The Great Nickname Debate
by Steve Perrin on Oct 6, 2009 8:48 PM PDT
in News
121 comments
Obviously, I've been quite pleased with myself over the whole Blake Superior thing. I really think it's a terrific nickname, and I plan to keep using it. I'm surprised that some of you citizens don't like it, but that's your prerogative. Of course it won't keep my from using Blake Superior - probably a lot - and if you want to use some other name for him, you're welcome to do that as well. In fact, go start your own blog and call him what you want. But the official Clips Nation moniker for Blake Griffin is 'Blake Superior'. What makes it official? Me. My blog, my rules.
But it all raises something interesting about the nature of nicknames. I was somewhat gratified that in Citizen moKi's impromptu poll, Blake Superior was in fact the leading vote getter, with 24 out of 98 votes. In second place was the simple BG with 22 votes. Which begs the question - can a guy's initials be his nickname?
Initials are simply that - initials. So while many people, including myself, will certainly refer to him as BG quite frequently, I just don't put that in the same category as Blake Superior. The question isn't "How will you refer to Blake Griffin?" Without doubt, we'll frequently refer to him as "Blake", or "Griffin", or "Blake Griffin" or even "BG". But none of those are really nicknames - they're just variations on his name.
It's actually a bit of a shame in fact. I would go into a long lament about the demise of the sports nickname, but Devin Gordon of Newsweek beat me to it. CP3, Melo, DWade... is this really the best we can do? Some combination of first initials, shortened names, and uniform numbers? Really? So yeah, we can call the guy BG or BGriff (4 votes) or Griff (3 votes), and probably some of us will, and that's fine. But we also need a name that is more than a simple editing exercise - we need a name with a backstory.
The Clippers own history with nicknames is pretty dismal. There was very little sweet about Michael (Kandiman) Olowokandi's game. Their best Clippers player of the past decade went by the oh so creative initials EB (although he now goes by FElton around these parts, which has a perfectly lovely backstory). The most seemingly clever Clippers nickname of recent history, "Kaveman", was never a good fit for a player who chooses to finesse shots around the basket when he should be overpowering people - I wish Chris Kaman behaved like a Neanderthal on the court, but he's usually much too refined for his own good. (If he's a caveman, he's one of those Geico ones, playing squash and drinking Merlot, at least as regards his on court persona.)
We've used a handful of our own appellations here at Clips Nation over the years, like Blanket (Cuttino Mobley) and Kaman 2.0 and MBFGC and the aforementioned FElton. It's fun having these little inside jokes and codes that only we understand, even if they don't catch on elsewhere (although FElton did refer to "Kaman 2.0" at least once late in the 07-08 season).
Let me also say that I have pragmatic reasons for wanting multiple ways of referring to players, Blake Griffin in particular. I'm likely going to be writing about him quite a lot over the next several years, and frankly stories flow much more easily if you're not typing the same name over and over. "Griffin looked good. Griffin got 20 rebounds. Griffin played solid defense." I will almost certainly be using BG at times, as a quick alternative. But it'll make my job a lot easier if we have more choices. So by all means, make more suggestions. I'll use as many as I like. After all, Shaq has at least 26 different self-appointed sobriquets.
(See? It's also nice to have choices when it comes to words, not just people. I love all of the different synonyms for "nickname." Appellation, sobriquet, moniker, nom de plume, nom de guerre, alias, handle.... Nickname is a great word for nicknames.)
The irony here, is that a 'Griffin' is a mythological beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. It was meant to combine the king of the jungle with the king of the skies - to take an incredibly powerful creature and give it the ability to also soar - which is EXACTLY what is unique about Blake Griffin. Way back in June when the Clippers worked him out, when I saw him with my own eyes, it was astonishing to see this beast of a man flying through the air. He IS a griffin. Unfortunately, that can't be his nickname, because it's already his name.
Nonetheless, I like the imagery enough that I haven't given up on devising a way to use it. Maybe by putting an article in front of it - The Griffin. That's pretty good. Or maybe by using an alternate spelling, like Gryphon. I also considered a literalist approach - call him Lion Eagle or Eagle Lion - but it ends up having too much of a Native American sound to it. Mythological Beast has some merit, but is even more of a mouthful than Blake Superior.
So while there are other possibilities, and I'm sure we'll come up with more and more, there's no question that I'll be using Blake Superior. It's descriptive (he is superior physically, as a player, in terms of dedication, etc.) and it is a play on a famous landmark (Lake Superior is that largest lake in North America, in case anyone still doesn't get it - no, it doesn't have anything to do with nuns). The fact that it's also the name of an imaginary friend on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends is just gravy.
I know that someone commented that the initials formed by Blake Superior were unfortunate, but that's just not relevant. If you're calling him Blake Superior, call him that. If you want to refer to him by initials, call him BG. This isn't his 'every-trip-down-the-court' handle - this is for special occasions. Think about a Cavs game - Mike Breen doesn't refer to 'King James' every time he touches the ball - usually it's LeBron this or LeBron that. But after a big play, it's "King James with the emphatic dunk." Same thing.
It will be interesting to see if Blake Superior catches on. The headline writers at ESPN.com came up with it (hopefully independently), and I've already plugged it with Ralph. Lisa Dillman complimented me on it last week, so she's been checking in and is aware of it, and says she likes it. So we'll see. Whether or not it catches on outside of Clips Nation, we can still have fun with it here. But our little community is growing, and getting more attention, so it's certainly possible that it could bust out. Ultimately he'll get the nickname he gets - I doubt that my own efforts are going to have much bearing on that.
