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Reactions: Nicknames

Users suggest monikers for Stiles and Riley

Posted: Thursday March 29, 2001 6:11 PM
Updated: Sunday April 01, 2001 11:59 PM

Southwest Missouri State's Jackie Stiles, one of the greatest scorer ever, and Notre Dame's Ruth Riley, the most dominating center in the game today, will be starring in the Final Four this weekend. Great players need a nickname, so CNNSI.com users wrote in with their suggestions. A sample of the responses we received follows:

I think Jackie "Smooth as Silk" Stiles fits perfectly. Every shot she makes looks so smooth and effortless. Even her off-balance/desperation shots look "Smooth as Silk."
Dennis Allmendinger, Seoul, Korea

Ruth Riley -- "The Happy Camper" because she camps out under the offensive basket and waits without moving from the paint.
Reid Fraser, Farmington, Conn.

Probably the Kansas Tornado (Stiles is from Kansas, gasp) or something really cheesy that we can name a brand of shoes after. A corporate sponsor would have to have a part of the nickname too. Taco Bell Tornado.
Eli Ringler, Stockton, Mo.

I would call Jackie Stiles the "Finally Recognized Star". Not very many people have seen her play until these last two games. They have heard about her, but never knew just how great of a player she really is.

Ruth Riley should be called the "Monster". She is so tall, and strong that when she catches the ball in the post, you mind as well put two points on the scoreboard.
Ronnie Hawks, Greenfield, Mo.

Sure Shot Stiles would be a great one for Jackie because, let's face it, anytime Jackie goes up for a shot it will go in almost every time. She can shoot from anywhere at anytime and under the most extreme circumstances. She does not lose her focus and is completely involved in her game.
Misty Brand, Springfield, Mo.

False premise. First, great players don't need nicknames -- Michael, Carl, Kareem, Charles, Cheryl, and many, many more have got along quite well without nicknames manufactured by a news bureau poll. Second, Jackie Stiles' small town mid-western wholesomeness and grit are part of what makes her so appealing as an athlete. Her All-American name, Jackie, is as much a part of her persona as is John Stockton's name or Tim Duncan's name. No need to mess around with those.
Tom Bertrand, Brevard, N.C.

The nickname I would make for Jackie Stiles would be Jackie "Tornado" Stiles because she plays like a tornado - she's all over and a great, great player. She moves all over the court to drive into the paint to get the basket. There are so many things to say about Jackie Stiles but so little time. Jackie Stiles is my Basketball idol. I think she is the Michael Jordan of women's basketball!

Ruth Riley - I think her nickname would be Ruth "Major-D (defense)" Riley. I chose this because she's a great center. Her defense is unbelievable. She is a great player!
Caitlin, East Brunswick, N.J.

Jackie Stiles doesn't need a nickname. The GREAT players - Michael, Gretzky, Babe, Tiger - need only one name. Out here, in Missouri, and soon nation-wide, people know there is only one "Jackie."
Gary Lyndaker, Gravois Mills, Mo.

Jackie Stiles, should be nicknamed the "GUN" because she can pull the trigger from anywhere. Ruth Riley, should be nicknamed "Goliath" the giant force inside.
Erica Redman, Miami, Fla.

Jackie Styles should be nicknamed "Water." She drains buckets and her shot is fluid.
Lonnie Allen Yeager, Lancaster, S.C.

Ruth Riley: "Irish Flair." Reasons: "Irish" for obvious nexus with Notre Dame/ethnic roots of name Riley. "Flair": Double entendre -- she has talent, style/court charisma AND (flare) lights up the arena and is easily visible.
Bill, Huntington, Conn.

Jackie "Sureshot" Stiles because she is dead on every time she picks up a basketball. Ruth "The Dominator" Riley because with her in the middle the whole complexion of the game changes.
Anthony Jackson, Tallahassee, Fla.

Jackie "X-Files" Stiles. An easy choice - just look at her "otherworldly" statistics! It would take more than Mulder and Scully to solve the mystery of her crossover.
Kurt Shirkey, Lubbock, Texas

Stylin' Jackie Stiles. Style points? No, Stiles points. Give 'em to her.
Randy Sheehan, Crystal Springs, Miss.


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