Force Leads Him To Change Name For $1,000, He’Ll Get Star Wars Moniker

Michael Christopherson cannot perform any Jedi mind tricks, but that has not stopped him from trying to assume the identity of the man who helped Luke Skywalker realize his powers.

In hopes of winning a local radio contest, the 30-year-old father of two has filed paperwork to legally change his name to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the robed Jedi Knight who mentored Skywalker in the movie “Star Wars.”

“I need a car. They’re offering $1,000,” Christopherson reasoned Wednesday. “I could save up a $1,000, but it’ll take me until September to do it. I’m trying to short-cut that.”

Christopherson first heard about the contest early last week and briefly considered making the leap to the rank of Jedi Knight.

“I thought about it for half a second,” Christopherson said. “It wasn’t worth it then.”

That was before his Volkswagen Rabbit left with his father, Arlo Christopherson, after a falling out. The younger Christopherson began reconsidering on Friday.

After a weekend of weighing the drawbacks - listing the name on future job applications, going by ObiWan or Mr. Kenobi - against the $1,000 payoff and a quick consultation with his family, Christopherson decided to become Obi-Wan. Christopherson has a date before a 1st District Court magistrate on July 12 to finalize the change.

KHTQ, a local rock station, began offering the prize about two weeks ago in anticipation of Wednesday’s opening of “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace,” said promotions director Jason Valentine. The first person to show proof of legally changing their name to Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was chosen because of his part in all four “Star Wars” movies, walks away with the loot.

Win or lose, Christopherson plans to follow through with the name change.

“People at work are teasing me about it,” Christopherson said. “I said, `Be careful or I’ll use the force on you.”’

Christopherson, who was 11 when the first “Star Wars” movie came out, considers himself a fan, but not a fanatic. Action figures he collected as a child have long since been sold at a garage sale.

Assuming the name of a Jedi Knight will take some getting used to, but Christopherson’s sister has been helping him ease into the identity.

“My sister calls me Mr. Kenobi already,” Christopherson said. “I have a feeling my mother is going to call me Mike.”