Athletes are often bombarded by nicknames. Some are good, some are less so, but almost all stem from fans’ love for their favorite sportspeople. It is a form of appreciation, and not many sports personalities earn that special recognition unless they have reached a certain level of fame.

The thing is, while fame is a welcome addition to a golfer’s name, when a nickname is slapped on that he does not agree with, it becomes a challenge. And recently, Max Homa faced a similar dilemma. However, unlike many, he was not at all shy about speaking up about it!

Max Homa opens up about his rising fame and strange nickname

In the first playoff event of the FedEx Cup, i.e., the $20 million St. Jude Championship, Max Homa rose to the top 5 on the leaderboard with consistent improvement in every passing round. Reporters were curious to know how he feels about his new-found fame, which is attracting fans to cheer for him.

The 32-year-old PGA Tour pro replied, “It’s always cool to have people rooting you on, and it’s fun just to go around the country.” He further added that it feels good to have a “support system,”  especially when he’s taking great shots on the greens. However, there is a bit of a dark cloud over the cheers.

When asked about the nickname that fans had been yelling all week, ‘spicy meatball,’ Homa opened up about his feelings. “I have never enjoyed the “spicy meatball” call-outs,” he said, adding that he is still appreciative of his fans. He did, however, express that he hoped they would get more creative and clever with the nickname. He doesn’t really have any suggestions because, in his words, “that’s up to them.”

The Berkley alum isn’t the only one facing a strange nickname situation. He may not love it, but he still likes that his fans come out to see him and cheer him on, even if it is with a nickname that brings back less-than-fond memories from his time at Augusta National.

The story behind Homa’s nickname

Max Homa was on a podcast called ‘Pardon My Take featured’ on Barstool. A joke emerged that since he is Italian with a funny mustache, he must stereotypically be categorized as a pervert. Although the witty and jovial golfer wasn’t offended, the comic expression took on a life of its own.

Fans soon started calling him ‘Spicy Meatball,’ a spin on the golfer’s Italian heritage coupled with a compliment to his witty remarks. However, the name also refers to a section of society, and the whole thing erupted in controversy.

Also read: Following a Wrongful Allegation, Max Homa and Paige Spiranac Got Into an Unexpected Twitter Feud in 2022: ‘I Do Not Recall…’

As he mentioned, the 5-time PGA Tour winner doesn’t really like the name. He would have preferred a clever take on his Italian roots or would have liked it better if the nickname was used to define his shot. Still, coming from his adoring fans, he is trying to learn how to appreciate the strange nickname.

What do you think of Homa’s rise to fame in the past year? Do you think the ‘Spicy Meatball’ nickname suits him? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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