The real Andy Griffith, the actor, was not amused. His lawyer filed a lawsuit, claiming Fenwick changed his name for "the sole purpose of taking advantage of Griffith's notoriety in an attempt to gain votes."
Carol Blakey figures that Andy's lawyer ought to know his client better than that. In Oklahoma, nice guys don't have notoriety. "I think of the word ‘notoriety' as having a negative connotation," she wrote. "My dictionary says ‘notorious' means ‘widely and unfavorably known.' TV's Sheriff Andy Griffith was way too nice to be ‘notorious.'"
Carol is right from a lay point of view, although the legal term may go back to the original Latin, which was fairly neutral: the quality of being well-known. Both Webster's and American Heritage dictionaries define "notoriety" as the quality or state of being notorious. "Ill fame," American Heritage adds.
A quick definition of "notorious" is "having an exceedingly bad reputation."
Buck reckons the use of the word "notoriety" created no legal problems; otherwise, Griffith's "Matlock" side would have objected. But for the sake of Opie, who has to live with his daddy's reputation, Sheriff Andy should have insisted on "fame" or "favorable reputation."
"Sonny Boy Ready's notoriety as a moonshiner keeps him in hot water with the sheriff," Floyd said.
"Heck, Sonny's not notorious," Buck said. "His still has an impeccable reputation for quality."
Send questions for Buck to columnist Gene Owens, 1004 Cobbs Glen Drive, Anderson, SC 29621, or e-mail BucksEnglish@aol.com. Please let Buck know where you're from.
