What Kevin Brown, Kevin Brown and Kevin Brown have in common

It felt like I was hit by a sack of bricks.

There I was on a lazy Sunday afternoon; folding my laundry and listening to a baseball game on the radio. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were hosting the Toronto Blue Jays.

Midway through the match, Jerry Howarth, the long-time Blue Jay announcer, stated that Francisco Rodriguez was warming up in the Angels’ bullpen.

I was motionless. How could Francisco Rodriguez be warming up? I thought to myself. K-Rod doesn’t play for the Angels anymore. He throws for the New York Mets (or did until he had a minor disagreement with his girlfriend’s father). Maybe it was just a bad dream.

But it wasn’t a dream and Mr. Howarth was right. Francisco Rodriguez was indeed warming up in the Angels’ bullpen and K-Rod was still closing ball games for the Mets.

As it turns out, there are two Francisco Rodriguezes; one (K-Rod) born in 1982, the other in 1983. Quite a unique coincidence.

Athletes with the same name are more common than one would think. And this phenomenon crosses over many sports. Not only are there two baseball players named Francisco Rodriguez, there are also two boxers with the same name. One was born in 1945 in Venezuela; the other was born in 1984 in the United States.

That’s just scratching the surface. Take a look at Kevin Brown.

There’s Kevin Brown, the former right-hander and six-time all-star. Kevin Brown, a left-hander who played three seasons in the early nineties. And Kevin Brown, a former catcher who played seven season with Texas, Toronto, Milwaukee and Boston.

Don’t forget about Kevin Brown, a nine-year NHL journeyman. Kevin Brown, a member of rugby’s Huddersfield Giants. And Kevin Brown, a one-time defensive tackle with the Seattle Seahawks.

Sometimes, there are athletes who have played for the same team at the same position! Case in point: Alex Gonzalez.

The first Alex (b. 1973) was a shortstop with the Blue Jays from 1995-2001. The second Alex (b. 1977 and little more well-known) spent the first half of the 2010 season with the Jays, playing short, before being traded to the Atlanta Braves.

There are also some athletes who share the same name, but the spelling is just slightly different.

Introducing Brenden Morrow and Brandon Morrow.

Brenden is a 31-year-old left winger with the Dallas Stars, who also was a member of Canada’s gold medal Olympic hockey team. Brandon is a 26-year-old pitcher with the Blue Jays, who nearly threw a no-hitter against Tampa Bay this season. Two different athletes, two different sports; and yet, fans can easily get confused.

Perhaps the best kinds of athletes with similar names are the ones who are actually related to each other.

Jacques Villeneuve, one of only three racecar drivers to win both the CART and F1 championships and the only Canadian to ever win the Indianapolis 500, also has an uncle named Jacques Villeneuve. Just like his nephew, the elder Villeneuve was involved in auto racing and happens to be a member of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Then there’s John Tavares.

Tavares, the number one pick from the 2009 NHL draft, is preparing for his sophomore season with the New York Islanders. Meanwhile, his uncle, also named John Tavares, is preparing for his 20th season with the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits.

Both the Johns have accomplished a lot in their careers, limiting space in the Tavares Family trophy case.

Uncle John is the NLL’s all-time leader in points and goals, a three-time MVP and has led the Bandits to four league titles. Nephew John was the Canadian Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year in 2006, named the CHL’s Player of the Year in 2007 and won two gold medals as a member of Canada’s junior men’s hockey team in 2008 and 2009. Given the younger John’s age, it’s likely there’s plenty more hardware to come.

What’s in a name anyway?

Actually, there’s plenty. Names are human trademarks; a way to distinguish ourselves from everyone else. There’s nothing wrong in sharing a name with another person, especially if it’s a well-known person (shout out to all the Michael Jackson‘s out there). But sharing does cut back on individuality and that exclusive feeling.

Perhaps when a sportscaster says there won’t be another (for example) Wayne Gretzky, it’s not because of the Great One’s elite skill. Instead, it’s because of the Great One’s elite name.

Think about it. How many other Wayne Gretzky’s are out there?

Of course, there are probably parents who named their children Wayne Gretzky Smith or Wayne Gretzky Johnson; thus, putting my outlandish theory out of commission.

That’s not to slight any athletes who share the same name. Many of them have flourished. Even better, their names can contribute to a fabulous drinking game – every time you hear “Francisco Rodriguez,” take a swig.