Fist bump

The fist bump (also called the fist pound, fist love, knuckle bump, knuckles, respect knuckles, knuckle knock, the rock, spud, giving props, or the get some among other names) is a type of friendly gesture similar in meaning to a hand shake or a high five. It is performed by two people tapping their fists lightly. A bump also can be known as a symbol of giving of respect. Fist pounds can also be followed by various other hand and body gestures, and may be part of a dap greeting. The fist bump may also be the progenitor of the elbow bump.

History

"Time" magazine wonders if it evolved from the handshake and the high-five. They cite knuckle bumping in the 1970s with NBA player Baltimore Bullets guard Fred Carter. Others claim the Wonder Twins, minor characters in the 1970s Hanna-Barbera superhero cartoon "Super Friends", who touched knuckles and cried "Wonder Twin powers, activate!" were the originators.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A Brief History of the Fist Bump |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1812102,00.html |quote= |publisher=Time (magazine) |date=June 5, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-08 ] However, the "fist bump" or "pound" can easily be traced as far back as the late 1960s and early 1970s to urban black youth. cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=In Historic Moment, White People Exposed To 'Fist Bump" for First Time |url=http://www.alternet.org/election08/87230/ |quote= |publisher=Alternet |date=June 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-02 ]

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls may have help popularize the fist bump in the early 1990s. Jordan started a ritual in which he would go to the announcer table before every game and cover his hands with the talcum powder (he would even clap his hands thus releasing a powdery mist on the announcers). Since his hands were now prepared to grip the ball properly he didn't want to shake hands with anyone to have that powder removed. Jordan extended his hand in a "Fist Bump" fashion to all the opponents on the court prior to the opening of the game, starting a new trend.Fact|date=October 2008

On 3 June, 2008 Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama fist-bumped during a televised presidential campaign speech in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fox News host E.D. Hill, in a "tease" for an unrelated story, called the gesture by the Obamas a "terrorist fist jab", and the gesture became known as "The Fist Bump heard 'Round the World". [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Fox News anchor calls the Obamas' fist pound 'a terrorist fist jab' |url=http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/09/fox-news-anchor-calls-the-obamas-fist-pound-a-terrorist-fist-jab/ |quote= |publisher=Think Progress |accessdate=2008-06-10 ]

Other instances

*Howie Mandel, host of "Deal or No Deal" in the US and Canada, uses the fist pound as an alternative to shaking hands. He is bothered by shaking hands because it can spread germs.
*Ali G, the character, performed by Sasha Baron Cohen uses the fist bump as a greeting and sign off with a guest.
*Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, leaders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (aka TAPS) and stars of Ghost Hunters on the SciFi channel, share a fist bump at the end of many episodes of their TV series.
*The pound, referred to as the fist bump, was featured in the 2007 Bud Light Super Bowl commercial. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=HxC8zycxa4g Fist Bump] from YouTube]
*During the first opening sequence of "Naruto", Naruto and Sasuke are seen doing the fist pound to show that even though in the show they are portrayed as rivals, they are also friends and have a deep, mutual respect for each other Fact|date=May 2008.*In the sport of Mixed martial arts, the fist pound among two fighters before or during a fight is a gesture of respect and to acknowledge an appreciation for their opponent's skills.Fact|date=May 2008
*The March 7th, 2008 "Penny-Arcade" web-comic strip features fist pounding in reference to the video game "Army of Two". [ [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/03/07 Our Crucial Pamphlet] ]
*In ice hockey, after a player celebrates scoring a goal with his teammates on the ice, the player typically skates by his bench, fist pounding each of his teammates as he glides from one end of the bench to the other.Fact|date=May 2008 (An exception to this is if the player scores the game winning goal in overtime as all the teammates scurry onto the ice towards the player and embrace him.)Fact|date=June 2008
*Every "Fast Money" on CNBC episode is ended with the hosts fist bumping each others as the show fades out.
*Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler often fist bump at the completion of "Saturday Night Live's" "Weekend Update".
*The hosts of The Totally Rad Show fist bump after each segment.-->

References

Further reading

*cite news |first=William |last=Safire |authorlink=William Safire |coauthors= |title=Fist Bump |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/magazine/06wwln-safire-t.html |quote= |publisher=The New York Times Magazine |date=July 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-15