The word "Wii" did not start with Nintendo. It had a life before April 27, 2006. I searched the Nexis news database over the last several days for any "Wii" references prior to that date.
Among the millions of newspaper and magazine articles I discovered more than 1900 pre-Nintendo references to "Wii," including numerous people and companies all known, in some way, as "Wii."
This is some of what I found:
Wii Seeks -- An advocate for the aboriginal people of Canada
Why he made the papers: The late Wii Seeks passed away in 2007 after a spending years trying to raise awareness for the rights of Native Americans in Canada.
Standout Clip On Dec. 16, 1991 Ontario's Hamilton Spectator reported that Wii Seeks led a four-man boarding of a boat in Puerto Rico that was being used to recreate Christopher Columbus' landing in the Americas:
"Expedition leader Wii Seeks said three natives-Art Loring, Ron Austin and Lloyd Austin- and one crew member boarded the Santa Maria at about 8.30 yesterday morning and declared the ship their own.
As many as 40 police, harbor authorities and coast guard officials were around, the boat during the occupation, Mr. Seeks said.
The natives left at 12.30 p.m. after a representative of the Spanish consulate in Puerto Rico received their list of demands.
Police considered charging the four, but didn't. Instead, police escorted them back to San Juan.
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WII-FM -- A problematic attitude.
What it stands for: What's In It For Me
Standout Clip On August 3, 1993 The Washington Times was one of many outlets using the phrase. On that day, the paper reported:
" An editorial researcher with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Miss Wisham would like to see more young adults appointed to planning and executive boards in addition to more interaction between the "old guard" and the new generation. Ms. Wisham, however, concedes that many of her peers are career-oriented and money-motivated, "still listening to that station WII-FM - what's in it for me."
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Nix-Ya-Wii -- Memorial for Native American veterans
What it means: "Place of Quaking Aspens," according to an Associate Press report on July 1, 1996.
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WII -- The companies
What just a few of the companies referred to with those letters are really called:
- Wackenhut International Inc, described in a 1986 press release as a subsidiary of The Wackenhut Corp., one of the world's largest security and investigative organizations." (They're still around.)
- Weatherford International, listed on the stock exchange in 1987 as WII. Described in a press release as "a multinational company that manufactures and markets oilfield products and equipment and provides oilfield tubular and cementation services for the petroleum industry." (They're still around but use the initials WFT on the New York Stock Exchange.)
- WII Components, formerly Woodcraft Industries Inc, which is, according to a 2006 earnings report, "one of the leading manufacturers of hardwood cabinet doors, hardwood components and engineered wood products in the United states. (They're still around.)
- Willamette Industries, a defunct "integrated forest products company," according to a press release and also former owners of the URL Wii.com
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Nancy Wii, William Wii- People in Papua New Guinea
Who they are:
- Nancy Wii is a lieutenant in the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, according to the November 30, 2005 issue of the PNG Post Courier and one of the few people with the Wii last name in all of Nexis.com.
- William Wii was a member of parliament in Papua New Guinea in 1997 when the Sydney Morning Herald chronicled elections in region with a story that began: "A supporter of a rival candidate tried to spear the sitting MP. Another supporter lost his testicles in the ensuing brawl…"
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Wildlife Institute of India
What it is: One of the most common citations of the letters W-I-I in Nexis, this group does things like track the population of tigers in India.
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Wii in Uganda
How it came up: Numerous references to place names that use the Wii prefix, including Wii-Anaka, Wii-Agweng, and Wii-Aceng.
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Tay Chong Wii, Record-Setting Stair-climber
Why he made the papers The Singapore Straits Times explained it as follows on September 3, 1999:
KUCHING -- A schoolboy set a Malaysian record yesterday by climbing up the stairs of a 21-storey building with his toes clenched.
Tay Chong Wii completed the climb of 660 steps in just 7 mins 11.22 secs -- twice as fast as an ordinary person walking up the newly-completed Wisma Pelita building, one of the tallest in the Sarawak state capital.
A small crowd comprising journalists and tourism officials cheered the SRK Kenyalang Park Year Three pupil as he reached the 21st storey in the unexpectedly fast time.
Malaysian Book of Record's corporate affairs manager Irene Liong and its Sarawak representative Wilfred Gomez were present to record the nine-year-old boy's feat.
State Tourism Minister Dr James Masing later signed an official entry form to mark the feat in the Malaysian Book of Record.
The boy said he was very proud of his record.
"It was not difficult to do. l did not feel any pain in my toes," he added.
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Wii Yatani
Who he is: As far as I can tell, he's the only person ever mentioned by the English-language media who has the first name "Wii." Read our exclusive interview with him at MTVNews.com.
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Those are the highlights. And to think I thought Nintendo started this Wii stuff…
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