The “smiling assassin” is a nickname that has been given to various sports personalities over the years who maintain a friendly and unassuming demeanor, but are fiercely competitive and effective in their respective sports. The term is often used for athletes who combine a cheerful exterior with a killer instinct on the field or court. Some of the more prominent smiling assassins in sports history include tennis legend Bjorn Borg, NBA star Tim Duncan, and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
What does the nickname “smiling assassin” mean?
The “smiling assassin” moniker refers to an athlete who appears friendly, calm, and easy-going, but once they enter competition become intensely focused, ruthless, and effective at winning. They seem to flip a switch and transform into a competitive and cold-blooded assassin, all while maintaining their cheerful exterior. The nickname implies they hide their competitive fire behind their mild-mannered public persona. But deep down they have a stone-cold will to win.
Where did the “smiling assassin” nickname originate?
The exact origins of the “smiling assassin” nickname are unclear, but it appears to have first emerged in sports during the 1970s. Swedish tennis great Bjorn Borg was one of the first athletes to garner the nickname due to his seemingly emotionless but lethal playing style. NBA legend Jerry West is thought to have coined the moniker for Borg. It gained popularity when used to describe NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the 1970s, known for his humble off-field demeanor but killer instinct on the field. Since then it has been applied to various sports stars over the years who possess that combination of a cheerful persona paired with a ruthless competitive drive.
Which athletes have been known as the smiling assassin?
Here are some of the most prominent athletes over the years who have earned the “smiling assassin” nickname for their contradictory friendly exterior and fierce competitive style:
- Bjorn Borg – The Swedish tennis star of the 1970s and early 80s, known for his long blonde hair, tight tops, and wooden racket, earned the first “smiling assassin” nickname. He displayed a cool, emotionless demeanor on the court that hid his competitive intensity.
- Fran Tarkenton – This NFL quarterback for the Vikings and Giants in the 1960s and 70s gained fame for running circles around opposing defenses. His scrambling, unorthodox style combined with his friendly off-field nature earned him the assassin label.
- Chris Evert – The stone-faced, steely-eyed tennis legend was given the moniker for her on-court intensity and ruthless baseline game that contrasted with her sweet, girl-next-door looks and personality.
- John McEnroe – The fiery tennis star is not remembered for his smiling but more for his on-court tantrums and his raging against officials. But his off-court charm and friendly media persona also represented a smiling exterior that hid his competitive fire.
- Tim Duncan – The NBA legend was known for his quiet, fundamentals-based style and lacked flash both on and off the court. But his consistency and competitive drive led to five NBA titles, fitting him with the assassin nickname.
- Aaron Rodgers – The Packers quarterback has earned a reputation as a smiling jokester in public who morphs into a cold-blooded, lethal assassin on the football field with his incredible skills and competitive spirit.
While known for their contrasting exteriors and competitive fire, one thing all these smiling assassins have in common is an unmatched drive to win and ability to come through in the clutch under pressure.
What are some traits of a smiling assassin athlete?
There are some common traits that the smiling assassins of the sports world tend to share that contribute to their contradictory personas:
- Calm, friendly, and mild-mannered outward disposition
- Intense inner competitive fire and will to win
- Ability to flip a switch into ruthless killer mode in competition
- Remain cool under pressure and come through in clutch moments
- Willingness to do whatever it takes to gain a competitive edge
- Stare down or ignore opponents rather than engage in trash talk
- Channel emotions into steady, productive energy vs outward explosions
- Hide true feelings behind a tranquil, stoic demeanor during competition
- Devastating skills combined with mental toughness and strategic thinking
The smiling assassins of sport manage to pair their kind-hearted nature away from the field of play with an insatiable will to win when placed in a competitive arena. Their friendly exterior belies an interior drive that fuels their championship mentality.
Examples of smiling assassins in other walks of life
While most associated with sports, the “smiling assassin” concept can be applied to many competitive professions where a friendly facade may hide a fierce competitor. Here are some examples of smiling assassins in other walks of life:
- Business – The CEO known for being easy-going and personable with employees but who is obsessed with profits and crushes the competition
- Politics – The politician who is charming, charismatic and seems approachable but is willing to ruthlessly attack opponents
- Poker – The player who banters and laughs at the table but quietly plots your demise
- Law – The attorney who is polite and congenial before morphing into attack mode in the courtroom
- Medicine – The surgeon with a great bedside manner but laser focus and intensity in the operating room
- Academia – The professor who is warm and engaging with students but debates colleagues fiercely
The smiling assassin persona can manifest itself wherever there is competition alongside social interaction. The ability to dial up the competitive fire while maintaining an affable veneer is a rare attribute across many fields.
Famous Quotes About Smiling Assassins
Here are some insightful quotes about smiling assassins in sports and beyond:
- “Beware the smiling assassin. He’ll hug you before he kills you.” – Robert Evans
- “She’s real friendly, courteous, she’s got the whole personality thing going. But she’s a stone-cold killer.” – Chris Evert on Martina Navratilova
- “If you didn’t know Sergey Brin and you met him, you’d think he’s just a normal guy, rather shy and low-key. And then you discover he’s worth $30 billion.” – Vinod Khosla on the Google co-founder
- “Tim Duncan is kind of the ultimate in terms of that complete package of performer and professional and approach to the game. People want to call him boring, but they also want to call him the best power forward of all time.” – Gregg Popovich
- “Aaron Rodgers is such a great thrower of the football and I think guys that have that kind of ability, when you have skills that other people don’t have, you’re kind of smiling about it.” – Donald Driver
- “For all of the antics, dirt-dog appearance, and blue-collar work ethic, O’Neal earned the reputation among his peers as ‘The Big Smiling Assassin’.” – Description of baseball player Jack Clark
These quotes capture how the smiling assassin mentality allows some competitors across fields to lull their opponents into a false sense of security before striking with a ruthless competitive venom.
Key Takeaways
The “smiling assassin” is a sports nickname given to athletes who appear friendly and unassuming but have an intense killer instinct. It originated in the 1970s with Bjorn Borg and has described athletes like Tim Duncan and Aaron Rodgers. Traits include a calm exterior, internal competitive fire, ability to transform into ruthless mode, and skills to succeed under pressure. This concept can be applied across professions where affable personalities hide intense competitiveness. Ultimately, the smiling assassin uses their cheerful facade to their advantage against unsuspecting opponents.