Who suggested "Big Al" LOL

Thats brilliant !

"A-ward" gets my vote.

I quite like ATG as a user-friendly version of Alexander the GREAT.

My only reservation over A-Ward is the fact that it's too close to A-Rod?

steven wrote:

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Mine too. However, perhaps we should find someone who knows him and can ask what it really is?

BBC Northamptonshire still don't seem to have done anything. Good news about British tennis falls on deaf ears in the media.

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 Well yes that would be the ideal solution but until then I think it would be convenient to have a stand-in nickname.  Plus I have the suspicion that his nickname will be Wardy, which is obviously no problem when used in person but the issues with that on a tennis message board..have already been flagged up. 

Im player of his academy and here the people call him WARDINATOR !!!!! so take this name for him, Thanks!!!!!!!

I know someone would stick their head above the parapet sooner or later. LOL

Let's hope that's a name he likes, not one his enemies call him!

I knew we were all sad tennis freaks (a very affectionate term, from me at least) on here but the seriousness with which this subject is being persued has taken it to new heights I think.

In deference to the obvious importance of the question I add my own, humble ramblings...

1) Big Al

May I suggest a discovery of Alex's stature before accepting this potentially ironic knickname.

2) A-Man

Conjures up both the question of uncertainly over the matter, and an eerie rememberance of school prayers and the concluding 'Amen'

3) Sandy

Regardless of it's tradition as a shortening of 'alexander' I cannot remove the unpleasant image of a picnic on the beach.

4) Sandy-Man

Though clever in it's origin, the underlying suggestion is that Alex's tennis is rather sleep-provoking. Which may well be true, perhaps one to reserve until further research has been carried out, as in the case of 1).

5) Wardi

a nice twist on the redundant Wardy, however, for me at least it seems a rather lazy attempt. Moreover, the spelling itself would be more correct (I believe) with the addition of an 'e', which brings to mind all sorts of toddler-speak female cooing that would probably be unwelcomed by the 18year old man in question.

6) A-Ward

I see what you're doing here. Following a tried and tested pattern in the case of A-Rod, the potential for this knickname is clear. I can see only two problems. With the hyphen in place my initial thought is of hospitals. Withouth the hyphen, there is the prospect of confusion as to whether you are presenting an accolade or referencing the player in question.

7) Alexander the GREAT [shortened to 'ATG']

ATG whilst a great (pun not intended at first, though having spotted it and decided it's not in the same league as any of Steven's offereings, I've left it in place) option is perhaps premature and opens Alex and his fans (us) to ridicule should he fail to substantially build on his 'great' beginning.

8) Zander

Nothing wrong with this persay. Nevertheless, it is a rather personal play on his first name and perhaps a greater awareness of Alex's own preferences would be wise before christening him with a knickname he does not wish (I for one would prefer not to be called Beth though this is the natural shortening of my name).

9) Boardy

Again, a clever offering in its conception. However, the convoluted explanation needed everytime a new fan came across it would undoubtedly hinder it's progress beyond the confines of this message board (we need to be fully prepared for the day Alex takes Wimbledon by storm).

10) Wardy2

Rather unimaginative and quite a mouthful to pronouce, remember the stipulation in this task that the name must be easily shouted in a crowd.

11) Award

Please refer to option 6) for my feelings on this unhypehnated version.

12) Alex

Not exactly a knickname. More of a name. However, the only problem with this is the potential for confusion with Boggo (or Slabinsky). On the other hand, Boggo is rarely referred to as Alex unless in an obvious context, the same with Slabinsky. They are far more often refered to as Boggo, Bogman, Bogdanovic, Slabinsky, Slabba, Sasha etc. Therefore, I suspect it would not cause the difficutly feared and certainly not on the scale of the confusion with James Ward (aka Wardy).

13) My own suggestion: AlexW.

This knickname clearly states the identity of the player in mind. It can easily be shortened to a simple 'Alex' when in a crowd situation. Whilst lacking origniality, it does not give any possibly wrong implications as to Alex's character, playing ability, or style.


*disclaimer: if I have callously attacked your own offering of a name for this new player please do not feel picked on, a perusal of the rest of my post should show that I have not singled you out, I have been harsh on everyone. Moreover (and perhaps more importantly) the entirety of my post should be taken as a toungue-in-cheek token of my love for this board, its members and the discussions it throws up.

-- Edited by imoen at 15:13, 2008-05-19

May I refer you to the disclaimer I added to my post James. I think you'll find that I do not believe true seriousness is attached to this discussion, and the 25% seriousity of posts should definitely be applied to my contributions.

As for totally slamming and demoralising your ideas...what can I say? I speak only the truth, is it my fault that they left themselves so completely defenceless and open to attack?