And while we're on the subject, I'll leave you with a new nickname suggestion for the Clippers other young cornerstone - how about Cash Gordon?
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Nicknames should come naturally
in my opinion, through play and legacy. There should be a back story of some sort, like FElton or Kaman 2.0 (upgraded).
While you criticize CP3, DWade (also known as The Flash), etc for being uncreative and merely wordsmithing and Kandiman for wordplay.
Blake Superior is sort of the same. Blake was taken which sounds like lake and click Superior. While it makes sense and he’s a good physical specimen, I find it nothing more than a play on words.
It really has no story, no connection and thus doesn’t “hit home.”
I think many of us that are not thrilled with it, just want to wait. We want it to come organically and not so forcefully. We want to wait until he proves himself.
We just don’t want to rush it.
by Newtybar on Oct 6, 2009 9:02 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
As the old saying goes...
“let the game come to you…don’t force it…” (or you will get 26 turnovers…lol).
please excuse my near incoherent post, my brain is fried from work...
but you get the point…
definitley get what you mean
and I agree, many of the nicknames come naturally. Alot of it comes during the course of the season while/ when the player is proving/ proved himself.
I find that CP3, King James, and Superman came pretty naturally. For some reason, and even IF there is already a Flash, I find that Flash Gordon has a really good sound to it. Even if you (Steve) that initials are not a form of nicknames, I find that EJ also rolls off my tongue very nicely ( I usually refer to him as EG.)
Because Flash Gordon
is a VERY famous song(and, if im not mistaken, a movie as well)
http://lucasnbablog.blogspot.com/
30s-40s Comic Book Character
Unless I’m wrong. Classic.
I’ve been trying to push Flash Gordon since last season. It’s catchy AND it’s true. Can we please use that?
by Gordon for President on Oct 7, 2009 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I applaud the creativity, but...
Blake Superior just doesn’t roll off the tongue. First of all, what sense does it make to create a nickname that ADDS two syllables to the player’s real name? A nickname should be a quick and convenient way to refer to a player, not a mouthful of syllables. Second, the reference to Lake Superior just doesn’t make any sense – does Blake have any ties to the Great Lakes region? Is he especially large? No – he’s just “superior” at basketball. Kind of a weak connection, if you ask me.
I really like “The Punisher” or “The Bruiser,” but I agree with the posters above that we should watch him play for at least a few weeks before we christen him.
I don't think
“the Punisher” rolls very well with Blake either. Not to throw it under the bus becuase it might catch on, but I just don’t find it as effective either.
This is my point
“what sense does it make to create a nickname that ADDS two syllables to the player’s real name.” It’s not about convenience or shortening – at least not the way I see it. I get it, that’s why KG and AI are often used. But that’s just a different kind of nickname. And we can use BG for that.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 6, 2009 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
This is fun!
B-Lake
B-Gizzle/B-Grizzle
Bee to the Gee
Blake the Rake (hahaha what?!)
for the the team: Jon and Kate plus Blake
Frosted Blakes
wow that was rediculous
by AtotheZ on Oct 6, 2009 9:55 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
if you dont know the 'rake' part of that nickname watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKL7nyJrPAM
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.-1984 George Orwell.
Like "The Griffin"
Don’t like “Blake Superior” It just sounds dumb.
Commendable Post
What I love about this post is that SP is just sitting back and letting it flow. The nickname thing? Let’s talk about it, shall we? That being said, SP is working hard at this. So do we give him support, and get behind the Blake Superior of it all, or do we sit back and see how it goes?
My only comment is that I can’t believe that he made it through the entire post, and mentioned a number of Clipper monikers—Clippikers? Clippiquets? Clipnames?—, including a nicely framed FElton, the Blanket (perhaps SP’s finest Clippiker contribution to date), and Kandiman, who I generally refer to as Olowokancer, going back to my early ESPN message board days, and failed to mention one of the great nickmames OF ALL TIME, clearly the best Clippiquet ever: “Milph.”
Shall we break down the beauty of Milph? For just a second? First of all, how many nicknames refer to two people? Milph makes “G-Force,” a strong candidate for a joint Clipname for the Young Saviours, Griffin and Gordon, seem like, well, a G-rated Disney movie. It’s okay, but does not possess greatness. So yes, there is a new Clippiker that refers to two people, but it’s a bit G-neric. Milph is not only a perfect formation, it is even more exquisite to read than it is to say. So it’s great for our frisky little community here, where we, well, read a lot and don’t speak. Which begs the question, has anyone actually used the term “Milph” in speech? If not, it’s just a matter of time, especially now that we’re having an in-depth discussion of Clipnames. But obviously the most amazing thing is that Milph refers to the Lawler-Smith partnership, the combined talents of old goat libertarian, former Bill Walton partner (“Where would the Clippers be without Sean Rooks?”), Sweet Jo lovin’, sole Clipper Hall of Famer, our beloved Ralphie boy, and his partner, the young father of 10, former Clipper Mike Smith. It won’t be long until former Clipper Mike Smith is having multiple grandchildren. How great would it be for him to really be doing the Mormon thing right, and have three or four milfy wives? I’m actually a bit disappointed that Mike Smith doesn’t have at least 25 incredibly athletic kids by now. But the best thing about the Milph Clippiquet is that Ralph and Mike actually talk about it, with Ralph pretending that he has no idea what puritan, “no Coronas for me,” father of 10 former Clipper Mike Smith is talking about . Greatest thing ever. But enough, right?
