#22 could be back!!!

The following blog post focuses on 2 points.  The possible return of #22 for Duke and athletes love of numbers. 

There is recent information online about the "possibility" of Jabari Parker wearing the #22 Duke jersey.  This jersey has been retired after Jason Williams time at Duke.  From reading the message boards I see people who are for and who are against it.  Here is how I feel...

I see both sides of the coin on this.

I understand tradition and why people don't want to see Parker wear #22 with Williams jersey being retired.

I also understand that we are running out of numbers and are limited with what we have left.  #22 is a VERY popular number in sports.

In the end I'm not gonna get mad either way with what happens.  I think it's a good thing to have this problem which means we have so many quality players that have come through Duke and have had their jerseys retired!  Other colleges would love to have this problem!   

    

#22 is a very popular number in sports!  I remember making the JV soccer team as a sophmore in high school.  I had just fully recovered from a badly broken leg in 8th grade due to a car accident and spent my freshman year getting back in shape.  I remember a guy named Dave who was on the Varsity team who made sure he was able to get #22.  There were a few people who were fighting over it.  I was wondering what the big deal was!  Double Deuce or #22 was the number many wanted.  The following year I was the older guy on the team and you can bet I made sure I got the #22 jersey.  Every team I have played for since, #22 was the 1st number I went after.  Just this past summer (2012) I was #22 on my coed kickball team.  It's just something about athletes and their desire for certain numbers whether it be on the high school level, the college level, the amateur level, or the professional level!   Look at soccer for example.  #10 is a very popular number in soccer that is often worn by the elite players.  Landon Donavan (best known US soccer player) has worn the #10.  Lionel Messi (the current best soccer player in the world) wears the #10 for Barcelona and Argentina.  Those are just examples I have picked up on.

Athletes love their numbers.  For example with my 2 best friends... one of them (Jamie) likes #23 after Jordan and the other (Tony) likes #24 which was his high school number.  Put us 3 in a line and you get #24, #23, and #22!      

If Duke decides to let Jabari wear the #22 jersey, I would be fine with it.  I can't think of a more humble player to get that opportunity.   And I'm not gonna lie...if that jersey was released back to Nike again...I would be 1st in  line to get the #22 jersey in our current style of jerseys!  I mean...after all...athletes love their numbers!