Call me...

Call me 'Stivers.'

That's it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Life has launched me into another transition period. And in this time I've come to realize that name recognition is something that should be valued. You hear it so many times, "Oh, I'm horrible with names." Well, that's probably there are so many. And because there are so many people in this world, chances are you're going to run across two of the same name. Some people have more than one name, both by choice or by the antics of their friends or critics. But ever since I started working, it seems that one label has been attached to me, and I can't be happier that it's something as simple and as noble as my own last name.

Of course, my own identity has gone through a bit of an evolution. I've been called lots of things, including 'ego-maniac' (weird). The funny thing is, it all has come full circle. Because back in elementary school, teachers would mispronunce my last name all the time. (sti'v?rs) Kids would fix in on how frustrated it made me, so they spared no effort in rubbing it in and call me by the mispronunciation. Over the years, the nickname was shortened to just "Stivz." I learned to accept it that I even had a silver ring made with that name as the inscription. (Hey, I was 12, lay off. I know it's lame.)

That name stuck with me all the way through high school. It wasn't until college when some of my hockey teammates began to have a little fun with my first name. "Alexis", or "Alexea" were their way to call for a pass. In fact, on my 21st birthday, we were playing a tournament in Denton and someone had the great idea to go celebrate at a bowling alley. So, right up until midnight I hung out in the arcade. That's when I heard someone jump onto the PA system.

"Will 'Alexea Stiffers' please report to the bar? Again, 'Alexea Stiffers', report to the bar."

When I got there, there were shots waiting for me. Thanks guys.

I had to "retire" from hockey to focus on my schoolwork and the broadacst department at SHSU. During this time the movie 'Anchorman' was out on DVD, and not surprisingly it was the most quoted movie in the building. I was making a joke one day that I should change my first name to 'Champ', because my father did some research and suggested that most sportscaters have one-syllable first names. 'Champ' was an obvious reference to 'Champ Kind' from the movie.

So like an explosion, everyone at school started calling me 'Champ.' I actually accepted the role, because it fed into my ego quite nicely. Nick, a friend of mine, would greet me with a "The Champ is here!" whenever I walked into a classroom. I felt that I should have spent some money and gotten a belt made.

So now we come to the past 8 months, as I shrugged off the whole 'Champ' label and started fresh. Sure enough, my new friends at the station and outside began to simply say 'Stivers,' and it has stuck. Full circle, once again.

And honestly, I couldn't have it any other way.

AX... or better yet...

'Stivers'