Chris Mottram of SBNation.com points out an interesting coincidence between an ESPN.com Bill Simmons piece today and a post written by SBNation’s Andrew Sharp the previous day.
Sharp noted on Thursday that Titans’ running back Chris Johnson would probably be enjoying more celebrity if he had a more unconventional name. Simmons the next day? Same. Graf comparison after the jump.
Chris Johnson has become this generation’s Barry Sanders, only he doesn’t seem to be resonating the same way. You know what kills him? Bad name. “Chris Johnson” is boring. He could be anyone. Now, if his name were Crispus Johnson? Home run. He’d have reached Barry status two months ago.
Maybe it’s because of his name. Yeah, probably his name. “Chris Johnson.” It sounds silly, but part of greatness is mystique, and a name goes a long way toward myth-making. Like, “Randy Moss” just sounds like someone that was born to be a superstar.
If the Titans running back, were named, say, Jamario Moon, maybe he’d be more famous. Even if he were named Chris John-ston, there’d be more of that mystique. It sounds stupid, I know, but really: “Chris Johnson?” Is that a white linebacker for Penn State? Can we have a mulligan on the Chris Johnson naming process? Or maybe he could just switch names with Lendale White for the next ten years. That’d work too.
Mottram, who detected the similarity, writes, “Probably just a coincidence. Yeah. Definitely a coincidence. Great minds, and all that.”
Hard to disagree with Mottram’s assessment. (”Definitely a coincidence.“)
To my knowledge Simmons has never been cited for this sort of thing before.
Kinda like someone else we know.
*UPDATE* (6:31p PT): Simmons responds via Twitter:
Fair enough. Given his track record, I’ll defer to Simmons on this one.
7:27 pm on December 4th, 2009
They’re both cruising days behind KSK, who re-branded Johnson as Zulu Cathulu in order to shake the meh, whatever-ness of the CJ name.
http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2009/12/this-man-deserves-the-badassest-nickname-humanly-possible.html#more-21911
7:29 pm on December 4th, 2009
Does Simmons have a history of lifting unfunny and uninteresting material? If so, then yes. Probably just a coincidence though, people can have two very similar and stupid thoughts around the same time.
7:37 pm on December 4th, 2009
I’ve always joked that Rocky IV ended the Cold War (since like 1995), and I’ve seen Simmons use it too. Could it be that maybe, just maybe two people have similar thoughts?
7:37 pm on December 4th, 2009
Dude my friends and I joked about that a couple weeks ago. It’s not that groundbreaking of an idea.
There’s probably a decent chance of it being a coincidence. If BS did lift it, shame on him, because again it wasn’t like it was some amazingly shocking and hilarious idea, and he probably could’ve come up with it himself without lifting it.
Also, I love bloggers because they talk about things that ESPN and the main media won’t touch, or post it much much earlier, but anytime any of the big dogs (esp. ESPN) does anything that could possibly be seen in any way like they took something from a blog, the blogosphere gets all butt hurt and whines about it. Relax.
7:50 pm on December 4th, 2009
why is it that sports is now an afterthought on SBB?
this site is almost nothing but attention whoring drama (the 2,000 Tiger posts the past week or so), or trying to create attention whoring drama (like this story.)
8:25 pm on December 4th, 2009
Considering that he talks about this kind of thing in his book, I’d say the idea has been put out there already. Moron.
8:27 pm on December 4th, 2009
Wow, Curtis, such blatant and obnoxious shilling for your own site. Fail.
8:38 pm on December 4th, 2009
Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen Simmons attacked since he’s taken his place at the Top. Congrats SbB. You’re the first of many to come I feel like.
Oh, and let’s wait until he “steals” something a little more controversial than this, shall we? I mean, come on. Who cares if two people think that “Chris Johnson” is a plain name that doesn’t give off stardom. Hell, I thought that when he still played at ECU.
8:39 pm on December 4th, 2009
Gee it’s not like SG hasn’t used the name schtick in the past, like saying how Joey Haarington should change his name to sound cooler to help people accept him.
8:45 pm on December 4th, 2009
I’m pretty sure bill has used that before in podcasts. He plagiarized himself possibly.
