What's in a name?

I may have already written about how I could 'go long' about some of the names that you hear as you watch sports on TV. Many a "Huh?" comes out of me as I have heard a name. My husband often watches me to see my reactions to names.

However, I am starting to feel bad for ripping on peoples names, especially since they are often names from another nationality.

But…sometimes I just cannot help myself!

Fredi Gonzalez, the manager of the Florida Marlins, is a guy I like, but….What is up with "Fredi with an I"? That sounds like a preppy girl who would be shopping in the Valley with Buffy and Bambi.

Yunel Escobar is one we all went long on the other night….he could open the "Escobar & Grille".... the special of the day could be "Escargot"….

Endy Chavez, Lastings Milledge, Renyel Pinto (Don't smack him on the rear end!), Jair Jurrjens…..just to name a few that have jumped out at me. Oh, there are many more, many more….and….okay….I confess….often when my husband pronounces the name correctly for me, and sometimes tells me the meaning, I concede and admit it is a good name.

It is funny, and sad, that I do not really recall many conversations with my father. There is one that comes to mind often as I think of some of the names, or even some of the nicknames. One day I asked my father why they named me and my sisters such plain and simple names: Sally, Judy and Janet. He told me, "We named you what you were going to be called".

My father was one of nine siblings. He was named after his father, and he was most often called Jack, rather than John.

I really only think there was one of his siblings, my Uncle Lowell, that was actually called by his given first name, and not a nickname or a middle name. It made sense to me, and although I have often thought my name was plain and boring, I appreciated it more after hearing that.

So, thank you Dad, and of course Mom, for giving me my name….