Wednesday, March 01, 2006


This is going to be a recurring feature, where I give you my starting seven on qualities as varied as handedness and meal preferences.

Madonna. Prince. Liberace. Lebron. In most facets of sports and entertainment there are those few who define themselves less with their name than with their larger-than-life persona. These are the people who have no need for a last name. We talk of them at the water cooler, around couches in drafty dilapidated student housing, between bong rips or on road trips. The first name usually suffices, though sometimes the last name is just as good. Their personalities are as unique as their monikers, and we pay our respect by not burdening them with more than one.

Ultimate is no exception. We have our ballers, our cartoon personalities, our superstars and miscreants known so well one name suffices. Here I bring Open Ultimate's Starting Seven one-name players:

Chase
Cruickshank
Nord
Idris
Gerics
Zip
Beau

There are others. But when you hear those names, there is no doubt in anyone's mind as to who you're talking about: instant recognition. What other characters come close?

23 comments:

Tarr said...

Forch. Hollywood.

phil said...

lou

Anonymous said...

damien, maybe? I think hinkle too. mickey? boardman? does richter count, or is that a nickname? rogacki should be.

Anonymous said...

cough cough*Hector!*cough cough
cough cough*Hh!*cough cough

someone's gotta say it eventually...
who else has provided us with ultimate's first legitimate story of heartbreak and soap opera?

Guam

degs said...

Forch, Hollywood, Damien, and Hinkle are all good nominees. Might even put two of them on the squad in lieu of Zip and Beau. Is this list irrespective of positions? And are we talking best seven players or seven most recognizable names? (So in the latter case Damien, not being unique like we might like it to be, might not make the cut.)

Anonymous said...

Tully, Parinella, Moons, Dobyns (of course there are 2 of 'em)

Anonymous said...

Uhh, hello.

one word, one man, one dream

"Benji"

'nuff said

Anonymous said...

Is De Frondeville one name or two?

Anonymous said...

I don't like the choice of "Gerics" because so many people call him something else (Mike G.)

Actually, I would argue that for this list, it'd be preferable to have players who not only are known by a single name, but who are not known by any other. For example, everyone knows Cruikshank's first name is Jeff and Idris' last name is Nolan. How many people know any other way to refer to Liberace, Prince or Madonna?

In this vein I nominate Idaho.

Anonymous said...

Idaho: Jaime Arambula! Off the list...

Anonymous said...

From one that doesn't directly know most of those guys I'd definitly leave Cruikshank on the list.

I'd be tempted to removed Alex Nord because I normally hear him refered to by his full name.

I think Chase and Beau are excellent examples.

Anonymous said...

> Idaho: Jaime Arambula! Off the list...

Just because YOU know his name, "anonymous" -- if that is your real name -- doesn't mean he's off the list. I knew his name, too. I also know Madonna's last name is Ciccione or some shit like that. Likewise, I know Chase's last name is Sprawling-Booklength, and I'm pretty sure I heard Beau's is like KitKat or something -- but who the hell ever says that, and how many people are as in the know as you and I?

Anonymous said...

C-K, Shekky

Anonymous said...

Cork, Cribber. Or are we talking about current players?

I know C-K as Sammy, or Sammy C-K.

What about women, or do they not count? Miranda, Dom.

Face it, no one in ultimate has truly become one-named like Madonna or Prince. Someone will always know their full name, if no one other than their teammates.

Anonymous said...

we're talking about knowing someone on the field as an exceptional player **cough cough**

Anonymous said...

tuba

Anonymous said...

I second Benji - great call!

Anonymous said...

what about tank or skip?

Anonymous said...

highschoolhucka mentioned Rogacki, who many knows simply as Gack

how about initials ( or is this a separate topic)?

MG (Mike Grant, or does Gerics have that one too)

CVH

any others?

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... initials might be a different team. CVH, FJM, CK, etc.

Anonymous said...

Pony

the biggest little man in ultimate

Jake said...

pony? i've played pony and he's no turtle...

xlpharmacy said...

Yeah they are destined to be the laugh of the society always, and they will become drug addicts, always they finish the same.