What's in a nickname

 Comes now the news that Caleb Williams, exciting young quarterback of your Chicago Bears, is looking to trademark the nickname "Iceman," and my inner Old Man Shouting At Clouds is wondering just who these whippersnappers think they are, consarn it. And also dagnabit.

This is because, long before Caleb Williams came squalling into this world, George Gervin had already laid claim to that nickname. He was the Iceman. Is. Always will be, no matter what Williams and the trademark boys decide to do.

Now, maybe Caleb and the rest of the whippersnappin' johnny-come-latelys don't know much about George Gervin, given that he did his thing 50-plus years ago. So perhaps a brief tutorial on the Iceman is required.

Back in the 1970s and '80s (yes, long, long ago), Gervin was a 6-foot-8 splinter of a man, all sharp angles and folding-chair pliability. He came to the Virginia Squires in 1972 out of Eastern Michigan University, then was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent 10 seasons and made his rep as a virtual scoring machine.

Utilizing the silky finger roll he made famous and silkier jumper, the Iceman played 14 seasons in the ABA and NBA, averaging at least 14 points in every one. He finished his run with 26,595 points (a 25.1 average), 5,602 rebounds and 2,798 assists, and more scoring titles than any guard in NBA history until Michael Jordan came along.

Inducted into both the college and professional basketball Halls of Fame, Gervin was voted one of the top 50 players in NBA history in 1996, and one of the top 75 in 2021.

That's who the Iceman is.

And Caleb Williams?

He led the Bears to the NFC Central title last season and showed enough flashes of brilliance -- who could forget that ridiculous touchdown pass to Cole Kmet against the Rams in the playoffs? -- to suggest he could develop into an all-time great. But he aint' the Iceman.

Sorry, kid. George Gervin bought that one with a million finger rolls, a million years ago. Try again.