It's a low down dirty Shan(e) we've never known Foster's real name

It happens every week, if not every game. And if you've ever watched highlights or listened to the radio the odds are pretty good that you've heard Shan Foster's name mispronounced because if somebody pronounces his name the way it looks they are mispronouncing it.

Shan Foster has helped make a name for Vandy, not yet himself. (US Presswire)

It's spelled Shan.

Like Jan.

Or Pan.

Or Tan.

But it's pronounced Shane.

Like Cane.

Or Jane.

Or Zane.

Not since Antawn Jamison made us call him something that sounds like An-Twan has college basketball had a star with such a misleading first name, and it all could've been avoided with a simple 'e' on the end of Shan. With a spellcheck, if you will. And this has always bothered me. Or at least baffled me. So with Foster's career winding down I finally took it upon myself to get to the bottom of this modern mystery, to do the kind of investigative journalism that has defined my career and figure out why Vanderbilt's all-time leading scorer is one 'e' short of a traditional spelling.

Naturally, I started with the source.

"I don't even know how that came about," Foster said. "I don't know where Shan came from, derived from or whatever. I'll have to ask my mom about that."

At this, I laughed.