You’d like to think one has to achieve something, anything, at the highest level to be given a nickname. That, or something equally dubious. “Wilt the Stilt” has done both. Evidently, as this faily comprehensive list of NBA nicknames points out, you don’t often have to do much.

We say “fairly comprehensive” because though it has “The High-Ayatolla of Slamola” assigned correctly (we assume) to Larry Nance, it has some glaring omissions like “Pale Rider” for Keith Van Horn. Maybe if a murderer gives you a nickname it doesn’t count.

We think the best one on this list may be the nickname supposedly bestowed by “The Round Mound Of Rebound” to Sam Cassell, and that is: “Gollum”. We were always kind of partial to Ant Man, until reading that. It is kind of rough, because, admittedly, Cassell’s game is one of our all time favorites.

Please supply us with any nicknames you like, but didn’t see on the list.

Many aspects of that morning are nonsensical and even dreamlike. It was cold. It was January. It was 1981. My father and I sat in the basement of a neighbor’s house. I don’t know where they were, but we sat alone in the dark, in our jackets. The heat was off. They might have been away on vacation somewhere warm. Somewhere not Boise. That could explain why the room was positively filled with dogshit. Kind of. I think my folks were dog sitting, more or less.

The game had come down to this final drive by the Browns. I envied my father’s focus and intensity. My concentration was broken often by the conscious effort I had to place on breathing exclusively through my mouth. After an improbable series of plays, the Browns found themselves at the Oakland 13 with less than a minute to play and down just two points. Kings of the comeback, The Kardiac Kids were about to do it again! Then Red Right 88 happened. A playcall so infamous it has its own wikipedia entry.

Nearly 30 years later, I wouldn’t change a thing. The cold, the dogshit, my father putting his metal folding chair through my neighbor’s television. Afterall, Red Right 88 made me who I am today: a guy who knows when to kick the field goal.

It also became apparent that sports was going to play a huge role in my life. Only at times am I ashamed of this.

I have had a love affair with sports for the better part of 36 years, and this love has manifested itself as a t-shirt company.

I’d like to formally welcome you to 4th & Forever. We are open for business, open for suggestions and generally open along the baseline.