Numbers carry notoriety

By Staff
Kim West
Franklin County Times
In case you missed it, Alabama jersey numbers for this season have been released, included those of the top-ranked recruiting class in the country.
Heralded linebacker Jarrell Harris will don a No. 5 crimson jersey this fall, while top-rated freshman receiver Julio Jones was issued No. 8 and quarterback-in-waiting Star Jackson has No. 2.
I've liked No. 37 ever since Shaun Alexander lined up at running back for the Crimson Tide, and I hope it gets retired some day by Alabama. But for now, freshman defensive back T.J. Ballou gets to wear the former NFL MVP's number.
Since Nick Saban isn't exactly a quote machine, this was the most interesting thing I could find about Alabama as SEC Media Days continue through today.
Ask any athlete about his or her jersey number, and there's probably a good story behind it. There's a saying that you are what you wear, and it seems that athletes form an identity through their numbers.
There's even a fan Web site devoted to famous jersey numbers – www.jersey-numbers.com – featuring a phone keypad graphic that allows you to click on a particular jersey number and find out which athlete wore it.
I wore both No. 4 and No. 19 in high school and college because sometimes the other number was already taken. I liked No. 4 because of a certain un-retired Green Bay quarterback, but I'm don't remember why I picked No. 19.
I think it's funny how some sports use numbers while others don't. Most major sports – baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer – not only use numbers, but also have special rules regarding which positions can wear a particular number.
Most individual sports, with the exception of NASCAR, don't use numbers. I think Tiger Woods would wear No. 1, while an appropriate number for Phil Mickelson would be No. 13.
In my opinion, the most famous numbers in sports are No. 3 (Dale Earnhardt Sr.), No. 9 (Mia Hamm), No. 13 (Dan Marino), No. 16 (Joe Montana), No. 23 (Michael Jordan), No. 80 (Jerry Rice) and No. 99 (Wayne Gretzky).
I would personally like to thank the person who came up with the concept of jersey numbers because they make identifying local athletes much easier, and I'm particularly a fan of any team or sport that puts numbers on the front and back of a jersey.
Kim West is sports editor for The Franklin County Times. She can be reached at kwest@fct.wpengine.com or (256) 332-1881, ext. 30.