I must have told the story about how Ricky came to be “Ricky” a thousand times:  How Robby, then 9, named his beagle puppy for Ricky Williams, the Miami Dolphins running back, and his ultimate hero at the time.  How when Williams retired unexpectedly at age 27, two days before training camp, Robby was shattered.  And how, after quickly recovering from this devastating blow, Robby pragmatically

announced his intention to re-name his dog “Travis,” after Travis Minor, Williams’ backup at the running back position.  (#34, for the Miami Dolphins . . . Ricky Williams Herman!)

The story always ends with yours truly dispensing my fatherly wisdom:  You can’t change your dog’s name every time the Dolphins change running backs.

But what if he could?  And did? 

Okay, so for awhile, it would have been, “Travis, come!”  Hmm . . .  kind of a cool name, I think.  But within a few weeks, it was

Sammy Morris, not Travis Minor, who emerged as Miami’s go-to back for the 2004 season.  Ricky would have had to endure

another name change.  “Sammy, come!”  Again, not a bad name for a dog.  (And a great name for a kid:  Our son Greg’s middle name is Sam 🙂 )

Morris, however, was sent to the scrap heap when the Fins took Ronnie Brown in the first round of the 2005 draft.  Brown stuck around as Miami’s feature back through 2010, so Ricky would have been able to keep the same name for 5 years:  “Ronnie, come!”  Not a sensational name for a beagle, but at least it starts with an “R”.  And he could have actually been “Ricky” again for the 2009 season, when Brown injured his right foot and Williams, back on the Dolphins after multiple drug suspensions, took over for the year.

For 2011, Miami signed glamor tailback Reggie Bush — “R” again — to carry the ball.  So for two years, 2011-2012, there would have been a little confusion around the house, as Robby’s dog, Robby’s grandmother, and the Lab next door would all have been called “Reggie.”

And this year?  Sorry, Ricky:  Exit Bush for Detroit.  These days it’s Lamar Miller in the Dolphins backfield.  “Lamar, come!”  Sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it?  Not that it matters.  He never comes when we call him, anyway.

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