By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published January 18, 2005
You can't tell the players without a scorecard. That's the old saying, right?
Well, here's the ultimate scorecard for you.
We've listed every number from 00 to 99 and included a pick for the athlete associated with that number.
It won't necessarily be the best player (see: No.22). It won't necessarily be the best known (see: 2). A couple of you might not even realize who wore that number (see: 36).
But we did pick the athletes we immediately thought of.
Think it's easy? It's not. We're already waiting to catch heat for Nos. 3, 4, 9 and, maybe, 32.
For example, take No.44.
If you're old-school, you think of Henry Aaron.
If you're from New York, you think of Reggie Jackson.
If you grew up in the 1960s, you think of Jerry West.
If you grew up in the 1970s, you think of Pistol Pete Maravich.
If you grew up in the 1980s, you think of John Riggins.
If you're a Cheesehead, you think of Donny Anderson.
If you're a college football fanatic, you think of Jim Brown and Ernie Davis.
If you're a kid from Tampa Bay, you think of Roman Hamrlik.
There is no right answer, but it makes for great conversation on a bar stool, around a water cooler or over a lunch table.
Who is your No.73? Your No.96? How about the classic, but obscure 00?
Sports are made for debates. Bird or Magic? The '78 Steelers or the '85 Bears? British Open or the Masters?
Sports also are made for lists and numbers.
We've included all three: a list of numbers that surely will cause some debate.
So check it out, and if you have any complaints ... take a number.
