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! 

I got back from the Duke vs. Georgia Tech game at about 3:30 this morning.  This was an interesting road trip with by buddy Aubrey (Doughboy) Wright since it was snowing hard in Franklin County when we were getting ready to leave out.  Many had told us not to go, its too dangerous, etc...  and they were right in wanting us to stay safe.  But we had tickets in section 19 with an amazing view and so went went for it.  Once we got out of Franklin County into the Martinsville area we were ahead of most of the storm and had good driving (with the exception of rain) the rest of the way.  We got there and had a great time!  The seats were good!  The Crazies were cool and overall just a good time!  The 1st half was a tough one but Duke once again brought it in the 2nd half.  The Crazies were on their A game as well!  In an article I wrote for Duke Report I stated that all Duke fans need to experience a game at Cameron.  While I agree with what I stated in that the Christmas break games are a good time to do that, I will also say that fans should also try to make an ACC game in Jan-March as well when all the Crazies are there and on their A game!  The link below will take you to my videos page.  ON that page the top 7 videos were from last nights game against GT.  As you can see Cameron Indoor Stadium and watching the Crazies is a unique experience!  The Crazies have impacted the game of basketball for life!  I even witness this at my local high school watching the student section and seeing them use some of the ideas from the Crazies.  I have friends who like Duke Basketball and I have friends who don't.  Like em or hate em...Duke Basketball and the Cameron Crazies have in some way had an impact on how you watch/cheer in basketball.  If you have ever chanted "AirBall, Air Ball" then yes you can think the Crazies for what has become a popular chant!   Thanks be to God for allowing Aubrey and me have a safe trip down and back from Duke!  Check out the videos in the link below!   The top 7 are from last night.

The video link below I shot of the DJ Khaled song "All I Do is Win"  being played in Cameron with Crazies at the Duke vs. GT game on 1/17/13

Road trip to Duke for the GT game! Hold off a little for us snow! Shout out to Jordan in Wisconsin...the parking pass came just in time and was much needed for this game! Too cold to walk lol!

Good read from the Wall Street Journal on fans storming the court after beating Duke.  Link to article below.

You are gonna see some Duke fans show their emotions after the loss today to NC State. Me...not really. Does losing suck? Yeah it does! But this is just 1 game. I thought we had a very slight chance of going undefeated but in reality I didn't think it was gonna happen. Losses sting but they sting a lot worse in March! Time to regroup and move on! I'm not worried about 1 loss. The day I start to worry is the day when opposing teams fans don't rush the court after beating Duke. As of now fan bases always rush the court after beating Duke which tells me this. Duke is Duke! Duke is still the face of college basketball! Time to move on to the next game GT!   And oh yeah GT fans I'll be standing behind your bench this game to give you a welcoming to Cameron :) 

Photo courtesy of my buddy and NC State fan Blake Leonard.  

Check out the new Duke Blue Planet website that just recently went live!  Shout out to Uncommon Thinking out of Chicago for working with Dave Bradley and company to launch the new and improved Duke Blue Planet.  You can find a link to it below.

Just scored tickets for next Thursdays game Duke vs GT. We will be sitting behind the GT bench! With the Crazies back this should make for an electric atmosphere! Check back here next week as I will post pics and videos from the game. Go Duke!

A pic Duke basketball took that was taken from their office. Good to see Kville under construction!! I'm sooo ready to experience my 1st Duke Unc game at Cameron Feb. 13th! Go Duke!!!

My question for Duke Report's interview with top junior Blue Devils prospect Tyus Jones was answered.  Readers had  a chance to send in questions for Jones to answer.  In the link below you can find the questions.  Mine was the last one.  Hopefully Duke lands this amazing point guard!