Bernhardt's axiom-"A moderately famous person who shares a relatively unique surname with a more famous person is more likely than not to be related to that famous person"

Who would have believed that a famous baseball player and a famous country star are father and son.  They are also another example of Bernhardt's Axiom.

Tim McGraw is a country star who has had numerous platinum albums. It's turns out his father is former New York Mets/ Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Tug McGraw who was a key player in two world championships. Tim also played  baseball (at the collegiate 
level)  but Tim got injured and took up singing. Sadly, Tug died in 2004. Tim's version of the  song, "Live Like You Were Dying" is dedicated to his father.

Bernhardt's axiom states that "A moderately famous person who shares a relatively unique surname with a more famous person is more likely than not to be related to that famous person". It usually works, I have found.

 When you hear about somebody new in the news with the surname of famous person they are usually related to them, so much so that is standard journalistic practice to often state it when they are not related to a famous person.  Of course, this axiom  doesn't work with are  people with relatively common names.

Examples include Alan and Robin Thicke, Mika and Zbignew Brzezinski ,  David Attenborough and Richard Attenborough, Chris and Mike  Wallace, Bart and Paul Giamatti, Julian  and Andrew  Lloyd Webber, Charlie and Martin Sheen, David and Jimmy Ruffin,   The Udall family,  Jerry  and Ben Stiller,  Nick and George  Clooney, Sigmund, Lucian and Anna Freud and numerous others. Football coaches, Lou Saban (Buffalo Bills) and Nick Saban (Alabama Crimson Tide)  are sort of related distant cousins.


One example where it isn't true is Brandi Chastain and Jessica Chastain.  Another example is Mark Hamill, Dorothy Hamill and Pete Hamill. The Hamill's and the Chastain's are not related. Andrew and Aaron Sorkin are not related.


One reason this is true is that having a famous successful parent usually open doors for you in the entertainment industry.

(Originally published July 6, 2012.)

By J.C. Bernhardt

Tim McGraw -live like you were Dying.