I’m trying to keep my mind blank here. As the Bill Murray character (Dr. Peter Venkman) in “Ghostbusters” instructed the crew to do near the climax of the silly, 1984 movie.
But “not thinking” is a thought. Making your mind go blank is an exercise in itself, thus unachievable.
So, before I can go any futher, and summon up my own particular “Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man” (as Dan Aykroyd’s “Dr. Ray Stantz” character did … the athletes that come to mind when I consider 10 common sports numbers. This is a personal exercise. I won’t say these are the people who ought to come to mind, but those who do.
1. No. 3: Babe Ruth, Dale Earnhardt
2. No. 5: Brooks Robinson
3. No. 7: Mickey Mantle, John Elway
4. No. 12: Joe Namath
5. No. 18: Bill Russell (Dodgers shortstop), Roman Gabriel, Peyton Manning
6. No. 32: Sandy Koufax, O.J. Simpson, Magic Johnson
7. No. 44: Henry Aaron, Willie McCovey, Jim Brown
8. No. 53: Don Drysdale
9. No. 66: Mario Lemieux, Ray Nitschke
10. No. 99: Wayne Gretzky
4 responses so far ↓
1 George Alfano // May 7, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Thou Shalt Not Mention Dale Earnhardt in the same breath as Babe Ruth.
2 DPope // May 7, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Brooks was the best defensive third-sacker ever but No. 5 belongs to Joe D.
3 Damian // May 7, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I appreciate the fact that #23 was excluded. I agree.
To #12, you can add Terry Bradshaw, who won 4 times as many SBs as Namath, and Wally Joyner (when he was on the Royals and Padres).
I agree with Alfano — that Dale guy (along with all those Rickys and Bobbys and Ricky Bobbys) is not an athlete and therefore should not be on this list. Anything involving cars are not sports. Cars are necessities to get around to work, shopping, sporting events, etc.
4 JP // May 7, 2008 at 6:59 PM
Playing devil’s advocate here, remember when Dale Jr.’s number switch was the “biggest story in auto racing for an entire week” late last year? I think the driver-number bond is one of the most sacred in sports. Babe Ruth could be whatever number he wanted to be (or not even have one, which he didn’t for the early years of his career) and still be recognizably great.
For anyone named Earnhardt, your number is your third testicle, the only part of your car that isn’t for sale.
Leave a Comment