Chris wrote: > Chris Green (or perhaps it should simply be "Color" in order to avoid > prejudice)
Truth is stranger than fiction: >From the London Times, 8 February 2005 Goodbye Jimmy White, hello James Brown Jimmy White, the popular snooker player, has changed his name by deed poll to Jimmy Brown - in a desperate attempt to secure sponsorship for the ailing sport. Last year the British Government banned tobacco advertising in sport and snooker has suffered more than most, struggling to secure major sponsorship deals. However, food manufacturer HP are sponsoring the brown ball in the forthcoming Masters tournament in London and came up with the name-change proposal to promote their famous brand of brown sauce, which White - now Brown - agreed to. "HP have come along and they are starting to sponsor snooker," said White/Brown. "They said, 'We're sponsoring the brown ball in the Masters, we'd like to sponsor you in the tournament, but we want you to call yourself James Brown'. "I went, 'That's no problem'. At first I thought it was a wind-up but it's turned out to be true. And snooker needs more sponsors and we need people with a household name. We haven't got any major sponsors and that's why I did it." Brown, who has reached the final of the World Championships on six occasions and is yet to triumph, admitted the tobacco advertising ban has forced such desperate measures. "Since the Government have stopped the tobacco sponsorship the game's been in trouble," he admitted. The 42-year-old has officially changed his name to Brown by deed poll and will be known as such until he changes it back - if he does change it back. "It's all done. My name's James Brown," he added. Allen E. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