I have to say that my quibble here is that I don’t think SP—what about that nickname, while we’re at it—has really done justice to the Kaveman Klippiker. I remember that he was skeptical about it in the early days, back when Kaman actually was chasing after the Kaveman look (SP left that part out). Unless I’m mistaken, his arguments against using the Kaveman Klipname were more persuasive than his passing glance here, but SP himself is the master of the Nation’s archives. I always liked it, and I also like using extra K’s whenever Kaman is in the vicinity. Kaman had a pretty good Clipname, and SP took it away. It hurt. A little bit. But we’re over it. If we could withstand the FElton debacle, we can live with SP making us forsake Kaveman in the hope that Kaman 2.0 would emerge. We’re still waiting.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that Baron Davis arrived in ClipsNation with plenty of nicknames from his electric GSW stint, but none of them has emerged as favorable beyond the basic BD. But the Beard is back, and as I saw mentioned elsewhere (in GSW coverage of the preseason opener), you know what that means.
Actually
Baron is still known as BoomDizzle, Bdiddy, BDizzle etc etc. I just feel like after he left Golden State and joined Dunleavy, he’s lost his BoomDizzle-ness that just made stadiums jump up to their feet. The electricity was gone the moment he arrived to camp fat, uninspired, and well… lets just saying Baron 07-08 said it all. I always thought BoomDizzle was a decent nickname for him.
Speaking of Mike Smith, and this is strictly a bit off topic, but since you mentioned it Zhiv, does Smith have more than 1 wife? I always here about his wife and how he’s having kids, but never thought of Smith having more than one even if he was a mormon.
One thing I didn’t get on in your post is your take, zhivs. Intrestingly enough you left the readers with a big question of whether to agree with Steve with Blake Superior, or whether to wait it out or create our own nickname. It’d beintresting whether the optimism of zhiv’s agrees with Steve on Blake Superior being as terrific as Steve thinks it to be.
Mike Smith
Only has one wife.
But since that wife has borne 10 children, and he’s a Mormon, I just thought it was funny to consider the idea of what the Smith family might be like if they picked up a few “sister wives.”
I fully support SP on Blake Superior. If another Clippellation (saw “appellation” below, that’s one I missed last night) evolves and beats it, so be it.
So Milph is hilarious, I agree, but it somehow feels disrespectful to Ralph and Mike. These guys are one of the biggest, if not biggest, reason I’m a Clipper fan. I love these two, and using Milph just sounds like we’re making fun of them. I dunno, maybe it’s just me.
by Gordon for President on Oct 7, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
It should be noted...
They made up Milph themselves. We just adopted it.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
I know! C'mon!
Another facet of its infinite beauty and complexity! Nice backup, SP.
They made it up themselves! Best nickname ever, untold depths, but no one will discuss it with me.
Paraphrasing
When the player is ready the nickname will appear.
I went to school with guys named Puss, Bone and Storka I have no idea how they got their nicknames.
I do think it has to be organic. Either way it’s fun. Blog on SP.
FElton
Since SP failed to mention it, it was ME who came up with FElton, although someone came up with Felton, FElton came along to avoid confusion with the Bobcats starting PG. See I can toot my own horn too!
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 7, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions
blake the griffin...
interesting thoughts on blake as a mythological griffin. if (actually, when) nike gives him his own shoe, his logo should be a griffin.
and apparently blake is an appropriate first name for our multiracial superstar. two meanings behind the name: “black” or “pale.”
TerGriffic
that’s a sick nickname right there haha
more on the name
Being originally from Michigan I love the idea of Blake Superior. But I have to admit that it just doesn’t roll. I suppose it’s great in theory but I just don’t see it catching on. But if it does and if there’s somehow a t-shirt made I’ll be the first in line!
Here are some others off the top of my head:
Blake Griffindor
Blakestradamus
B-Giddy
Blakeamus Prime
You get the point.
Funny
You went to Transformers… I had that thought as well. “More than meets the eye?”
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 6, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Good post overall but....
I’m a bit concerned about this quote: “But the official Clips Nation moniker for Blake Griffin is ‘Blake Superior’. What makes it official? Me. My blog, my rules.”
I hope this was in jest, as while I thoroughly enjoy this blog and I’m sure others appreciate the effort and time you’ve put in but the blog has certainly move past the point of being just a plain old blog. While you certainly play the chief role initiating topics for us to discuss its the feedback from everyone else that makes this place interesting not a individual point of view. After all its not called Steve’s Clippers Blog it’s called Clips Nation.
Alas, I’m not sold on the nickname of Blake Superior, its a bit arrogant (which I gather is very un-Blake-like), undeserved (someone referred to him as a superstar earlier, way premature) at this point and it doesn’t roll off the tongue that well in my sincere opinion.
In fact I prefer Blake “THE Gryphon” Griffin, as if you were introducing Michael Jordan, yes THE MICHAEL JORDAN. After some thought its not exactly necessary to come up with a nickname for him. Tim Duncan never really had a nickname and the only one really used is “The Big Fundamental” which a rival player dubbed him (The Big Cactus) so it has hardly affected his placement in the upper pantheon of the basketball immortals. Heck, here’s a guy who’s initials were TD and no one even called in Touch Down.
Okay, time to wrap this up, in closing its probably best to wait half a year or so before we give this young fella a nickname. He could be the the Harbinger of Boom by then.