8:47 pm on December 4th, 2009
This is an old QB joke. Whatever blogger this was that nobody’s ever heard of was influenced by Simmons, guaranteed. Christ.
8:47 pm on December 4th, 2009
Actually, both lifted my idea. I’ve been thinking about that for a while now. Strange coincidence.
Seriously now, save the trouble, it’s just a really bad common joke.
8:48 pm on December 4th, 2009
Don’t flatter yourselves
8:49 pm on December 4th, 2009
Nelson, it was nothing more than an example. This stuff happens all the time! It is crazy how much it does.
Especially with the smaller websites. I could give three links this second of proof of stuff like this!
8:51 pm on December 4th, 2009
We said that exact thing on the Masters Of None podcast when Chris Johnson was in Pee Wees. Seriously- www.mastersofnoneshow.com
8:53 pm on December 4th, 2009
This is ridiculous, Simmons always says a certain player would be better if they had a better name, so maybe the other guy copied from him.
9:02 pm on December 4th, 2009
Pretty sure Andrew Sharp got the idea from Bill Simmons…
9:10 pm on December 4th, 2009
Bill Simmons made what you do possible. How can you dis him like this?
9:15 pm on December 4th, 2009
I would honestly say this guy copied it from Simmons. He regularly talks about names and how they affect how we view atheletes.
I remember him posing a similar argument that compared quarterbacks in the NFL - he talked about how some had names that made them seem better.
9:24 pm on December 4th, 2009
As others have stated, Simmons has made this exact argument about other athletes in the past, and even mentioned it in his new book (which he finished writing over 8 months ago).
Get over yourself.
9:31 pm on December 4th, 2009
You know it’s bad when a vote on your own page doesn’t agree with you….four times over.
9:34 pm on December 4th, 2009
On my blog I was the first person to post pictures of Tim Lincecum looking like the kid from Dazed and Confused. Their resemblance is substantial and of course, everyone else in the world noticed. I didn’t think anyone plagiarized me because it’s just not very a very difficult opinion to arriave at, much like your blogger and Simmon’s comments about CJ.
9:51 pm on December 4th, 2009
Maybe your guy at SbB lifted it from someone as well. A few days ago I heard Steve “The Homer” True who is a local sports guy on ESPN radio - (Milwaukee Afiliate) say the same exact thing about Chris Johnson’s name.
9:52 pm on December 4th, 2009
Hate to break it to both parties, but it’s not a very novel/groundbreaking idea to begin with so yea, these things happen.
10:12 pm on December 4th, 2009
This is soooo lame. Trying to take potshots at Simmons to get notoriety without doing any background research is so f’n sad.
10:15 pm on December 4th, 2009
Wow, I was expecting to see some kind of eerily similar quote; the same CONCEPT? On the INTERNET?! Call the press, get them off Tiger’s lawn, we’ve got some plagiarism to expose!
10:16 pm on December 4th, 2009
I agree Simmons didn’t steal it…. BUT why say he doesn’t read sports blogs. He’s admitted to reading Deadspin so why now say he doesn’t? I don’t get it.
10:27 pm on December 4th, 2009
Sep 30, 2005 3:58 PM: “The only three sports blogs I read are: www.sportsbybrooks.com; www.bostonsportsmedia.com; and www.deadspin.com.”
source: http://deadspin.com/128520/the-definitive-bill-simmons-interview-by-those-who-know-him-best
10:31 pm on December 4th, 2009
Is Reilly going to face the music for his mail in column? How can he get away with that?
11:00 pm on December 4th, 2009
I see Ziggy’s back at the complaint department. “The New Yorker is stealing my ideas.”
11:02 pm on December 4th, 2009
“Now THAT’S funny.”
11:18 pm on December 4th, 2009
Looks like he reads TBL too http://twitter.com/sportsguy33/status/1711622908
11:33 pm on December 4th, 2009
First Cowherd ripping from the blogs, now Simmons. They are the world wide leader.
11:50 pm on December 4th, 2009
fukk bill simmons he always fellates boston area sports
27 RINGS BIATTTTCH GO YANKEES
11:53 pm on December 4th, 2009
Simmons has been talking about names making or breaking athletes for years. If anything, this guy stole from him.
