Brian, Brooklyn, NY Subj: Chase who?!
Hey Ryan, what’s up with all these college and pro athletes being named Chase over the last few years? Why is that name so popular all of a sudden...were they all named during O.J.'s slow speed chase to infamy or what? Please shed some light on the subject.
It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it Brian? Believe it or not, Chase was the 83rd most popular baby name in America in 2006 and it has been prominently featured in the top 100 for the past decade. I suspect the trend probably dates back to the late 1970’s when Chevy Chase first entered our nation’s consciousness as a member of Saturday Night Live. Consider this: Phillies second baseman Chase Utley was born in 1978, the same year Chevy Chase landed his first lead role in Foul Play, New York Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn and Cleveland Browns DE Chase Pittman were both born in 1983, the same year Chevy Chase starred in Vacation and Arizona Wildcats forward Chase Budinger was born in 1988, the year Chevy Chase appeared in The Couch Trip, Funny Farm and Caddyshack II. Hey, it could be worse; we could be rooting for a bunch of athletes named Keanu.