FA in 2010.
Shaqtus
Wasn’t Shaq dubbed “the cactus” while playing in Phoenix? I think Steve just wants people to get off his back about using “Blake Superior”. I had no idea that a simple nickname could turn into such an argument. Anyways.. i can’t wait for his debut on Friday
The Clippers: Where you can have your Blake, and eat it too!
Big Cactus
I was being a bit facetious using the Big Cactus. He’s definitely known as Shaq (a good use of shortening a rare/unique name) as well as the Big Aristotle, Superman etc etc.
Not sure if that was SP’s intent, sometimes things are lost in translation in print. Heck, even Kanye West was modest at some point.
FA in 2010.
That sort of works
of course its a bit insensitive since Los Angeles experiences quite a few earthquakes. But it rhymes and makes sense.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 7, 2009 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions
kamanhomies hottest fantasy....
to be the meat inside a chris kaman- brian skinner sandwich
Clipper nicknames I and other's I deeply care for use frequently:
Eric Gordon: EG Thizzface Supreme (for his masterful facial expressions and beautiful smile).
Blake Griffin: Gas, Blake, Dip or “Blake and Mild” or Mista Fantastik or OE.
Brian Skinner: BSKINNZ.
Chris Kaman: Chris Kaman or Christopher.
Mardy Collins: Mardy the Party. Sometimes Mardy “Corners”, “Mucha Mantequilla.”
Baron Davis: Baronious.
Craig Smith: Chunky Craig.
Al Thornton: Alcindor Belvedere Thornton IV or Al Thizz.
Rasual Butler: Casual like Rasual.
Ricky Davis: Tyree Ricardo Davis (His actual real name) or Tricky Ricky or Ricky Buckets.
Yay yay.
How about BG32
I Kid.
I do like “BG Knoccout” or “Professor Griff” which are names of a couple old school hip-hop artists.
He has been referred as “The Terminator” in college.
Some other ones that could work are:
Oklahoma Slampede (Oklahoma Stampede was a finishing move from Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, and the name )
BAG Boy
Sir Dunksalot
Tenacious G
Blake of Wrath
first of all let me say whats up to everyone and dispense with the usual cliche and say “im a long time reader first time poster” although i was a regular poster at clippertalk when that site went down i’ve been content with reading rather than posting. strangely enough this is the first post i’ve felt compelled to write a comment about so here we go…
kudos to “the griffin” nickname although i’m probably gonna end up shortening that to griff but i like the mythological imagery that goes along with it. but what i wanted to comment about was ej’s lack of an enduring appellation(as you put it) and i believe nobody on here has used it yet even though i’ve been shouting it since last year at staples. anyways the nickname i have for ej is “Mighty Mouse” because of his resemblance(according to me atleast) with that old saturday morning cartoon rodent from my childhood…small but with super strength and the ability to fly!
Stoudamire
As jon y points out, Mighty Mouse is taken. Of course, Dwight Howard stole Superman from Shaq, so it could happen.
I like the Mighty Mouse thing for a couple of reasons. Gordon DOES kind of look like MM – round face with big cheeks, ridiculously muscular upper body, even the flesh tones are similar. And the Mighty Mouse theme song is one of the greatest of all time. “Here I come to save the day!”
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Superman
I always felt like it was kind of lame that Dwight stole Shaq’s nickname. Though I guess given the fact that Shaq used countless nicknames and was never known for one contributed to the public readily accepting Howard as Superman. Plus, Shaq kinda gave himself the Superman nickname while Dwight kinda “earned” it by his dunk contest win.
I’ll pass on MM for EJ though. I agree that it does work a bit, but he’s not that small, especially when there are countless PGs shorter than he is. Plus, Dwight Howard and some of the other Magic players call Jameer Nelson Mighty Mouse. What’s with them stealing nicknames? It’s a good fit for JNelson though.
Maybe just S&M
Small and mighty.
Probably not the best fit for Eric Gordon.
Blake Superior - Ugh again
I’ve commented a few times already on the nickname “Blake Superior” and why I don’t like it and think it’s wrong and forced. As I started to read your lengthy defense of your nickname today I decided not to comment further. As I got further into the piece I felt that since the kid had not even played a pre-season game yet it’s overreaching and pushing it to insist that you are “Clip Nation” and you’ll decide it if you feel like it. Of course you have a blog and got the website domain name “ClipsNation” but dear boy we are Clip Nation and we’ve been here long before you adopted the name. I still wasn’t going to comment but just before I moved on to another weblink it hit me, this isn’t about me or any of the other commentors or the Clippers or Ralph, or Lisa or Blake Griffin, It’s about your ego. Sorry. I’ll keep reading you, watching your coverage and comments, watch you grow as a sports writer but most of all I’ll be watching the Clippers and Blake Griffin and hoping that Dunleavy doesn’t screw it all up. Let’s Go Blake – Show ’Em What You Got!
by Plus15 on Oct 7, 2009 2:52 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Blake Superior?
Why don’t you just call him . . . . the Los Angeles Blaker?
I like the Eric Gordon/Blake Griffin duo: “Shake and Blake”!
by StuckeyDuck on Oct 7, 2009 3:11 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Blake has "lake" in it
The problem is any nickname with Blake’s first name is going to sound Lakerish. Maybe we should try to think of nicknames that only include his last name, initials, or metaphors that don’t include his name at all.
