What’s My Name : Muhammad Ali

[Dark Lord Al]

Clay was a great fighter when he fought Liston, really light on his feet and mobile.

[TitoFan]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...clay/86956544/

"Why Muhammad Ali never legally changed name from Cassius Clay"



Interesting.

I never knew Ali had never legally changed his name from Cassius Clay.

Even more interesting is this quote from the article...

"Roxanne Williamson, a spokesperson for the Social Security Administration, said a legal name change was not required in the 1960s. A person who wanted to use another name could simply assume the new one.

“In 1964, the Social Security Administration (SSA) did not require an applicant to provide documented proof of his or her name or changes to his or her legal name,’’ Williamson said in an email. “An individual’s name was listed on his or her Social Security card based solely on his or her allegation. Many Social Security Numbers (SSNs), including SSN cards, were issued in the name provided by the applicant and could include an applicant’s nickname."

You live, you learn.

Oh well... I personally have no issues with Ali having changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

A comparable example is that of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the famous and Hall of Famer former NBA player from the '70s and '80s.

His birth name was Lew Alcindor. But in 1968, for religious reasons, he changed it to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Got no problem with that either.



I do however... raise an eyebrow at stupid name changes, such as former NBA thug... er I mean... basketball player Ron Artest having changed his name to (cough) Metta World Peace.

Someone should've laughed him out of whatever legal or government office he went to do that.

Chad Ochocinco (formerly Chad Johnson of the NFL) is another stupidity example.