A History of Athlete Name Changes

Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali 49 years ago, today.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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In sports, your name is everything. Most teams have it written on the back of a player's jersey. Fans go out and buy memorabilia with a person's name emblazoned on it. It's even shown on the Jumbotron from time to time. Sometimes, though, athletes are in need of a change and a simple nickname won't help. So, some folks go out and switch up a part or, at times, their entire birth name. 

While some choices—like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's—make sense, others can be true head scratchers. We see you, Chad (formerly known as Ochocinco) Johnson and Metta World Peace. Today marks the day that Cassius Clay officially became Muhammad Ali. So, let's take a look at the players that choose to make some legal adjustments in their personal lives. Here is A History of Athlete Name Changes

James Thomas Nichols to James "Cool Papa" Bell

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Walker Smith, Jr. to Sugar Ray Robinson

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Muhammad Ali

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Warren Edward Armstrong to Warren Jabali

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Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Bobby Moore to Ahmad Rashad

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Donald A. Smith to Zaid Abdul Aziz

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Lloyd Bernard Free to World B. Free

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Marvin Hagler to Marvelous Marvin Hagler

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Mark Duper to Mark Super Duper

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Jose Gonzalez to Jose Uribe

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Akeem Olajuwon to Hakeem Olajuwon

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Chris Jackson to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

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Mark Rogowski to "Gator" Mark Anthony

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Jim "The Ultimate Warrior" Hellwig to Warrior

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Shammgod Wells to God Shammgod

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Eldrick Woods to Tiger Woods

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Olivier Michael Saint-Jean to Tariq Abdul-Wahad

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Brian Williams to Bison Dele

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Sharmon Shaw to Karim Abdul-Jabbar to Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar

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John Paul Bonser to Boof Bonser

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Mike Jefferson to Mike Danton

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Johan Ramon Santana to Ervin Santana

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Maybyner Rodney Hilário to Nenê

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Maurice Drew to Maurice Jones-Drew

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Will Peterson to William James

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John Holmes to J.B. Holmes

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Milton “J.R.” Henderson to J.R. Sakuragi

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Greg White to Stylez G. White

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Jon Koppenhaver to War Machine

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Chad Johnson to Chad Ochocinco to Chad Johnson

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Ron Artest to Metta World Peace

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Mike Stanton to Giancarlo Stanton

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