DeAndre for MFP - Most Funniest Player
My vote is not to reference his name or initials at all. You think Tim Duncan would have liked it if everyone nicknamed him "Tim Dunkin’ "? How lame is that?!
A name like that doesn’t work on understated players of substance like Duncan or Griffin. See my suggestions below. There may be better ideas out there.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 7, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
what about
blake-osaurus rex?
or if he and ricky davis start playing well together, we could call them “Ricky Blake” haha
by baron davis' beard on Oct 7, 2009 5:25 AM PDT reply actions
I' m with Steve
First, the season is set to start and, hopefully, in a few days we ´ll start talking about basketball again.
Second, I like Blake Superior, I don’ t necessarily love it, I’ m more in the let-it-flow-nickname side, but I don´t care. This isn’ t about Blake Griffin . It’ s about Mr. Perrin, our beloved ClipperSteve. He’s on a mission, and on this one, I’ ll be one of his soldiers.
Am I the only Clipper Fan in South America?
Everyone seems so focused on a play on words with Blake’s name. I wonder if it’s worth going in another direction and create a play on words but not incorporating his name… after all, does “black mamba” sound anything like “Kobe Bryant”? I keep coming back to the example of Karl Malone and “The Mailman”… since he “delivers.”… I like that type of word play…
A tie to the back story is essential since in this case, we’re talking about a guy who is coming to save the “worst franchise in sports”. That’s unique back story right there…
Sooooo… In light of the fact that the Clippers have been ailing as a franchise for longer than anyone can care to remember, how about “The Cure”, “The Antidote” or “The Elixir”?
Or going in a somewhat different direction, Blake is the guy who is going to turn around a team going in the wrong direction for a long time. So how about “The Redeemer”? Yes, perhaps a little too close to the last Olympic team nickname, but just different enough. And it feels right. Or “The Liberator” for unshackling a terrible team and setting it on the path to greatness.
Some of you may say “it’s too much pressure to put on a rookie to expect him to turn a team around.” But you know what, that is what everyone expects of this guy. And further, he seems like he has exactly the right personality to do it. This dude may never live up to the hype, but he will never wilt under the pressure of being “the guy.” It’s simply not in his personality
Lastly, we can go with “JaySlaw”, which is the nickname for the M1-J10 Main Battle Tank — the largest, fastest tank ever built. Which is perfect for him. A tank. The largest and the fastest. Yes!!!
Too bad the name is short for a “jihadi slaughter”.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 7, 2009 8:06 AM PDT reply actions
I whole heartedly agree
I like nicknames that come from some story or the players play style rather than on their name.
Can open, worms... everywhere!
Note to self: Topics to avoid – politics, religion and nicknames. Emotions just run too high.
Here’s the thing… I thought it was a pretty good post in it’s own right. The discussion of the nature of nicknames. I got a ‘commendable’ from CitizenZhiv, and a ‘good post overall’ from Citizen ClipperChuck. Talk about damning with faint praise.
The question of how serious I am about all this is fascinating to me. I mean, I know you don’t get intonation in writing, but come on. ClipperChuck wrote “I’m a bit concerned about this quote: ‘But the official Clips Nation moniker for Blake Griffin is ‘Blake Superior’. What makes it official? Me. My blog, my rules.’ I hope this was in jest.” Yes, it was in jest – tongue firmly embedded in cheek as I wrote that. Or maybe the real answer is, it’s not in jest but who cares? The official CN moniker? What does that even mean? That and $3.90 will get you a triple grande non-fat latte at Starbucks.
As to the question of ego raised by Citizen Plus15, I’d prefer not to go there. For over three years, I have written almost every day, for hours approaching the level of a full time job, in voluminous amounts. I make essentially no money doing so. My reward is simply that people read me. It seems to me that a strict Freudian would have a field day with this. Let’s face it – I do it for the attention. Ego? At some level aren’t we way beyond ‘ego’? This is narcissism, plain and simple. (In case you’re missing it, this too, is tongue-in-cheek, with a personally uncomfortable amount of truth to it.)
But I believe you misinterpret this particular situation, Plus15. This post is no more or less about my ego than any other post I write. This is what I chose to write about at the time.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
Funny
Who thought that coming up with a nickname would be so controversial? Pretty fascinating. I guess that everyone wants to have their say because once it’s set in stone it’s done. Kind of like running to put your handprint in the wet concrete before it dries.
DeAndre for MFP - Most Funniest Player
Handprints
As someone who manages sidewalk construction, I hate it when people do that. Everyone please keep your hands out of the wet concrete! Flat and smooth is a great look.
This is hilarious
Anybody think we’re ready to start discussing basketball? Jeez.
It’s always a little strange when people don’t get the joke. But the blogosphere is pretty random. Thanks to the tireless efforts of fearless leader SP we have a very good thing going here, which functions well even when the Clips are horrible, but it should be even more fun with the Clips on the upswing.
Blake Superior rules!
by citizen zhiv on Oct 7, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't know
This is an interesting discussion to me for the subtext. On the one hand, Steve started the blog and does a good job for the most part. On the other hand, there would be no blog, or at least a blog that is as interesting as this one is, without all of us, regulars in particular, playing a part. Steve knows this as he has created a space for all of us to share our opinions. The blog is more than just a page on a computer. It’s a living, breathing forum for ideas and interactions between all sorts of people.
When I read that Steve was laying down the law on the BG nickname I wasn’t sure whether he was kidding or not. Maybe he went out and got a trademark and has some skin in the game. Maybe he was asserting some sort of control. Or maybe it was a joke.
