There is so much happening on the news scene these days it is hard to keep up. In case you haven’t noticed, the presidential race is topsy-turvy. But let’s not talk about that, it is not good for my blood pressure.
The Olympics are upon us. Simone Biles looks good in women’s gymnastics and is expected to win another medal or two, or three, but she may have a challenger in a Brazilian gymnast who might give her a run for her money. I’ll keep an eye on that for you because I know how excited you are.
After recent shocking events, the country continues to struggle with firearm regulations … again, the folks across the pond in the UK are considering stronger laws on crossbow use. Apparently, they are waiting for the Knights of the Round Table to gather to vote on the plan.
Speaking of voting, on the local level our town fathers … er parents? Got it, the Mattapoisett Select Board was expected to appoint a citizen’s committee to observe the status of the never-ending road/tree issue. In case you still haven’t been paying attention, a large assembly of those citizens attended a meeting at the fire station a while back, and later the Town Meeting voted to request the board to form such a committee. (Forming committees is what we all know government does best.)
It was assumed that the vote of the people would move the issue along. But the people appear to have been stymied. You know, the people as in “the people have spoken” and “of, by, and for the people.” But no, squabbling ensued at a recent meeting about the size of the committee, one board member wanted five members, another three and the third didn’t want any. The issue was tabled. By the time you read this it might all be settled, or the harbor might be frozen over. You never know. Oh well, life goes on.
So, let’s talk about something else, say pickleball? No, that has been beaten to death. How about nicknames? Everyone has a nickname, right? Well, come to think of it, my friend David has no nickname, he has always been just David. Nobody calls him Dave.
I don’t mean like “Joe,” short for Joseph, or “Ed,” short for Edward, or “Pete” for Peter. I mean like “Mookie” Betts, the baseball player, whose real name is Markus. He got the name when he was a baby because of the way he said “milk.”
Speaking of “baby,” it is one of the top five nicknames in the world. According to the website Preply.com – people actually study these things – love, honey, dear and babe complete the list. Babe is short for Bambino, which was Babe Ruth’s nickname. He also was called the “Sulton of Swat,” “The Colossus of Clout,” “The Titan of Terror,” and “The King of Crash.”
Whew. The Babe must hold the record for nicknames. A close second in the sports world would be Ted Williams, the “Splendid Splinter,” “Teddy Ballgame,” and “The Thumper.”
It seems as though every athlete has a nickname. Locally my favorite was “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler. He loved his nickname so much he legally adopted it. “Tiger” Eldrick Woods, the great golfer, stands out on a long list of celebrities.
Presidents have nicknames. James Madison was “Jemmy,” Martin Van Buren “Dandy” for his fancy clothing, Lyndon Johnson was “Bull” and, of course, “Tricky Dickie” and “Slick Willie,” neither of whom needs to be identified here. President James Earl Carter Jr. was known as “Jimmie” and signed all official documents that way. I wonder if Abe Lincoln was ever called Abbie.
States have nicknames too, like our own ‘Taxachusetts.” That’s enough about nicknames.
Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.
Thoughts on…
By Dick Morgado