JR Smith gone; Earl Smith in

[MHZ]

That just sounds so awkward.

CHICAGO — His name is Earl.

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has made a decision — from now on, he wants to be called by his given name, Earl.

His given name is Earl Smith III, but he got "J.R." because people would call him "junior," even though, yeah, he's actually a third-generation Earl.

Regardless, the Denver sharpshooter is now Earl Smith III — which should lead to some cutesy puns about "III" and "3-pointers."

"I just felt like changing it," Smith said Tuesday morning at the Nuggets shootaround, in preparation for tonight's Nuggets-Bulls game, Smith's first game back from a seven-game suspension. "It's been a long time, and J.R. has no significance to my name. My name is Earl, so I figured - why not?"

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_13754906

[almost famous]

Um... No.

[J Smitty]

I veto this one. The name Earl does not bring good vibes to me as a Nuggets fan.

[corona]

oh hai. thought i'd just stop by and see how things are going.

[pickaxe]

Th Earl of Three. Hm. Maybe we can come up with some creative ones.

If Earl wants to use his given name.....whaccha gonna do?

[MHZ]

This screams of something that Chris Marlowe is going to be obsessed with. He routinely fumbles generic basketball facts, but calling JR "Earl" seems like something he's going to be devoted to.

[eathy]

I'm still calling him JR.

[corona]

This screams of something that Chris Marlowe is going to be obsessed with. He routinely fumbles generic basketball facts, but calling JR "Earl" seems like something he's going to be devoted to.

agreed.

i'm pretty sure marlowe's going to spend a minute+ talking about the change in every altitude broadcast. and then he'll accentuate 'Earl' every time Mr Smith does something on the court.

sort of like the TNT/ESPN guys do with Nene.

[MHZ]

Which nationally televised game was it recently where there was a big discussion on "did Nene drop the 'Hilario'?"

Mike Fratello, maybe? How in the hell do you get paid to call basketball games (and numerous Nuggets ones in the past 5 or whatever years), and not know that?

[and one]

Earl Smith?? Dang doesnt sound as cool.

[pickaxe]

This screams of something that Chris Marlowe is going to be obsessed with. He routinely fumbles generic basketball facts, but calling JR "Earl" seems like something he's going to be devoted to.

agreed.

i'm pretty sure marlowe's going to spend a minute+ talking about the change in every altitude broadcast. and then he'll accentuate 'Earl' every time Mr Smith does something on the court.

sort of like the TNT/ESPN guys do with Nene.

Marlowe will probably say "The Earl" as soon as JR hits his 10th three.

[JRMelo15]

Oh come on, what the ****, I'm gonna have to change my username to EarlMelo15...ummm no...

[MHZ]

Marlowe mentioned it at the very beginning, then it was completely ignored. I think you're fine.

[Powder Blue]

J.R. stays, Earl goes

Earl Smith? That's so eight hours ago.

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith made a big proclamation Tuesday morning — from now on, he wanted to be called by his given name, Earl.

But by game time Tuesday night, he was back to being J.R.

"There was too much controversy with the switch," Smith said after Denver's 90-89 win in Chicago. "I got a lot of calls and text messages and e-mails. It wasn't a good move."......

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_13759251

[pickaxe]

Too late. He will always be known now as J. Earrrrl