Double Numbers

Growing up, I was a bit obsessed with the jersey numbers of my favorite sports stars. No, let me rephrase that. In fact, I was so obsessed with jersey numbers that I sometimes chose my favorite players based on those numbers.

Early-'80s Philadelphia Flyers Ron Flockhart (11) — whose chief attribute was his inability to actually score after skating by all five on-ice opponents — and terminal AHL call-up Tommy Gorence (22) were not exactly stars, yet I followed them with keen interest.

When Wayne Gretzky came along, I thought I'd found numeric gold. He was a slight guy, but that "99" really filled out the back of his jersey. He was joined by Mario Lemieux (66), Ray Bourque (77), and Eric Lindros (88), among others, all of whom helped to popularize the higher double numbers in hockey — and all of whom were great players.

I've still have a bit of a quirky fascination with numbers. I have a gut feeling about them. Some give me an intrinsically positive vibe, and others a negative one. In any case (before I paint myself as too much of a rain man), I've always liked double numbers. Something about the symmetrical look of them, all divisible by 11. I don't know. For me, it's always been about sports, not math, or some new age numerology.

Anyway, as mockumentarian Marty DiBergi said in This Is Spinal Tap, "Enough of my yapping." This is a music post. "Let's boogie."

Motion the Eleven — Cornershop
22 Steps — Andy Stochansky
33 RPM Soul — Michelle Shocked
Forty-Four Blues/How Many More Years — Little Feat
Ol' 55 — Tom Waits
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 — Nat King Cole
1977 — The Clash
Rocket 88 — Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats
Johnny 99 — Bruce Springsteen

Comments

[milena]

if numbers have vibes for you maybe you have mild synaesthesia.. mine have colours :-)