“Ain’t Nuthin But the Truth”

One of the best sayings about someone is that they “ain’t nuthin but the truth.” This means that they are as real is it gets. There ain’t none better.

This term used often in sports got me thinking. When and how have we used the words true or truth and the phrase “the truth” to describe something or someone in sports?

There have been athletes given the nickname True or a form of it.

In doing research, I found a baseball player from the 1800’s called Hardy Richardson. His nickname was “Old True Blue.”

In the 1970’s, Oakland Athletics owner Charles Finley offered his star pitcher Vida Blue $2000 to legally change his middle name to True. Blue refused. Finley used it anyway until Blue told him to stop.

If Blue had changed his name, he would have joined Denton True Young as major league pitchers with that middle name. Of course, all baseball fans know that Denton True Young was none other than Cy Young whose name is on the annual award for pitching excellence.

Then there is the Boston Red Sox Trevor Story. He earned the nickname True from Vinny Castilla after the former watched him taking batting practice. True story.

I have read that NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. was nicknamed True but there is not much to substantiate it.

Then there are the athletes who were called “The Truth.”

Heavyweight boxer Carl Williams was nicknamed “The Truth” after going toe to toe with champion Larry Holmes.

NFL wide receiver Karl Williams had the boxer’s nickname passed along to him.

NBA all-star Paul Pierce was called “The Truth” by Shaquille O’Neal after Pierce scored 40 against Shaq’s Lakers and the name stuck.

Then there are sports terms that use the word true.

A first-year college athlete who is straight out of high school is called a true freshman.  

An athlete who strives to do their very best to win is called a true competitor.

 The place where a golf ball lands on the fairway is called its true lie. How ironic a sport which honors honesty uses such an oxymoron.

A turf baseball field where hops do not deviate is one where infielders receive true bounces.

Football announcers will use the term “the kick is true,” when an extra point or field goal goes through the goalpost.

All of these uses of the words true or truth and the term “the truth” are cool.

But my favorite use of the word true or truth is a quote by the late, great Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll. It is simply this:

“When you’re losing, everything they say about you is true.”

That right there ain’t nuthin but the truth.