Official Bulls Nicknames

The playoffs are coming quickly, and we have a problem. The occasional lack of focus and cold spells on offense? The fact times when Bogans isn't helping at all but still on the floor? The fact that Kurt Thomas is still sometimes getting important minutes?

No. The problem is we're not all on the same page nickname wise with this Bulls team. Let's fix that with this handy guide:

Tom Thibodeau= TT

This was originally just because I didn't feel like looking up "Thibodeau" every time I wanted to write his name (I've been calling him TT for so long I had to look it up for this post.) But I also think it's funny to call a guy so serious he apparently has no life outside of basketball a name that sounds vaguely like a gogo dancer's.

Omer Asik= Turkish Delight (Turkish D for short)

I like Stacey's "Aseek and Destroy" but that's really more of a catchphrase than a nickname, so I'd rather go with Bill Wennington's suggestion of Turkish Delight. Plus it allows for plenty of "Snatch" quotes. "Hey, how long on those sausages?" "Two minutes, Turkish." "You said two minutes five minutes ago..."

Ronnie Brewer= The Baseline Ninja (TBN for short)

Other than TT, this is the only one I can take credit for. Ronnie at least once a game scores a basket where he sneaks undetected along the baseline and someone finds him for an easy layup. Every now and then someone else tries it and fails, only Ronnie has the ninja skills necessary to make the play work.

Brian Scalabrine= White Mamba

No need for explanation here, Stacey pretty much solidified this one.

Kurt Thomas= Big Sexy (when good), Kurt Thomas (when sucking)

After a rocky start which I was very angry about, Kurt filled in adequately for whatever big man was injured, allowing Taj and Turkish to play together with the 2nd unit. And sometimes when Kurt is flopping like a ragdoll drawing charges, hitting the 17 footer, and playing decent straight-up post defense, he's earned the Big Sexy nickname Stacey he gave him when they played for the Heat together in 95-96. When he's not rotating on D and messing up offensive plays by not being athletic enough to get where he needs to be on time, though, I'm not calling him that.

Kyle Korver= Alfredo Sauce (Fredo for short)

Stacey is loving the "Hot Sauce" call, but the problem is, Hot Sauce is already taken as a nickname.



(Don't act like you didn't watch And-1 tapes back in the early 00s)

So BJ submitted "Alfredo Sauce" for reasons that I'm sure had nothing to do with race whatsoever. I like it, and endorse it fully.

Derrick= Derrick

It's too premature to start comparing Derrick to MJ...but I'm going to do it anyway. When you say the name "Derrick" in Chicago right now, even if you aren't talking about the Bulls (or sports in general), people know who you're talking about. You don't need a nickname when you've completely co-opted your first name. Derrick is simple, business-life, and doesn't need all the flash and dazzle, which is exactly why he doesn't need a ego-boosting nickname. And why we all love him.

If you have any more suggestions, leave them in the comments. I feel like Taj or CJ are due for nicknames soon.