But it was interesting to see the different reactions by various citizens. The attempts to work through these issues on a bog we all enjoy.
Good stuff.
And no Blake Superiour doesn’t feel right to me. The guy hasn’t played an NBA game yet – if however that was his nickname in high school or college I suppose it would be ok.
by Jax on Oct 7, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions
"Laying down the law"
Your statement that he was “laying down the law” is kinda crazy. What does that even mean in this context? CS has no “law” over us. It’s not like he threatened to ban people who didn’t like it or didn’t use it. He said it would be “official” for his blog. That’s well within his rights to do. Just like it’s well within his rights to change the tag line, the graphics, the titles of articles, etc. The name of this blog is “official”. That’s what happens when the person who runs a blog decides to do something. It becomes “official.”
Does “official” mean everyone HAS to use it? That everyone HAS to like it? Obviously not. Steve can’t control that and doesn’t imply that he’ll even try. He’s not “laying down the law.”
People need to stop acting like Steve crossed some imagined boundaries of power. He did no such thing. You’re well within your rights to call Blake whatever you want and to object to the nickname. You’re also well within your rights to complain about anything, even the name of the blog, if you want. Nobody’ stopping you or anyone else.
What “control” was he asserting as you claim? None more than he asserts with anything else in the every day operation of this blog.
The point is, it’s his blog, and just like he can name it Clips Nation, he can decide to use Blake Superior to refer to Griffin. It’s Clips Nation’s “official” nickname for Blake. If you or anyone else doesn’t like it, oh well. Nobody really cares (just like nobody really cares that I do like it). Just don’t use it.
It’s just dumb that people are getting all riled up about this to the point of actually attacking Steve. It’s a nickname people. If you don’t like it, don’t use it. If you don’t want to read it, go elsewhere. Ultimately get over yourselves.
I think you misread my post
I just said that that’s what he said, not that this is what he was actually doing.
I’m not riled up – I was just commenting that some others may be riled up. Why are you riled up? Or are you ;-)
by Jax on Oct 7, 2009 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree
This whole thing is a great sociological piece. It’s been fun to sit back and watch really.
Sounds a lot like the front man in my band trying to call himself “Richard Regret” when the band name is Regrets & Brunettes. Might be clever, but we weren’t having it, though obviously there would have been no band at all had that issue divided us. It’s just awkward when people draw a line in the sand, for real, or for the possibility of being real.
I like adding "U"
Spices things up a bit. Credit to Jax.
Maybe “Blake Superiour” is the little high-end Brit addendum that we needed to get this thing over the top.
Credit for Brit spelling?
Nothing for substance?
Now I know how to get to Zhiv. Strange words and spellings.
by Jax on Oct 7, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Steve you can call BG whatever you want to call him in your writing
It’s your writing after all and it is up to whether the fans want to call him that or not, which is going to make it stick.
correct
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
I think,
that Blake Superior won the Poll because people on Clips Nation thought that they would get BANNED if they did not Vote for it.
Let him play first then we can nickname him, lets just hope he’s not the next “Kandiman”
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Yes, I would ban them..
first of all, polls are anonymous.
second of all, Blake Superior won the poll because it’s AWESOME! AWESOME I SAY! BOW BEFORE IT!
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Somtimes it's hard to tell on typed post but,
if you go to a Members profile you can see who they voted for on there post log.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
You can?
Huh. did not know that. Learn something new everyday.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps we need a "Jest Policeman" to monitor said postings and notify us when needed...
Yes… this comment in itself was written in jest.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 7, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Steve Will Not Ban You
But he may not “promote” your posts to the front page as much as Zhiv, mickey or other “good” citizens.
Welcome to reality. The EGO has finally reared it’s ugly head. This is Steve’s world and the rest of us just live in it.
Fair Enough
But there wasn’t much competition for Blake Superior, plus does Steve’s vote count?
Anyone who has read your stuff for more than five minutes KNOWS your comment was in jest.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 7, 2009 10:10 AM PDT reply actions
That's what I thought
But ClipperChuck has been around for awhile. I guess sometimes it’s hard to tell.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
I was hedging it
I was 80% certain you were but unfortunately I know a lot of intelligent and level-headed people who check their reason at the door when arguing points they are emotionally attached to.
Again, I was not attacking Steve for his nickname, merely voicing my concern that anyone uses the typical five-year old argument of if you don’t like it you can take your ball and go home. Perhaps I was being a bit sensitive to this but even the mere suggestion of such closed thinking makes be a bit anxious.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Oct 8, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions
"Citizens" Get a freaking grip
People need to relax and a few need to just shut up. It’s funny to me that I read people criticizing Steve for his “ego” in posts where people come off as self righteous and self important. You guys (and me) are nothing but viewers on a blog that Steve puts a LOT of work into and has been committed to for years now. Without his hard work, this site doesn’t exist. Without our often worthless comments, the show goes on (unless of course everyone stops visiting all-together obviously).
Bottom line, show some respect. Geez. We’re talking about a NICKNAME here. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. Call him whatever you want. But you guys are coming off like petulant childredn (even for my standards, which admittedly tends to be kinda confrontational).
Again, think about the topic we’re addressing here. It’s supposed to be FUN. The way you guys have criticized it is pretty ridiculous. Steve put it well when he compared the unwarranted reactions to those on topics like religion and politics.
