Using a now-famous fist-bump between Sen. Barack Obama and wife Michelle as the news hook, Time magazine's M.J. Stephey sought out yesterday to explore the history of the greeting. The story is now teased on the magazine's Web page as a top story (see screencap at right).
Stephey gives a few plausible theories, including one involving the lamest cartoon superheroes ever:
Some claim the act of knuckle-bumping began in the 1970s with NBA players like Baltimore Bullets guard Fred Carter. Others claim the fist bump emerged off the court, citing the Wonder Twins, minor characters in the 1970s Hanna-Barbera superhero cartoon The Superfriends, who famously touched knuckles and cried "Wonder Twin powers, activate!' before morphing into animals or ice sculptures. One might also credit germaphobics for the fist bump's invention. Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel reportedly adopted the gesture as a friendly way to avoid his contestants' germs.
