kimball Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 For most players -- probably all -- there's a story behind their number. Why they picked it or got it. Whether it was to honor a player, parent, sibling, mentor or some significant life event -- whatever the case may be. I thought this would be a fun place to share some of those stories. I'll start with a few, feel free to contribute some of your favorite stories as well. Adam Ottavino (MLB); Colorado Rockies Ottavino is the only pitcher to ever wear zero. He said it's an "O" for his last name, and he has worn it since little league. Gordon Hayward (NBA); Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward wears No. 20 as a tribute to Ginobili. The Baby-Faced Assassin says he looked up Manu growing up and would try to implement some of his skills into his own game. Sidney Crosby (NHL); Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby wears #87 because he was born on 8/7/87. Ezekiel Elliott (NFL); Dallas Cowboys Elliott wears No. 21 in honor of the last Dallas Cowboy player to wear the number ... Deion Sanders. "I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." Lily Tomlin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBTV Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/The_stories_of_the_Philadelphia_Eagles_numbers.html How every player on the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles got their number "The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Placebo Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 The only athlete I would ask for an autograph from, Mario Lemieux, chose "66" as nod to Gretzky's "99". He wanted to/knew they would be compared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitedawg22 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 9 hours ago, kimball said: Ezekiel Elliott (NFL); Dallas Cowboys Elliott wears No. 21 in honor of the last Dallas Cowboy player to wear the number ... Deion Sanders. I don't doubt this is what Elliott said, but he's not even close. Seven different Cowboys wore #21 between Deion and Zeke, including a starting RB (Julius Jones) and a first-round pick (Mike Jenkins). oh ,my god ,i strong recommend you to have a visit on the website ,or if i'm the president ,i would have an barceque with the anthor of the articel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarp1231 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 1 hour ago, whitedawg22 said: I don't doubt this is what Elliott said, but he's not even close. Seven different Cowboys wore #21 between Deion and Zeke, including a starting RB (Julius Jones) and a first-round pick (Mike Jenkins). I'd say my favorite is the legendary underwear snatcher, Joseph Randle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnWis97 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Brad Daugherty wore #43 because he was a big Richard Petty fan. Disclaimer: If this comment is about an NBA uniform from 2017-2018 or later, do not constitute a lack of acknowledgement of the corporate logo to mean anything other than "the corporate logo is terrible and makes the uniform significantly worse." BADGERS TWINS VIKINGS TIMBERWOLVES WILD POTD (Shared) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarp1231 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 I think I remember reading Adam Jones (MLB) wears 10 because he is/was a big Chipper Jones fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrimalCookie Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Elfrid Payton wears 2 because his birthday is 2/22. Aaron Gordon says he wears 00 because that’s the shape NBA fans’ eyes will make when they see what he can do (not completely inaccurate, considering his Dunk Contest performances) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimball Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 3 hours ago, whitedawg22 said: I don't doubt this is what Elliott said, but he's not even close. Seven different Cowboys wore #21 between Deion and Zeke, including a starting RB (Julius Jones) and a first-round pick (Mike Jenkins). That's a great point. I grabbed it from a secondary website. I guess it should read ... in honor of Deion Sanders. "I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." Lily Tomlin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopard88 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 13 hours ago, kimball said: Sidney Crosby (NHL); Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby wears #87 because he was born on 8/7/87. Chris Redman wore No. 7 because he was born on 7/7/77. Most Liked Content of the Day -- February 15, 2017, August 21, 2017, August 22, 2017 ///// Proud Winner of the CCSLC Post of the Day Award -- April 8, 2008 Originator of the Upside Down Sarcasm Smilie -- November 1, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CS85 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 I forget why this guy picked his number. Quote "You are nothing more than a small cancer on this message board. You are not entertaining, you are a complete joke." twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopard88 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Most Liked Content of the Day -- February 15, 2017, August 21, 2017, August 22, 2017 ///// Proud Winner of the CCSLC Post of the Day Award -- April 8, 2008 Originator of the Upside Down Sarcasm Smilie -- November 1, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimball Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Here are a few NBA jersey number stories ... Anthony Davis, #23 - wears the number in honor of LeBron James. Paul George, #13 - because Bill Simmons suggested the nickname PG-13 with a number change. Carmelo Anthony, #7 - #15 retired by the Knicks so he took 15 (Syracuse/Nuggets number) and subtracted 22 (HS number). Dirk Nowitzki, #41 - He wanted #14 (his German team number), but Robert Pack wouldn't give it up so he flipped the numbers. Metta World Peace, #37 - Because of Michael Jackson's record of having a No. 1 album for 37 weeks. Metta World Peace, #91, #23 - In honor of Dennis Rodman (#91) and Michael Jordan (#23). I think I remember hearing he wanted to wear #33 for Scottie Pippen as well, but that's when the NBA made a rule about changing numbers frequently. Damian Lillard, #0 - Because he's from Oakland, CA, went to college in Ogden, UT and his first NBA team was in Oregon. Michael Jordan, #23 - Because he wanted to be at least half as good as his older brother (who wore #45). Dennis Rodman, #73 - Because 7+3=10 (his original number) and because he won 7 straight rebound titles and 3 NBA titles in a row. Donovan Mitchell, #45 - For Michael Jordan's baseball number. Andrei Kirilenko, #47 - Two fold, the nickname AK47 after the rifle ... and because the rifle was first manufactured in his hometown in Russia. Kobe Bryant, #24 - "It’s the length of one day, one half, one shot clock. This number is my promise to dominate every moment." "I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." Lily Tomlin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnWis97 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 22 minutes ago, kimball said: Here are a few NBA jersey number stories ... Kobe Bryant, #24 - "It’s the length of one day, one half, one shot clock. This number is my promise to dominate every moment." Sounds better than "I want two numbers to be retired." Disclaimer: If this comment is about an NBA uniform from 2017-2018 or later, do not constitute a lack of acknowledgement of the corporate logo to mean anything other than "the corporate logo is terrible and makes the uniform significantly worse." BADGERS TWINS VIKINGS TIMBERWOLVES WILD POTD (Shared) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobbi Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 14 hours ago, BringBackTheVet said: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/The_stories_of_the_Philadelphia_Eagles_numbers.html How every player on the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles got their number I appreciate the Super Bowl mention as much as the next Eagles fan but the article was written in 2016 so it's not technically how each player on the Championship team got their number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnclearInitial Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Chris Paul #3: His dad and his older brothers initials are also CP so he was CP#3 Kevin Durant #35: His first coach was killed when he was 35 DeAndre Jordan #6: In honor of Bill Russell Danilo Gallinari #8: He was born on 8/8/88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Cesarano Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Gary DiSarcina changed his number from 11 to 33 in honour of Larry Bird. Rick Barry wore no. 24 in honour of Willie Mays Listen to him talk to Tim McCarver about his being a fan of the Giants and Willie Mays here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krz Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Dak Prescott 4- mom was born of sept 4 And all of the pelicans, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nba.com/amp/pelicans/news/new-orleans-pelicans-player-uniform-number-choices-reflect-variety-preferences Excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Jagr wore 68 in reference to the Prague Spring, which took place in 1968. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chromatic Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Future Canucks captain Bo Horvat wears 53 in tribute to fellow London Knights draftee Ian Jenkins, who died in a car accident. 35 is typically a goalie number, so he flipped it around. The only reason I bring this up is because the Canucks decided to allow him to keep the number, which set a precedent for them relaxing the policy against “non-traditional” numbers they’d had for some time, which I always found odd that a team with such a historical mess of an identity would insist players wear specific numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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