It's Mother's Day. And I thought it'd be appropriate to share a story both me and Terrell Owens have in common. Owens was named by his mother, as he didn't know his father until he was 10. I was named after my father and many other Terrell's from my father's side. But I believe it's the mother's ultimate decision as to what her child's name will be. So both our mothers named us Terrell. Up until 1998, when Terrell Davis became a household name because of his epic performance in Super Bowl XXXII everyone pronounced my name "Tear-ull" (as in you 'tear' a piece of paper) which is the way it's meant to be pronounced. For the next 15 years or so I would correct people who called me "Terr-rell" (like Terr-rell Davis) but around age 25 I realized I was wasting my breath and just answered to both. Terrell Owens also had his name mispronounced, mainly by the media, and he would correct them as well. His name is pronounced "Tuh-rell", slightly different than "Terr-rell", but still a distinguishable difference. As he is an NFL Hall of Famer and I'm just a dude in a one horse town, he continues to correct people whereas I gave up for the most part... usually the person saying my name will eventually ask how to pronounce it and my answer is usually, "Well, my Mom calls me "Tear-ull" and they apologize and try to say it the way it was intended, but I don't force it unless I'm in a mood. You know the kind I mean. So, there you have it. Two guys with the same name but pronounced different (when pronounced correctly) that have spent a lifetime correcting people who mis-pronounce it because our Mothers didn't name us Terrell. One named her son Terrell, and one named her son Terrell... If they wanted our names pronounced like the Broncos legend there wouldn't be an issue, but out of respect for our mothers' decision and growing up being called a certain way bu them, we both correct "mispronouncers." Here's to Moms everywhere and naming us how they wanted!
Terrell Owens '96 SP RC
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