During a baseball game at Eastern Illinois, you’ll hear “Hube,” “Soup” and “Nommi.”

To most of the people not familiar with nicknames, these are the nicknames of Erik Huber, Ryan Campbell and Brett Nommensen.

Nicknames are a weird, but necessary part of sports.

With so many first names that are alike, it’s easy to get caught up in calling a player by the same name.

But, with nicknames, it makes the game fun and interesting to hear so many variations coming from both dugouts.

In Major League Baseball, many players have received first-name status like Pedro and Nomar.

With so many nicknames, it makes for good entertainment, especially in the cases of games that are over by the third inning.

Some of the nicknames are easy to explain, but as one fan sitting beside me during Wednesday’s game against Indiana State said: “Why do they call him ‘Soup?'”

After explaining that the reference came from Campbell’s Soup, the man who had to be at least in his 70s, said, “Why is that a good nickname?”

To most outside viewers, “Soup” doesn’t strike much fear into the opposing team as Stan “Hack” Wilson, but that’s not the purpose.

If you can’t shorten the player’s name like Nommensen’s, you have to come up with something clever that leaves an imprint on each player.

“Big Mac” wasn’t an intimidating name for Mark McGwire, but it went well with all the promotions that could be done with it.

If Campbell were ever to make it big in the majors, he would already have an endorsement contract lined up. For his sake, he better like soup.

The question has always been what’s in a name? Not much when you consider nicknames to be more meaningful.

Take a look at David Ortiz. Almost nobody refers to him as Ortiz, yet by his nickname of “Big Papi.” He even has a shirt bearing the nickname.

That’s the other part to nicknames is marketability. A good nickname can carry a mediocre player a long way (see Harold “Baby Jordan” Miner).

Some of the nicknames have taken on a whole new meaning. The best example would lie in the name of Terrell “T.O.” Owens. A name like “T.O.” has been symbolized as crybaby, selfish and egomaniacal.

No other player will ever take the name “T.O.” because of the damage Owens has laid upon it.

So, next time you go to a baseball game, don’t be afraid of yelling “Soup.” Just don’t expect a spoon.

Marc Correnti is a junior journalism major. If you would like to give him a nickname, e-mail him at EIU3583@yahoo.com.