- Jon Kitna "Kaboodle" - from the phrase "kit and kaboodle"
- Sean "Personal" Landeta - play on the phrase "personal vendetta"
- Ty "I fought the" Law "and the law won" - reference to Sonny Curtis and The Clash song "I Fought the Law"
- "He's Strong to the finish, cause he's a QB. He's" Peyton "the sailor" Manning"- Refrence to Popeye the sailor
- Curtis "My Favorite" Martin - TV sitcom My Favorite Martian
- Terrance Mathis- Whenever Terrance catches a pass or scores a touchdown, Berman says "Chances are ... it's Terrance Mathis!" referring to the Johnny Mathis song, "Chances Are"
- Josh "Tears of" McCown - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' song "The Tears of a Clown", often accompanied with a line of the song.
- Luke "Send in" McCown (Josh McCown's brother) - Stephen Sondheim song "Send in the Clowns"
- Natrone Means "Business"
- Natrone "Refried" Means - reference to refried beans
- Rick "No Time to Wallow in the" Mirer - line from The Doors hit "Light My Fire"
- Mike "After Dinner" Minter
- Ryan Moats- Ryan "Longer Moats Are Coming to Win Us"- Reference to the Cat Stevens song, Longer Boats
- "Waltzing" Mewelde Moore - the song "Waltzing Matilda"
- "Yo" Adrian Murrell - Reference to the movie Rocky
- Christian "The Nigerian Nightmare" Okoye
- Da Da Da Da Da... Heeeere's Carson (Carson Palmer) - parody of the introduction to the The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
- Willie "Wonka" Parker- prefrence to Willy Wonka
- Doug "Bats in the" Pelfrey - expression "bats in the belfry"
- Ricky Proehl "Shampoo" - reference to Prell shampoo (although Proehl's name is pronounced "prohl", not like the shampoo)
- Johnathon "The Medicine Man" Quinn - reference to Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
- Gary Reasons "to believe"
- "The Human Highlight Reel" Dominic Rhodes - a play on "The Human Highlight Film," nickname of former NBA superstar Dominique Wilkins
- Andre "Bad Moon" Rison - expression "bad moon rising"; also a reference to the Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Bad Moon Rising"
- "Koo Koo Kachoo" Marcus Robinson- reference to the Simon & Garfunkel song Mrs. Robinson
- Koo Koo Kachoo, Mr. Robinson, he could go all the way and score- Said when Koren Robinson took a kickoff for a touchdown. Parody on song Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel
- Ben "in the Big Blue" Roethlisberger- reference to the TV Show title "Bear in the Big Blue House"
- Samari "Shake, Rattle, N" Rolle
- Allen "Playin' Possum" Rossum
- Sage "Drew" Rosenfels - reference to sports agent Drew Rosenhaus
- "Who Framed" Roger Ruzek"?"
- Sean Salisbury "Steak"
- Deion Sanders - "Prime Time! Prime Time! Prime Time!"; chanted by Berman and Jackson any time Sanders appeared in a highlight
- Matt "Stump the" Schaub-ESPN game show Stump the Schwab
- T.J. "Sgt." Slaughter -reference to Sgt. Slaughter from G.I. Joe the Pro Wrestler
- Lance "Sergeant" Schulters - reference to Hogan's Heroes character Sgt. Schultz
- Lito "Whoa-ohhh" Sheppard - referencing the lyric to the Boz Scaggs song "Lido Shuffle"
- Onterrio "Yours to Discover" Smith - referencing slogan of Ontario Tourism
- Matt "Smokey" Stover - comic strip Smokey Stover
- Steve "A Tisker a" Tasker - reference to A Tisket a Tasket
- George "Iced" Teague - "Iced Tea"
- "Well-dressed" Amani Toomer - reference to upscale clothing brand Armani. Another variation is Amani "It's Not A" Toomer. Refers to Arnold Schwarzenegger quote from film Kindergarten Cop
- Michael Turner "Overdrive" - reference to Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- "H.J." Hines "Company" Ward- refrence to H.J. Heinz Company
- Charles "Get Out of My" Way
- Reggie "Bruce" Wayne (to the batcave!) - reference to the Batman series
- Jed "Friedman" Weaver - reference to Brooklyn icon Jedediah Friedman.
[edit] Other sports
- "Ground Control to" David Toms - reference to David Bowie's Space Oddity
- Roger "Chocolate" Maltbie
- Joey "Seven Deadly" Sindelar
- Lionel "Snake" Chalmers
- Chris "You're with me, leather" Berman
- Adam "Grateful" Deadmarsh
- Stephane "Rebel" Yelle
- Milan "Na...Na,Na,Na,Na,Na,Naaaaa...Na,Na,Na,Naaaaa" Hejduk - sung to the Beatles' Hey Jude
- Martin "He Ain't Heavy, He's My" Brodeur - reference to the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