12:44 am on December 5th, 2009
Seriously, no one reads SBNation. How arrogant do you have to be to think the most famous columnist around right now is stealing your mediocre, barely creative gag?
12:58 am on December 5th, 2009
Wait a second ,,, if Simmons doesn’t read blogs, he definitely reads blog comments … Even retweeted one “AJ , the emails are coming out of the house, get out now ” …. i highly doubt he reads just the comments on deadspin, and not deadspin itself
1:16 am on December 5th, 2009
Simmons has actually made that joke on numerous occasions over the years… he’s recycled it over and over for different athletes.
2:42 am on December 5th, 2009
You know, I bet if Detroit’s Kevin Smith was named something like LeBrickShaw Monsterdick we’d all be way more disappointed about how mediocre he is.
c. me, 2009
10:02 am on December 5th, 2009
Did you ever realize that Simmons mentions things like changing names often in his writing? And that maybe this other guy thought it was a funny gimmick, so he got the idea for changing Chris Johnson’s name from Simmons? Lots of people like Simmons’ style of writing, and incorporate it into their own writing. It could be the case here, without the Sharp guy noticing it.
Just playing devil’s advocate here.
10:49 am on December 5th, 2009
Considering how many people are blogging these days, its very much possible for more than one person to share the same thoughts. I mean, it pretty much rights itself: CJ is the most explosive player in the league but has the blandest name, ie he needs a cooler name… Zulo Cuthulu is still the greatest RB name ever though, just imagine Gus Johnson calling a long run.
11:16 am on December 5th, 2009
I’ve been readin simmons for years and almost every other blogger I read tries to copy him. He was the first blogger to mix sports and pop culture and now everyone does it This is a joke and the only reason anyone is here is becuz they were followin Simmons twitter page I’ve never heard of this douche
12:57 pm on December 5th, 2009
oh cmon!
it’s not like it’s a nobel prize winning idea.
i too had a similar idea a few months ago. i remember thinking this guy has a generic name which is not very marketable.
1:11 pm on December 5th, 2009
Brooks’ bitterness at not being able to get a full-time gig with ESPN is showing again… see Delusions of Grandeur.
2:43 pm on December 5th, 2009
Brook-sac,
What if the Onion or any one of the 200 zillion sites you plagirize your content from asked you the same freaking question? Hold yourself to the same standard you hold anybody having more success in life than you to. And yes, that was the comment of the milennium on this dizzy site.
3:37 pm on December 5th, 2009
Its probably just a coincidence. Especially since Simmons has been using the ‘what if he had a better name?’ meme for years, he’s really just ripping off his own unfunny joke
3:53 pm on December 5th, 2009
But he DOES read sports blogs and has gone on record saying it. Why does he come out now and say he doesn’t? he is a liar.
3:53 pm on December 5th, 2009
Whatever. They are both recycling Joe Smith jokes from fifteen years ago. Except for J. Smiff ended up sucking (comparatively).
5:50 pm on December 5th, 2009
A few years ago my friend sent Simmons a mailbag letter with a Nipsey Russell reference and Simmons used it in his column the next day…
7:04 pm on December 5th, 2009
Simmons didn’t steal it. This is just more evidence of how unoriginal and trite his writing is.
8:13 pm on December 5th, 2009
Although I do believe Simmons in this case, I did have a similar situation with him last year. I wrote an email to him comparing bumbling Clippers GM Elgin Baylor to Nipsy Russell. His next column in ESPN.com mysteriously made that same comparison but he gave himself credit for that idea.
9:11 pm on December 5th, 2009
Haha. Look at Cruise and franz’s comments above mine. Assuming they are different people, they both sent Simmons the same comparison and think he ripped it off. Imagine that.
1:29 pm on December 8th, 2009
Is there a more obvious angle to Chris Johnson. I mean come on. If I wrote a blog about the nfl, I’d have written that too.
5:55 pm on January 18th, 2010
Franz….He did the same thing to me!! LOL
I said Dunleavy looked like the guard from the original “The Longest Yard”. and he took credit for it.