The odd evolution of Stephenson’s nickname
Posted: Thursday, October 08, 2009 8:02 PM
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Freshmen
If there’s one thing college basketball needs, it’s more nicknames. And by more, I mean any.
Thankfully, that’s where a guy like Lance Stephenson comes in.
Stephenson, a freshman at Cincinnati, is known in New York hoops circles as “Born Ready.” He left NYC as the state’s all-time leading scorer, thus the name. But at Cincy, he’s earned a new nickname.
“Almost There.”
I know. Feels like a Laurel and Hardy skit. And Stephenson and the Bearcats know it. They’re having some laughs with it.
"He thinks it's funny. It's a sign that Lance is just one of the guys here," Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin told FOX’s Jeff Goodman. "The guys get on him and joke around with him. He's never really been able to just be one of the guys before."
But I like that he’s racking up the monikers. A budding sports star can never have enough. Think of all the great sports nicknames (nice list here), and how they help burnish an athlete’s reputation. Would we know who Rod Smart is without “He Hate Me?”
Stephenson just needs to make sure his nickname evolution continues. “Almost There” can stick … for now.
