What's in a name?

I learned on Mike and Mike in the Morning that today is "Name Yourself Day." I thought I was given a name at birth, but apparently if I do not like my first, middle or last name I can change it for one day every year. Why would anyone want to do this, maybe because they really do not like their name or they want to get back at their parents. Now is the same thing as a nickname, we all have nicknames, I have to many to list or maybe those are just names people have called me. Well this got me thinking of athletes that changed their names at some point in their career, enjoy this list of characters.

10. Larry Jones (Chipper Jones): Maybe Larry was to difficult to remember so Chipper become so much easier because daddy Jones told him that he was "a chip off the old block."

9. Vincent Edward Jackson (Bo Jackson): Who would want to be called Vincent Edward, VE would not work either so out came Bo. At least Bo knows his real name even though we may not.

8. Joey Belle (Albert Belle): He was one of my favorite athletes growing up as a kid, I loved hearing all the fans in left field yell his name "JOOOOOEEEEEYYYYYY" "JOOOOOOEEEEEYYYY" But I do not think he enjoyed it very much, maybe that is why he chased kids off of his porch in Louisiana.

7. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Tampa Bay Rays): You may be saying to yourself "Who are you talking about and when were they ever called the Devil Rays." It was not that long ago, but you just did not realize it because they never won.

6. Eldrick Woods (Tiger Woods): Is there really any explanation needed, nobody could take him serious with Eldrick as his name.

5. Bobby Moore (Ahmad Rashad): Because what is easier to remember who the host of NBA Jam, did anyone every watch that show?

4. Laverne Hose (Butch Hose): Most of you who read this will have no idea who this man is, he was my high school cross country coach. First of all changing your name from Laverne to Butch might tell you one thing but you are wrong, the name served his personality perfectly and if you ever called him Laverne well you better run like you are in a cross country race.

3. George Herman Ruth (Babe Ruth): Yes Babe Ruth had a real name, that is the name he used when he was always getting in trouble. If he had a Mastercard the whole name may not have fit on the card so Babe would be best.

2. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele): This one threw me for a loop, I always thought star Brazilian soccer players were born with one name, not 3!

1. Lloyd Bernard Free (World B. Free): I believe this man started the whole let me change my name thing. Legally changed it 1980, I do not think anyone ever knew who Lloyd Bernard was though.

Honorable mentions: Edward Charles Ford (Whitey Ford), James Bell (Cool Papa Bell), Lawrence Peter Berra (Yogi Berra), Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan)