"Newk", for his (alleged) resemblance to Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don ("The Newk") Newcombe. Flaky, in a lovable, eccentric-yogi-uncle sort of way; a speaking voice not far removed from Marvin the Martian. Had a mohawk for a while (in the 1950's). He juggles improvisational motifs like a math geek counting primes in lieu of sheep; it led to Gunther Schuller's think-too-much dissection of "Blue Seven" (which in turn seemed to have made Rollins himself think too much about his playing in the early 60's -- leading to sabbaticals and slight pushings of the envelope in his playing), but thematic improvisation may be Rollins' most lasting contribution to the medium. His playing oozes integrity, whether playing a calypso, a pop tune, or the most abstract of blues.