Numbers, Part Two

#13 -- Grace. Ok, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain is the best player in anything to wear 13. But: Grace is more of Dan Marino -- best touch passer in recent NFL history. Or Steve Nash, the NBA point guard par excellence whose footwork in distributing the ball came to him via playing soccer.

#17 -- Kyra. 17s aren't easy. Yet there is John "hondo" Havlicheck from the old Boston Celtics. The greatest sixth man in NBA history. Hondo was perpetual motion before there was Dennis Rodman. Fits Kyra rather well.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdMPSYtQeIQ

#23-- Lauren. Lauren's got a magic number in sports. She certainly has an "air" game ala Jordan (or Lebron James). But how about dual sports star Kirk Gibson? MSU footballer and Tiger World Series winner? Lauren causes Gibby kind of excitement and intensity.

#22-- Emmi. Never see the back of Emmi's jersey! Opposing players sometimes do from the ground. All the big 22s are offensive stars -- Emmitt Smith, the great dancer who once was terrific running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Elgin Baylor -- the Big "E" -- a modern NBA player before the modern era. Mike Bossy -- righwing sharpshooter on the great NYIslander teams of the 1980s. And Roger Clemens, Bosox power pitcher. Have to go with "Emmitt" for Emmi

#24-- Kate. Hockey goalies usually #1 or in the 30s. But how bout the Say Hey Kid Willie Mays! Kate has Mays like hands (indeed, I bet she can crush a softball). But I would add in Detroit hockey's #24 the late, great Bob Probert for toughness -- "When number 24 is on the ice you will be hit!" -- Mickey Redmond announcing