“What’s in A Name? — George Foreman and My Hamster, Georgie
George Edward Foreman, needs no introduction, two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion (including the oldest to ever claim the title a 1994 victory over Michael Moorer), 1968 Olympic Gold medalist, and minister. Also, in the early 1990s, he became a multi-millionaire by partnering with a little-known kitchen appliance then marketed as “The Fajita Grill.” Foreman lent his moniker to the fat-reducing cooker, and it was re-branded as the George Foreman Grill. George Foreman became an infomercial icon, and The George Foreman Grill, to this day, has sold over 100 million units.
However, 1983 was a lull in Foreman’s illustrious career. George Foreman was in the middle of his second retirement. Over a decade had elapsed since his peak. His historic matches against boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and Ron Lyle seemed distant. The former champion’s last fight was in 1977 and it was a loss by decision to Jimmy Young, and that seeming signaled the end of a career. George’s famous comeback to reclaim the heavyweight crown would not even begin until years later with a 1987 victory over Steve Zouski.
In the opposite corner, to use a boxing metaphor, is me, a short, skinny 8-year-old whose greatest sporting accomplishment, at the time, was playing as a Little League Right Fielder. For those who do not know, the right field is considered the least demanding position at this level. Most little leaguers lack the strength to hit a baseball to the outfield, and those who do are likely to drive the ball to the left or center fielder. On the off chance that a ball is driven to the near side of the outfield, a manager’s only hope is that his right fielder is paying even the slightest attention and not daydreaming. The youthful right fielder, usually possessing far below-average physical skills (even compared to their fellow schoolmates), then would be expected to throw the ball to the cut-off man at first or second baseman. Seldom did this ever happen. I, err I mean the right fielder, is almost always daydreaming.
Seemingly, on the surface, neither George Foreman nor I would have anything in common. However, this is inaccurate. Mr. Foreman and I had a penchant for naming things George.
On January 23, 1983, “Big George” as he has become known, fathered one of his 12 children. This son was named George III, and he would become a successful boxer and minister, just like his Dad. Passing a name from father to son was not unusual. My father also bore the name ‘Michael’, and it was passed to me. According to this YouGov survey, a father passing their first name to a child occurs to roughly 1 in 10 Americans. What was slightly unusual was the rather unorthodox naming convention that Mr. Foreman used with his other four sons. All 5 were to carry the marker — George Edward Foreman. Collectively, they are George Junior, George III (“Monk”), George IV (“Big Wheel”), George V (“Red”), and George VI (“Little Joey”).
As I remember, the public found it humorous, but not in any mean-spirited way, but as that of a quirky celebrity. The champ even embraced it, stating on his personal website, “I named all my sons George Edward Foreman so that they would always have something in common, I say to them ‘If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, then we all go down together!’” You must respect a man, who having found great success using the ‘George’ name, felt bestowing the same forename to his children would be a wonderful legacy.
I equally loved the name George but for an entirely different reason. It was because I was 8 years old, and often, 8-year-old children are quirky in their own right. I habitually named all my toys and stuffed animals ‘George,’ as if I were acting out my own Looney Toon. I have no recollection for the impetus behind this constant usage, it was just my thing.
My 1983 Christmas would be special, as I received my first pet, a brown and white hamster. Obviously, his full name was George, although he went by the nickname, Georgie. For the first time, I used the name George on something alive, although on reflection, less meaningful then christening all my children George.
As far as I can remember, Georgie was a great hamster. I fondly remember him, although my 40+ years old elementary school memories are hazy. Hamsters and other small rodents seldom earn the same acclaim as dogs and cats. I have never heard of a hamster being referred to as loving, loyal, and/or intelligent. However, it does bring a reminiscing smile to my face retroactively applying those characteristics to Georgie. Knowing George Foreman likely values similar traits leads me to believe that George Foreman would have been proud for my hamster to share the same name as his sons.
Sadly, Georgie passed about 1 ½ years later. A hamster’s lifespan is all too brief. He was wrapped in a brown paper bag, placed in an old dry pasta box, and buried in the backyard of my childhood home. His grave was marked by smooth rocks taken from a Lake Erie beach. I would eventually get another hamster fittingly named Georgie II (again Mr. Foreman and I shared a love for the sobriquet), but he too would die a few months later. It would be the last time I used the name George.
I know. Nothing connects my hamster to that of the former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, George Foreman, other than a coincidence of name. True enough. However, I was able to compose a deserving and long-overdue tribute to my childhood hamsters, Georgie, and Georgie II.
