Aptonym: Tyce Tallman, 6-foot, 5 1/2-inch basketball player
Published 5:11 am Monday, July 26, 2010
Q: How did your name direct your career path?
A: At Meadowdale High School I play small forward on the basketball team and sometimes I play power forward.
I think that being tall is linked with basketball and it was just one of those things where my last name is Tallman and I am tall so I’m going to have to play basketball.
I always liked basketball growing up. I just kind of fit into it. It felt good. And I’ve just always played. I’ve been playing since I was in kindergarten and I’m 17 now. And yes, I do want to pursue it in college. That’s the goal.
Q: Would you change your name if you could, and why or why not?
A: No, I don’t think I would. It kind of defines me, and it defines me even more because I play basketball. It’s what I am. I won’t ever change it.
It’s not going to be too much of a problem if I make it in the NBA because I wouldn’t be so tall. Those guys are really tall.
Q: If you could choose another career, what would it be?
A: I don’t really have a career in mind right now. I wouldn’t mind being like a one-on-one basketball trainer. I wouldn’t mind doing that. I’m going to be senior next year and right now there’s a school in Oregon we’re just looking into.
Q: How do you know when someone has picked up on the fact that your name is an aptonym?
A: They look at me like “there is no way that is actually your last name.” They will have a look of shock and say something like that’s just the weirdest thing in the world. And in school when they call my name and they see that I’m actually “Tallman” and I usually say “Oh yeah. You didn’t know that?”
The name isn’t really challenging. It would be more challenging if I had “Shortman” as a last name. No one has ever given me any problems.
Q: How do people react to the combination of your name and job? Do they get it? Any funny stories as a result?
A: I wear shirts and my letterman’s jacket that say my name on the back and people read it and they think it’s a nickname.
