Many of us grew up having, or knowing someone who had, a nickname, and that’s how we were referred to, or how we referred to another person or what we called that person through our lives. As a coach, I almost always changed a player’s name if I could, either adding letters or syllables to his name (i.e. John became Johnny, Dan was Danny, Shane became Shaner, Zach was Zachman, etc.) or we just formalized certain names when urging players on during a game (Mike was always Michael, Bob might have been Robert, etc.). Sometimes you got a special nickname based on someone you looked like (a movie or TV character, etc.), or the opposite of a physical feature (ex. A tall kid called “Shorty,” or based on your last name. When my son Jon played college ball, his nickname was “Lombo.” Sally and I became accustomed to being recognized as “Papa Lombo” and “Mama Lombo” for four years, (and continued by some with whom I “talk” on Facebook) by the players on the team. A former player of mine back in the early nineties, Steve Neubauer, didn’t really like Stevie or Steven, so everyone called him “Neubs.” Another player on the same team, Todd Terwilliger, we just called “Twigs.” One of our Cooperstown Kids player’s last name was Pucciarelli. His nickname was “Pucc” (Pooch). I played softball for St. James in the Church League way back and played with two John Lamancusos, one with black hair who’s now a doctor, and one with red hair who’s now a judge. To make it easy, we just called them “Johnnie Black” and “Johnnie Red.” (Not to be confused with the Johnnie Black and Johnnie Red whose “family” last name is Walker.) And two of the most widely known nicknames in our area are “Fnork” and “Fudgie.” (I’m sure I don’t even have to tell what their real names are.) Having a nickname was/is kind of cool.

There have been numerous celebrities in sports, theater, movies, music, many dignitaries in politics, many landmarks, and all fifty of our states that have nicknames attached to them, but how many of us can identify the actual name substituted by that nickname?

Part One of this topic was printed, and ran a long while back, and dealt mainly with baseball nicknames. Part Two expands the list of genres to other sports’ personalities, entertainers, people, places, and things commonly referred to by using a nickname.

So, friends and loyal readers, it is quiz time once again. Take a big swig of that coffee, get your brain awake, and ready to tackle this most recent compilation of “probably insignificant, but stuff Lombardo remembers,” in this, the latest quiz edition of the Voice from the Bullpen.

Who, or what, is attached to these nicknames … (Clue … a few of these were included in Part One, which, as stated, appeared in this forum a while back … just checking your short term memory too.)

1.) The Duke (actor)

2.) The Duke (baseball player)

3.) Ike (politician, military leader)

4.) The Pelican State (U.S. State)

5.) Old Hickory (President)

6.) Dizzy (baseball player…too easy so give his full name…first, middle, last)

7.) The Velvet Fog (singer)

8.) Old Ski Nose (actor and comedian)

9.) Old Ironsides (Historic Relic)

10.) Sweetness (Football Player)

11.) The First State (U.S. State)

12.) Yogi (baseball player…must have full name)

13.) Jack (War hero, Politician, President)

14.) The Wolfman/Wolfman Jack (Radio DJ)

15.) Tippecanoe (former President)

16.) The Refrigerator (Football Player)

17.) The First Lady of Song (singer and performer)

18.) The Sultan of Swat (baseball player, another too easy one…give full name…first, middle, last)

19.) The Queen of Soul (singer)

20.) The Great One (hockey player…I’m making this way too easy)

21.) Cousin Brucie (Radio DJ who, in his 80s, is still on radio today)

22.) The Father of the Constitution (President)

23.) Old Blood and Guts (Military Leader)

24.) The Magnolia State (U.S. State)

25.) The World’s Oldest Teenager (music producer, TV host)

26.) The King of Rock and Roll (I might as well give you the answers to these, they are so easy)

27.) Clyde the Glide (basketball player)

28.) The Pearl (# 27’s teammate)

29.) The Desert Fox (military leader)

30.) Three Fingers (baseball player)

31.) Night Train (football player)

32.) The Rocket (hockey player)

33.) Uncle Walt (visionary, creator, and producer)

34.) Uncle Miltie (entertainer)

35.) The Peach State (U.S. State)

36.) The General (basketball coach)

37.) The Georgia Peach (baseball player)

38.) The Big Train (baseball player)

39.) The Iron Lady (political leader)

40.) The Godfather of Soul (singer)

41.) The Greatest (boxer … are you kidding me … I should have just given you the two points so better give me his birth name)

42.) Daffy (baseball player — #6’s younger brother)

43.) Wilt the Stilt (basketball player…boy this is embarrassing making up these cinchy questions)

44.) Dr. J (basketball player)

45.) The Green Mountain State (U.S. State)

46.) Old Rough and Ready (President)

47.) Cool Papa (baseball player)

48.) The Chairman of the Board (singer and actor)

49.) Mr. Cub (baseball player)

50.) Rapid Robert (baseball player)

Well, how do you think you did? I’ll give the answers just in case you need them. Same procedure as past quizzes, take your correct number multiply … in this case … by two. Hope you did well.