Gary Landers/Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC/USA TODAY There are many out there who probably don t know Woods actual first name. That reportedly came from his little brother. As it s been told, he could not say Elbert, but something that sounded more like Eeee Eeee. Out of that came Ickey, and then an NFL career that included a stellar 1,066-yard rushing rookie season for the Super Bowl-bound Cincinnati Bengals.
Jeff Mezydlo has written about sports and entertainment online and for print for more than 25 years. He grew up in the far south suburbs of Chicago, 20 minutes from the Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Ind. He’s also the proud father of 11-year-old Matthew, aka “Bobby Bruin,” mascot of St. Robert Bellarmine School in Chicago. You can follow Jeff at @jeffm401.