Point To Ponder

“Starting at defensive tackle for Lena-Winslow … Ian Cool”

Hearing opposing PA announcers butcher a kid’s name – it was Ian “Keuhl” pronounced “Keel” – still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up in anger.

Why does it tick me off and get under my skin? Well, you see for four years I was the Public Address Announcer at DePauw University. And the first lesson I learned from our Athletic Director was – “Don’t butcher the names!”

It was part of my job to meet with someone – anyone – from the opposing team to get the pronunciations of the players I might be announcing for that game. And I...