What's in a Name

I've toyed with the notion of starting a blog for quite some time now. My wonderful wife recently started one to share her memories with our daughter and I thought it would be a good idea to do something similar myself.  My take is going to be a bit different, however.  I often feel like I don't recall my own memories from my younger years very well, so I am going to regale you with tales of my youth as I recall them; hence the name.  I'll give a bonus prize to the first person to identify the source of the blog's name. 

I'd also like to thank Brandon Crook for the motivation to start this blog.  He and I play a little softball together and at our last game he asked why the guys call me Scooter. I didn't feel like my feeble attempt at an explanation sufficed to answer the question, so I felt the need to start an entire blog to explain it.

Scooter. Scoot. Scooty. Most of you have called me one or more of these names on multiple occasions (to some of you, one of these is the only name you know me by), but do you have any idea how I acquired this nickname?  Sure, it's just a simple derivation of my first name, but why the need to "simplify" a one syllable name by, in some instances, making it longer?

It started my freshman year of high school.  If memory serves me correctly, I started high school somewhere around 5'2" to 5'4" and rail thin.  My smaller stature made me an easy target for upper classmen, especially in sports. There was a certain individual that felt a special need to target me. He was a year older than me and played the same positions as me in both basketball and baseball.  His disdain for me was not necessary as I posed little threat to him in either sport.  You see he was the big shot athlete, and, well I've already shared my size with you. 

It was some time during fall baseball season that this guy took to calling me Scooter and it stuck.  At first it was uttered with a hateful tone, however as I earned playing time and respect, the tone faded.  But I don't think it ever completely went away. Since Scooter is a name often associated with baseball players, most famously with Hall of Famer Phil Rizzuto, it spread quickly with my teammates.

As I got older and taller (but no thicker), the name grew with me. Also as I grew, the control that the name gave the older guy faded. The name became a source of motivation, pushing me to be "better" than the other guy.  He went on to go to the same JUCO I would eventually go to, but had shoulder surgery in his first year and was unable to make it through the rehabilitation process.  I had my own (more difficult) shoulder surgery the same year as a senior in high school. My arm strength never fully returned, but my motivation to continue playing and continue getting better remained. The surgery also lead to my eventual career choice.  Last I heard he was driving a dump truck (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Throughout the years, the name has been twisted and shortened into its other forms. I was able to escape the name for periods during my time in college, but it has always popped back up.  Let me make something clear: I don't hate the name.  Would I have chosen it?  No.  Would most people choose their own nickname if given the chance?  Probably not.  I would hope that they would find a way to embrace it and make it a positive impact on their life. 

*I'm glad that this form of bullying was all I had to deal with.  It was nothing compared to the cyber bullying teens are faced with today.