Name Game: Numerous Entertainers On and Off the Basketball Hardwood

July 22nd, 2023 - 8:37

Did you know that Richard M. (Rick) Nixon was the sports information director at Texas-San Antonio? That question was inspired by scouring old college basketball guides and the discovery of a bevy of individuals who make you think of someone else more prominent with the same name outside the world of basketball. To what extent can one take this name game?

We make this inquiry in the aftermath of the passing away of iconic singer Tony Bennett. The Green Bay Press-Gazette recounted a pop culture/sports history photo-op meeting on November 16, 1991, at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Bennett was passing through on his way to perform at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc and the Press-Gazette arranged a Triple Crown of Tony Bennetts (legendary singer/Packers #1 draft choice linebacker from Ole Miss/UWGB all-time leading scorer before coaching Virginia to 2019 NCAA crown). The last of the crooners joked that only one other time earlier in his career had he ever met someone with the same name as his, and even then spelling got in the way. "She was a stripper," Bennett said. "She spelled it T-O-N-I."

They all didn't leave their heart in San Francisco. Following is an alphabetical list of former all-conference first-team basketball selections boasting names such as Bennett having a familiar ring in the entertainment industry:

All-Conference Choice Pos. NCAA DI School Year(s) All-League First-Team Selection
Tony Bennett G Wisconsin-Green Bay 1989-90 through 1991-92 in Mid-Continent
Bobby Brown G Cal State Fullerton 2005-06 and 2006-07 in Big West
Charlie Brown G-F Texas Western 1956-57 through 1958-59 in Border
James Brown G Dartmouth 1972-73 in Ivy League
Al Green G Louisiana State 1978-79 in SEC
Steve Green F Indiana 1973-74 and 1974-75 in Big Ten
Jermaine Jackson G Detroit 1998-99 in Midwestern Collegiate
Keith Jackson G San Francisco 1987-88 in WCAC
Michael Jackson F Missouri-Kansas City 1999-00 in Mid-Continent
Don Johnson F Oklahoma A&M 1950-51 and 1951-52 in Missouri Valley
Don Johnson G UCLA 1951-52 in PCC/South Division
Jimmy Lampley C Arkansas-Little Rock 1981-82 in TAAC
Kevin McHale F-C Minnesota 1979-80 in Big Ten
Paul Neumann G Stanford 1958-59 in PCC
Jack Parr C-F Kansas State 1955-56 through 1957-58 in Big Seven
Roy Rogers C Alabama 1995-96 in SEC
Paul Williams F Arizona State 1982-83 in Pacific-10