|
| |
| DEAN'S LIST |
The Namism Mailbag: Responses To Your Responses
04-03-2007 |
 |
|
 |
| Boston's Coco Crisp is among the more prominent beneficiaries of namism. (Brita Meng Outzen/MLB.com) |
A couple of weeks ago, I introduced the notion that some players are subject to bias because of the appeal (or lack thereof) of their names. My top five beneficiaries of namism? Nomar Garciaparra, Huston Street, Milton Bradley, Rocco Baldelli and Nick Swisher. And my top five victims of this rampant fantasy prejudice? Bill Hall, Dave Bush, Dan Uggla, Jhonny Peralta and Mark Grudzielanek. You the readers weighed in on the more notable snubs from these lists, and some of your responses follow in this mailbag.
I really enjoyed your list of baseball player names. There were a few names I thought could have been added to your list, like Coco Crisp -- everybody goes coo-coo for Coco Crisp. Last year in my pool I picked up J.J. Putz with the second-to-last pick in the entire draft (479th overall). My decision was purely because of his name. (Of course, I also had David Bush, so I don't only go by cool names.)
-- Jason S.
You're not alone with the Coco suggestion, though that joke has been beaten to death. I might even call you a cereal killer. By the way, did you know that Coco is the official spokesman for dairy giant HP Hood? No joke ... the marketing practically writes itself: Because if you're looking for a balanced breakfast, what goes better with milk than Coco Crisp?
There you go, dumping on other people's names, when your own sounds like a late-afternoon Mexican snackfood. Just kidding, big guy, loved the column. Very interesting and unexpectedly thought-provoking.
-- Luke Z., U.K.
Ha, love it! Come to think of it, Chimi-chiungos would be the perfect item to feature at the chain of fast-food restaurants I've been meaning to get started on. Not sure if I'll be calling it Taco Del or Bell Taco, but rest assured, people will flock to it thanks to -- what else? -- pseudo-name recognition.
Good article! Especially if you are Swedish, like I am. Some reflections and additions: Uggla is actually the Swedish word for "owl," and a relatively common and old aristocratic family name. Jimmy Gobble is worth a thought in your "victims" category, as is Shane Victory-no. Zack Greinke sounds cool.
-- Ante, Stockholm, Sweden
Thanks for the insight. Much like former big leaguers Oscar Gamble and Huck Betts, you'd be a beneficiary of namism in this country -- especially in Vegas. As for Mr. Gobble, at least he can take comfort in the face that former Negro Leagues star Turkey Stearns is a member of the Hall of Fame.
I read your article, and I thought you forgot about Hiram Bocachica for a fun-sounding name.
-- Erik B.
You're right, Erik. Hiram Bocachica does sound fun -- almost as fun as Snuffy Stirnweiss, who played 10 seasons for the Yankees, Browns and Indians from 1943-52.
You picked three Oakland A's out of five picks, and only five players out of all the MLB? Man, Street and Swish are both in their second full season and both have a lot of upside, and Milton Bradley was tearing it up in the ALCS. Picking these guys is not a bad thing. I wouldn't advise picking them all in the first round, but hey, they are all solid picks.
-- Luke I., Gakuen, Sanda, Japan
Yeah, they're all good picks -- just a tad overrated, though. With so many A's benefiting from namism, Billy Beane's master plan clearly has nothing to with stats, data or any of that objective rubbish. Nope. "Moneyball" is really nothing more than a simple form of namism.
Perhaps the silliest "sports" column I've ever read. Wait -- not enough. Perhaps the silliest column of any kind I've ever read. Hmmm. Still, no. Wait -- perhaps the silliest "sports" column ever written. There we go. Still short of "the silliest column of any kind ever written," but sufficiently captures the inanity of it. Just about right, I'd say. How do I get my 3.5 minutes back?
-- Edward F., Gresham, Ore.
I don't know whether to thank you or curse you. How do I get my 3.5 seconds back?
There's one additional form of namism that comes up -- confusing and duplicate names. Nobody likes to feel dumb in the draft (and let's face it, many people are), so last year I noticed the second Luis Gonzalez went really late in drafts, if at all. This year, I bet the same thing will happen with the two Chris Youngs. Thank god Ervin Santana changed his name from Johan.
-- Dave A., Seattle
You're right. A player is somehow cheapened when the namesake rears his ugly head. Just ask Jose Rijo, Bobby Jones, Greg Harris and Alex Gonzalez, just to name a few. But I'm lucky. Having such an odd name (and not being a Major League Baseball player), that's nothing I have to worry about. |
|
|
| |
|
|
