As I was preparing my array of football snacks in the kitchen, I suddenly heard the announcer on the television shout, “Megatron! He’s going, chased by four Cowboys.” Now, I know Transformers are very capable robots, but when did they start playing football? Why have I not heard of this invasion? I knew that Camaro in the parking lot was giving off strange signals.

Well, when I finally reached the television screen to see the precautions to prepare for the Decepticons, I ended up just simply watching a replay of Calvin Johnson’s opening drive against the Dallas Cowboys. This got me thinking. First, why was Calvin Johnson deemed “Megatron”? And second, why were athletes given certain nicknames?

According to SB Nation, Roy Williams, former Detroit Lions wide receiver, dubbed Johnson “Megatron” due to his enormous size, athletic ability and large hands. However, Johnson is not the only athlete to receive a quirky yet accurate nickname. One of the most well-known nicknames of an athlete is Michael “Air” Jordan. Obviously, from history, Jordan earned this nickname for his ability to “defy gravity” and dunk the ball. Some nicknames may not be as familiar, though. For example, some people might not recognize the names “Dr. J”, “the Bus”, “Primetime”, “White Shoes”, “Slash”, “the Splendid Splinter,” or “Kung Fu Panda.”

Dr. J did not sing rap songs with Eminem; he was actually another famous basketball player. His real name is Julius Erving; according to Class Act Sports, he was first called “doctor” by his friend Leon Sanders, who Erving nicknamed “the professor.” These names may seem ridiculous to some, but, overall, they enhance the experience of whatever sport one may be watching. The ability of some random individual to call a “famous” athlete by a nickname breaks down the social barrier established between the two. Another nickname present in the sports world is “the Splendid Splinter.” Fact Monster stated that the reason Ted Williams, an American professional baseball player, received the name “Splendid Splinter,” is because he is “tall and thin like a splinter with a splendid swing.” Lastly, a baseball player by the name of Pablo Sandoval earned his nickname “Kung Fu Panda” due to one particular play that the Christian Scene Monitor described. On September 19, 2008, Sandoval scored a run against the Dodgers by jumping over the tag of catcher Danny Ardoin, which caused teammate Barry Zito to give him the name coinciding with the large panda named “Po” from the DreamWorks film.

By calling athletes by “pet names,” individuals feel a personal connection to that athlete, which in turn heightens the emotions the individuals may feel toward a team. When one assigns someone a nickname, a special or peculiar meaning is usually behind it, but, nevertheless, it still creates a unique bond between those individuals. But just beware that this “bond” does not mean it is okay to scream at the player through the television screen. They cannot hear you.