What Sitcom Character Names Would Get You Most Excited To Root For In College Athletics?

I often get the question "how does your brain work?" which is a nice changeup from "does your brain work?" But here is a class example for how the wheels turn up in the old noggin for Mr. Bosco. I see this tweet about some kid named Chandler Bing playing in a grass roots event (you could ask why I see grass roots tweets in the first place but that's a whole other conversation) and immediately my brain goes to this ... 

You call me crazy, I call me creative. 

Anyway ... here's the full question/situation basically ... 

" What sitcom character names would get you the most excited to see your team (or any team as a casual fan) sign to play College Basketball or College Football ? Based on name alone ... what name would you see on a roster and go 'they can play' ? "

Some quick caveats ... 

- Sitcoms only 

This means no animated, no drama, no movies, no cartoons etc. It would go too deep if we didn't stick to just sitcoms. 

- I will allow a few teen dramas ... these are my rules ... sue me 

- Everything is subjective, if you think my opinion sucks ... tell me why, I'm open to the criticism 

- I will forget some I haven't seen every sitcom and don't know them all off the top of my head. 

- We're not saying which characters scream best players, it's what names scream who would make the best player. I stand by the fact that yes Danny Tanner and Ted Mosby are big names that people would recognize, but their names don't ring out with athletic ability. 

With all that said here we go ... here's some honorable mentions and then my Top picks  for Hoops and Football 

Honorable Mention 

•  Jonathan Turner (Boy Meets World)

• Al Bundy (Married With Children)

Everyone had this is an immediate reaction and it makes sense. Seeing the name Al Bundy would immediately get people excited. The kid would have pressure like Arch Manning and rightfully so. Everyone would think he would be the kid to save the program. 

• Sam Malone (Cheers)

• Zack Morris (Saved By The Bell)

Everyone probably thought this was my no brainer, and while I strongly agree it stands out as an elite athlete name, I think others are better. It's phenomenal name but if you ask me someone else in the cast (maybe 2) have better names 

• Brad Taylor (Home Improvement) 

Put this name on a shooter in the ACC or a QB in the ACC and you will get results. Simple sometimes is the best, and the name Brad Taylor is simple but smooth. Fan bases would be excited to get him. 

• Dawson Leary (Dawson's Creek)

I trust this name to throw for 225 weekly in conference play and get me to a bowl game no one care's about folks. I just do. 

• JT Lambert (Step By Step)

QB,TE,RB … you name it. That's an athlete's name. 

• Mike Seaver (Growing Pains)

Throw him a pass he catches it. Or he's one of the only good white corners in the country. Choice is yours.

• Mark Cooper (Hanging With Mr.Cooper)

Bucket name. Facts 

• DJ Tanner (Full House)

Female or male … bucket. 

• Theodore "Teddy" Brodis (Hang Time)

Teddy is saved for President's and athletes. Facts 

• Robert Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond) 

Fan bases could talk themselves into this kid playing a pivotal role as a fullback, a linebacker or defensive lineman. 

Best Basketball Names 

• Eddie Winslow (Family Matters)

Tell me this name comes across the ESPN TOP 100 Signings, and you don't think it RINGS OUT  with "10 and 8 every night". Eddie Winslow is a name that defends the post, Eddie Winslow is a name that has great footwork, Eddie Winslow is a name that makes all conference in the Big 10. Eddie Winslow can hoop folks. You are dumb dumb if you don't think so. 

This kid doesn't really help my case but you get the point. The name can ball. 

• The Connor Siblings -DJ (Roseanne) and Julie Connor (Hang Time)

Now they aren't related as the two are from different shows, but for this scenario imagine DJ Connor and Julie Connor as sharpshooting guards. In High School they would compete like Reggie and Cheryl night in and night out lighting it up from the wings. Names ring out that they live to make buckets. With these two they can go to two different schools or they can be at the same campus - they would have a feature on ESPN Gameday, and during every one of their broadcasts they would mention "this whole family can shoot" as they show a graphic of both siblings stats. I can see it. 

• Leon Black (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Versatile point guard from the city of New York who goes by some kind of nickname like "Shaky" or "Speedy" or "Lightning Rod". Has the handles of Kyrie without the theatrics off the court. All time name. Feels like he's got hype because of a Youtube highlight tape from 7th grade. 

• Jamal Abdul Grant (City Guys)

Names like this don't grow on trees. Names like these are crafted in a factory for McDonald's All Americans and come out once every 20 years. When they do fanbases know it. Both for and against. Fans of the team who get a kid like this hitch all their hopes to his wagon and deem him the next hope, and opposing fan bases know this name is unreal and fear it, just the sound of it. 

• Ricky Ricardo ( I Love Lucy) 

Put this name as an overseas prospect in a uniform at Arizona and you might as well have Ricky Rubio. Fans would be thrilled to get a balling ass name like Ricky Ricardo. I stand by this name would THRILL a fan base if they signed him. 

Best Football Names 

• Doug Heffernan (King of Queens)

This name just screams … I mean SCREAMS  big boy offensive lineman from the farms. Now I know that's exactly what Doug the character looks like but that is exactly what his name gives you when you close your eyes and picture it. Just think about this name. When I see this name I immediately picture a 3 star recruit from Wisconsin who bench presses cattle on his farm, has a horrific haircut and can pass block like a motherfucker. 

• Deacon Palmer (King of Queens)

I hate to go back to the well but if you don't think Deacon Palmer is an elite Wide Receiver who ain't afraid to take the top off the defense, and go across the middle and look cool doing it you have no pulse. Elite name for an athlete. ELITE. 

• Bob Sacamano (Seinfeld) 

Close your eyes and picture what a class of 2029 5 star commit Bob Sacamano does on a football field. He's got his italian horn taped down to his chest under his pads, he's been all state since his frosh year, his dad and his uncle have a checkered past with the law, but the kid was sent down from heaven to be a defensive lineman. Think Siragusa meets Tommy Devito in terms of talent, and buzz. Just a force on a football field with that name. A force. 

• Rod Belding (Saved By The Bell) 
• AC Slater (Saved By The Bell) 

Rod Belding is a name you hear and you think Quarterback. Gunslinging QB playing in a conference and then leading his team to The Rose Bowl and never paying for a drink in that college town the rest of his life. All time name. 

AC Slater is a linebacker's linebacker name. Maybe the top name on all of these lists. Pick 1 sitcom character and think athlete … it's AC Slater folks. 

• Louie De Palma (Taxi)

Call me a sucker for Italians but Boston College or Syracuse would be thrilled to come back to relevancy if you told them Louie De Palma was the name that could do it. Just a QB's name.  

• Balki Bartokomous (Perfect Strangers)

The next kick this guy misses will be his first. Just a kickers name like you read about. I would trade three Sam Malone's if I could get a kicker like Balki.