I've been referring to Kevin Martin as "Speedracer" for almost two years now. David Thorpe dropped it in an ESPN chat once. Now it might have a slightly higher profile:
"Speedracer" - Credit Tom Ziller of sactownroyalty.com.
Think "The Chosen One" (LeBron James), "Starbury" (Stephon Marbury) or "The Matrix" (Shawn Marion). Names that define a guy's persona and just fit. Martin isn't just fast, he's "Speedracer" fast, both off the dribble and especially going end-to-end.
It's that sort of speed that has resulted in one of his signature moments (the buzzer-beating pretzel layup against San Antonio in 2005 playoffs). The best part is there is a backstory to the name that doesn't need to be known for the name to work, that being the tie-in to the Martin story I wrote when he was a rookie (read below). It works on its own and has some depth in meaning, which I like.
Just remember when they hang #23 in the rafters1 at
1 <Knocks on wood repeatedly.>