Steve, as you well know, I LOVE the nickname. It’s clever and despite what others might say, has a good ring to it. And all these people trying to say nicknames come naturally don’t know what they’re talking about. Nicknames come when someone comes up with something that sounds good and it catches on. No more, no less.
Blake Superior is yours and you have every right on YOUR blog to push it. If it catches on, awesome. If not, oh well. It’s not that big a deal. I know you understand that. It’d be nice if others did as well.
+1
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 7, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree
I don’t think it’s the catchiest nickname, but hey, it’s the best I’ve heard so far and if it catches on I’m all about it. Steve puts more work into this blog than I could ever fathom doing myself. If it’s Blake Superior than it’s Blake Superior! Especially if the mainstreamed media is getting ahold of this why should we on a blog be the regression to the mean? The Clipper fan base is only so big — I say we draw comfort in the name and move on.
Real Life Instances of Blake Superior
I googled it and was amused to learn:
There is a NASA astronaut named Blake Superior
A high school basketball player named Chris Blake named himself Chris Blake Superior on MaxPreps.com
Some douchey dude (or someone who decided to post a picture of a douchey dude) has a Blake Superior page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Blake-Superior/1352833458
Maxim.com named Blake Lively “Blake Superior”: http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim/44565/blake-lively.html
Apparently anyone who’s lived with the name Blake all his/her life has been called Blake Superior. Maybe we should ask Blake what he thinks – what if he went through some childhood trauma when a teacher handed him an F and said “You’re supposed to be Blake Superior. Try harder next time.” I for one wouldn’t want a nickname to bring back any bad memories for BG…(once again for the jest police, I’m being facetious)
DeAndre for MFP - Most Funniest Player
Question
I think that Chris Blake guy plays for a team named ‘Superior’. Oh, and Blake was homeschooled, so no worries about grade school trauma.
I am planning to ask him about it, btw.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Haha
I have no idea, I’m sure you’re right. I just saw it online. That’s a pretty funny coincidence.
DeAndre for MFP - Most Funniest Player
Homeschooled?
Interesting. Tell us more. Good questions for Monsieur Superiour when there’s an opportunity to question him.
“So what was the homeschooling thing like? Did you do more work, or less? Like, a couple years of high school science and math, or just kind of covering the basics? Bio, chem, and physics, or just bio, or what? Read any interesting books? Favorite books? History quiz? Clipper history quiz? Tell us more.”
FYI
Skeets just used this post to lead today’s “10 man rotation.” Talk about feeding my massive ego! I RULE!
Thanks for stirring the controversy everyone. The comments are by far the best part of this post.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
Congrats to you. And your ego.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" – Albert Einstein
by Another son of Mike Smith on Oct 7, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Keep using it SP
We, the loyal members of Clipsnation, will take care of dissidents.
Blake Superior: The official Clips Nation moniker for Blake Griffin
by edu_argentina on Oct 7, 2009 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Shake and Blake!
I believe that Steve has a greater influence on the Clippers fan base than anyone else outside the Clips organization, and I think it’s funny that although he’s great at arguing his views, he can’t convince ClipsNation that he has a good nickname.
Sorry Steve, you can push it on Milph all you want or write things in jest to pretend like it doesn’t really matter, but deep down inside you want it. You want Blake Superior bad, but you can’t have it. You want to pretend the 75% disagreement rate is a fluke, and maybe, just maybe, a few more articles like this will change some minds.
C'mon Piatkowski!
All SP wants is the greatest Clipper season ever. He doesn’t care about BS. It either flies or it doesn’t. He’ll see, as he ruminates and writes out his deathless prose analysis of the compelling SoCal Wonders, aka the Clips. We’ll see how it goes.
“I believe that Steve has a greater influence on the Clippers fan base than anyone else outside the Clips organization, and I think it’s funny…”
Very nice.
Don't like Blake Superior much
but I can’t come up with a good alternative either.
I kind of like Shake & Blake, but that’s not really a nickname…Shake & Quake…not as good.
I think Flash for EJ is ripe for the taking…outplay DWade this year!
I also think we should start refering to Kaman as Geico…love that.
