With the recent and untimely passing of former President Gerald Ford and legendary performer James Brown, a pattern of spooky coincidences has emerged, establishing a close link between these seemingly very different people.

Consider this:

• Both men have a total of 10 letters in their names, three vowels and seven consonants.
• As president, Gerald Ford rode in a Lincoln Continental limousine, and James Brown has performed at Lincoln Center.
• Neither man appears on a U.S. coin.
• Both men changed their names at some point in their life. James Brown changed his name to remove the suffix “Junior.” Gerald Ford was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr.
• Both men were modest about their education. James Brown said, “I only got a seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use.” Gerald Ford said, “I had a lot of experience with people smarter than I am.”
• Ford received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in May 1970, and in 1998, Brown was arrested after a high-speed car chase and charged with carrying an unlicensed firearm and assaulting a police officer.

James Brown (left) and Gerald Ford both shared an unusual penchant for microphones

It certainly gives one pause, if only for a moment.