Where and why did Parcells get the "The tuna" nickname?

[dal0789]

Where and why did Bill Parcells get the nickname the "Tuna"???

 

[MossBurner]

http://www.chickenortuna.com/snacks.php?page_code=106

[Coach Parcells discusses how he got the nickname ''Tuna'' at a 1997 press conference.]Bill Parcells: I think it goes back to my first time with the Patriots. There was an old commercial from StarKist with Charlie the StarKist tuna. So my players were trying to con me on something one time, and I said, 'You must think I'm Charlie the Tuna,' you know, a sucker, and that's kind of how it started. We started with it that year and [Charlie and the other fish] used to wear those little tuna helmets, you know, tuna pictures on their helmets. That's where it all started.

 

[JackMagist]

I never knew for sure how it started. I thought it was from him returning to play against his former team (the Giants) as coach of a new team (the Pats). They considered it to be like an ex-wife that you can't seem to get rid of. You know, one who is always coming back bringing her problems to you even though you're divorced. They used to refer to an ex like that as a "Tuna" a few years ago (and might still but I haven't heard that reference in awhile). His story is more palatable to the females out there though; they really hate being referred to as "tuna"

 

[chinch]

from 80s Giants not Pats.

 

[AdamJT13]

from 80s Giants not Pats.

He was the Patriots' linebackers coach in 1980 -- that's when he got the nickname. He became the Giants' defensive coordinator in 1981, and Harry Carson made sure the nickname stuck.

 

[SupermanXx]

he was asked what his ex-wife's nether regions smelled like

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Dang, I thought his momma gave it to him........

 

[DefendeR]

Here's the story:
Some players were trying to con him by telling him that certain supermarket was giving away free turkeys(it was around Thanksgiving),and that he should go and pick one up.
Parcells response was,"Who do you think I am,Charlie the Tuna?"

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Guys, don't want to come across like the heavy but, lets try to rememeber that there are young people who frequent our board. Lets do away with the personal hygen stuff, can we?

 

[Charles]

he was asked what his ex-wife's nether regions smelled like

OMG

 

[chinch]

He was the Patriots' linebackers coach in 1980 -- that's when he got the nickname. He became the Giants' defensive coordinator in 1981, and Harry Carson made sure the nickname stuck.

thanks.... i've heard him interviewed and mention Carson but never the Pats.

i wonder if many younger fans who know who Charle the Tuna is nowadays either way

 

[BlueStar22]

Sadly, this was the first question he was asked by the Dallas media at his introductory press conference. That says a lot about those guys.