What's in a name?
Oct1320091:31 p.m.
One of the joys of my various jobs, is that I get to watch a lot of sport for a living, which I must tell you is a real treat. And over the years, either in person, or on the TV, I like to think I have seen most things come and go. But one of the joys of sport, is its never-ending ability to surprise you.
Take this weekend for instance. I was stopped in my tracks by a news report on the Heineken Cup match between Leicester and Ospreys. Well it was a 32-all thriller, but the thing that really caught my eye and ear was the name of Leicester’s points-scoring hero Billy Twelvetrees. Yes that’s right. Twelvetrees. Not eleven or thirteen, but twelve. Is it me, or is that a faintly absurd name for a sporting hero?
Now I mean no disrespect to our Billy, I really don’t. Anyway I should know about silly surnames. I have one myself and trust me, I have lost years of my life trying to explain to people how my name is spelt. Inevitably it comes back as Teale, or Thurle, or Turl, or even in one instance Swirl... So I like to think that Billy and I are name soul mates on this one. But really. Twelvetrees?
It prompted my husband and I to begin a furious debate about the silliest names in sport. Graham Onions and Phil Mustard take the cricketing biscuit, although Arnold Sidebottom and his son Ryan, also stake a claim. Peter Winterbottom continues the bottom theme and another former England rugby union star Austin Healey isn't ideal either.
In football who could forget Danny Shittu, Stefan Kuntz or Nwankwo Kanu, which obviously became just Kanu to you and me. But the great thing about this game is, once you start, you really can’t stop. So do let me know any silly names you can think of. Come on, it’s a Monday. Let’s waste some valuable work time and cheer each other up.......
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Comments (6)
brianj 'On a backside theme, how about Dean Windass, Nicky Butt, and Andre Arshavin? One of the most inappropriately named was Mike England who was manager of Wales.' added 12th Oct 2009
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Johnf 'On its own David Seaman is worth just a snigger, but included in the joke about why did the Brazilian birth rate rise after the 2002 World Cup? Because they could lob seaman from 40 yards gets a smile even from England fans!' added 12th Oct 2009
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anoif55 'Boo Weekly..' added 12th Oct 2009
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Flanker2 'Hi Sue, I like KAKA and DUDU on the pitch at the same time????Shocking!.........My old dentist in Swaffham Norfolk was genuinly called Doctor Screech!...Never had to wait toooo long for an appointment tho!...........' added 13th Oct 2009
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Sue_Thearle 'My friends you are, as always, inspirational! Kaka and Dudu made me laugh out loud. I had forgotten both of them. In fact Brazil is a rich source of rude names. They had an Olympic sailor who beat the lovely Ben Ainslie to gold in Atlanta. He was the wonderfully named Robert Sheidt and if I tell you the 'd' is silent, well you get the picture...... ' added 13th Oct 2009
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Flanker2 'There were also a couple of 1980s Polish (I think), olympians, pole vaulter and track athlete named Pissiaski and Bouziaski??? Check spelling!...Don't forget ARSHAVIN Sue???? It could catch on???....' added 14th Oct 2009
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