nicknames are cool and all...so is Blake Griffin
but i hope this topic/thread isn’t the new “What’s going on with Sessions news; Versions 1-X”-thing
This Ought To Help You Settle It
From Rhymzone.com:
Definitions of Blake:
* noun: visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
* name: A male given name (common: 1 in 2777 males; popularity rank in the U.S.: #342)
* name: A surname (common: 1 in 3571 families; popularity rank in the U.S.: #403)
* name: A female given name (rare: 1 in 100000 females; popularity rank in the U.S.: #4178)
Words and phrases that rhyme with blake: (196 results)
1 syllable:
ache, ake, bake, brake, break, cake, dake, drake, fake, flake, haik, hake, jacque, jake, lake, make, naik, paik, pake, plake, quake, rake, sake, schake, schlake, schnake, schwake, shaik, shaikh, shake, shrake, snake, spake, stake, steak, take, wake, yake
2 syllables:
ash cake, awake, blind snake, bran flake, bull snake, chopped steak, cliff brake, corn cake, corn flake, corn snake, crumb cake, disc brake, disk brake, dive brake, drum brake, fish cake, fish steak, flank steak, foot brake, forsake, glass snake, grass snake, green snake, ground snake, hand brake, head ache, hoop snake, hot cake, house snake, joint snake, king snake, lined snake, lyre snake, milk shake, milk snake, mistake, night snake, oil cake, opaque, partake, pine snake, pound cake, prune cake, rat snake, remake, retake, ringed snake, ring snake, rock brake, rock cake, rock snake, round steak, rump steak, sand snake, sea snake, spice cake, sponge cake, strip steak, swiss steak, tax break, tea break, to make, vine snake, whip snake, white cake, wood drake, worm snake, yeast cake
3 syllables:
angel cake, birthday cake, black rat snake, buckwheat cake, canker brake, carpet snake, cattle cake, chicken snake, chiffon cake, chocolate cake, coaster brake, coffee break, coffee cake, congo snake, coral snake, cotton cake, double take, garden rake, garter snake, give and take, glossy snake, gopher snake, great salt lake, hognose snake, honey cake, icebox cake, johnny cake, journey cake, layer cake, lie awake, marble cake, minute steak, oxbow lake, parking brake, pasture brake, peppered steak, pepper steak, piece of cake, red rat snake, ribbon snake, ringneck snake, rough green snake, service break, shawnee cake, shooting brake, silver hake, skillet cake, smooth green snake, spider brake, spitting snake, stomach ache, t-bone steak, take the cake, tartar steak, thunder snake, tiger snake, tipsy cake, water snake, wedding cake
4 syllables:
angel food cake, applesauce cake, banded sand snake, battle of wake, coconut cake, cottonseed cake, devil’s food cake, eastern ground snake, hamburger steak, hydraulic brake, indigo snake, purple rock brake, salisbury steak, western blind snake
5 syllables:
artificial lake, asian coral snake, banded water snake, burning at the stake, common garter snake, common water snake, eastern coral snake, emergency brake, indian rat snake, new world coral snake, old world coral snake, western coral snake, western ribbon snake
6 syllables:
african coral snake, american rock brake, australian coral snake, eastern indigo snake
Words and phrases that can be pronounced similarly to blake: (18 results)
blay, bley, blade, blaich, blaske, blame, blane, blaine, blayne, blain, blake’s, blakes, blase, blaese, blaise, blaze, blaize, blayze
Words and phrases that have the same consonant pattern as blake: (71 results)
1 syllable:
balk, balke, behlke, beilke, bel’c, belk, belke, bielke, bilk, black, bleak, blech, bleck, bleich, blick, bloc, bloch, block, blok, bloke, boehlke, bohlke, bulk
2 syllables:
balik, balko, beaulac, belak, belich, belka, belko, berlack, bielak, bilek, bilka, bilko, billick, bilyk, blacker, black eye, blaikie, blaker, blakey, bleaker, blecher, blecker, bleecker, bleeker, bleicher, blocher, blocker, boelkow, bolek, bolich, bolick, bolker, bolkow, bulky, bulloch, bullock, bulluck, by luck, oblak, oblique
3 syllables:
balicki, bellyache, bialek, bialik, bielecki, bulkier
4 syllables:
bialecki, billerica
Go at it boys!
by Clipster Hipster on Oct 7, 2009 3:49 PM PDT reply actions
That post is almost as long as a short Zhiv piece
by Jax on Oct 7, 2009 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha!
But perhaps it’s not a bad prompt for a discussion of William Blake, visionary poet. Didn’t think of that.
If anybody who hangs out at ClipsNation isn’t familiar with William Blake, not that any citizens wouldn’t be, go straight to wikipedia and familiarize yourself with one of the coolest and craziest dudes of all time. He reminds me of Kaman a little bit, actually. At any rate, Blake lived in his own world and he was a pretty solid artist but a very respectable poet, but it didn’t matter to him, he just did his own thing.
William Blake became extremely collectible after the war, when Geoffrey Keynes led the way in reestablishing him as a worthy contemporary of Byron and Shelley. There’s a great children’s book called “William Blake’s Inn” which introduces little kids to Blake and his Songs of Innocence and Experience, a fine companion to Wordsworth and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads, and English Romanticism.
Maybe we should start calling him William Blake, just to add to the confusion.
Visionary Poet?
That has a certain ring to it. “Alley oop to the visionary poet!”
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Nice photo work
Maybe we should call him “the elbow.”
That was BDL's work
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Anyone notice the Word of the Day today?
foofaraw – excessive or flashy ornamentation; also, a fuss over a trivial matter.
As in, “What was the deal with that whole foofaraw over Blake Griffin’s nickname?”
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
Never heard that word
Quite the foofaraw, indeed.
Curious about foofaraw derivation. Have to admit that I haven’t been paying attention to the word of the day. It’s very important.
listening to Public Enemy #1 on Pandora radio
made me think…
what about PROFESSOR GRIFF!!???
damn! that’s tight!
I know the real prof griff was anti-semetic and all, but i like the sound of it …
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
Crater Blake?
Tons of potential lakes. Superior just happens to be the best one.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Mammoth Blakes!
'Cause how you play, is how you'll be remembered. PLAY LOUD!
by CLiPPz WeRD 12 on Oct 7, 2009 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Castaic Blake.
cause castaic is near where I live, he shold be nicknames such in honor of me
http://lucasnbablog.blogspot.com/
blake griffin nickname
since Griffin can’t be used as the article states, why not call him what a griffin is… a Soaring Lion. think about it… “The soaring lion to the basket… scores!”
Soaring Lion...
Still a little too Native American.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Oct 7, 2009 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Blake superior is dead!
He has been dubbed “Amazin” by his team mates. By Telfair to be exact.
by MannyA on Oct 20, 2009 10:27 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
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