Numbers, Part Three

#32--Sawyer. A "magic" number in basketball at least. "Magic" Johnson was not a pure scorer as Sawyer is but he could certainly score. From Lansing and Michigan State, of course. A pretty good fit. Marcus Allen -- great USC tailback? 32 a big number for tailbacks including that other Heismann winner from USC.

#42 -- Christina. Really stuck here and need a post. Gale Sayers was 40 and Christina even runs a bit like the great Bear's halfback (moms will remember Billy Dee Williams playing alongside Jimmy Caan as Brian Piccolo in the tearjerker *Brian's Song). Jackie Robinson? First player to break the color barrier in the Major leagues? James Worthy?

#44 -- Jill. Well, hammering Hank Aaron. Fun to think of Jill as a "Hank." Or Jim Brown, the great Cleveland Browns running back who destroyed people. Best fit? Jerry West, West Virginia and then LA Laker point guard. Tough, disciplined, skilled, undersized rarely if ever made a mistake, first as a player then as coach and GM.

#77 -- Annabelle. Another toughie. No easy fit for Annabelle and 77. 77 says offensive tackle. But high numbers became the vogue in hockey when Wayne Gretzsky couldn't get Howe's number 9. So he took 99 and changed numbering in the league. Ray Bourque, great Boston Bruins defenseman, second only to Bobby Orr wore 77.  He started with #7, but when the Bruins retired Phil Esposito's #7 he graciously took 77 (see note on Anastasia above).Very good fit. Offensive defencemen with incredibly hard slap shot. Explosive skater. Team Captain in the Yzerman mold.