General Leafs Talk

[maplesyrup]

Just throwing it out there but if one number isn't better than the other than why do some players give away Rolex's and sports cars for one over another?

Because certain players are superstitious and others are willing to profit from that.

You're absolutely, 100% free to prefer players wear traditional numbers or drive red cars or have dreamy blue eyes. Likewise, I think it's fine for other fans to point out that "disliking" a number, read that sentence again, is a little nutty.

Well, isn't being a fan of a sports team "nutty" anyway? I mean, unless you're financially invested in said club why should you care about the team anyway? Perhaps for many of the same reasons you might prefer one number over another? - and none of those reasons are particularly sane anyway. What I take issue with is when you say it isn't worth talking about. Personally, I think it's as sound as a discussion as anything sports related when you think about it and if you don't care to participate, don't.

 

[cw]

Brian Lawton is the only player to have worn #98.  I think some players place some importance,  significance or preference to their jersey numbers. Doesn't surprise me that some fans do as well. From that, some numbers for some people may appeal more than others.

 

[armche123]

ummm.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l68vlVI5Nuo&feature=player_profilepage

hahahaha He's Great!

 

[Kin]

Well, isn't being a fan of a sports team "nutty" anyway?

No, or at least I've never thought so. Being a fan of a sports team is a way to align yourself with a community and city. It's expressing an interest in a sport at it's highest level. Being a fan of a sports team is a way people have bridged barriers of race, ethnicity, language and religion. 

I mean, unless you're financially invested in said club why should you care about the team anyway?

Because it's, as mentioned, something that links you with a community. It can tie generations together and serve as a common reference point for people who'd otherwise have nothing in common. The better the Maple Leafs do the more hockey is played in this city and the more a hockey fan can watch. Underpinning any attachment are rational reasons to support your local team. 

Personally, I think it's as sound as a discussion as anything sports related when you think about it and if you don't care to participate, don't.

If you think 43 vs. 91 is as sound a discussion as, say, the respective quality of a team's players or the myriad issues facing the sport as it's played, well, I'm pretty comfortable taking the opposite position there.

 

[maplesyrup]

Well, isn't being a fan of a sports team "nutty" anyway?

No, or at least I've never thought so. Being a fan of a sports team is a way to align yourself with a community and city. It's expressing an interest in a sport at it's highest level. Being a fan of a sports team is a way people have bridged barriers of race, ethnicity, language and religion. 

I mean, unless you're financially invested in said club why should you care about the team anyway?

Because it's, as mentioned, something that links you with a community. It can tie generations together and serve as a common reference point for people who'd otherwise have nothing in common. The better the Maple Leafs do the more hockey is played in this city and the more a hockey fan can watch. Underpinning any attachment are rational reasons to support your local team. 

Personally, I think it's as sound as a discussion as anything sports related when you think about it and if you don't care to participate, don't.

If you think 43 vs. 91 is as sound a discussion as, say, the respective quality of a team's players or the myriad issues facing the sport as it's played, well, I'm pretty comfortable taking the opposite position there.

I think feelings and importance towards numbers can be held as strong as feelings towards teams. Sure, teams link communities and generations but so do associated jersey numbers. For example, I remember as a kid my Dad (who was away on business for what I thought was a long time) came back from Dallas with a #33 Tony Dorsett shirt for me and I loved it. He wasn't a Cowboys fan or anything but I instantly became one then... I'm still a huge fan. #33 isn't a traditional hockey number (as #43 isn't) but I've always tried to snag it in whatever league (in whatever sport) I was playing ever since.

Sure, I'll put up sports psychology and how it affects players, fans, and business/marketing (yes, logos, images and numbers fall in to that category) right up there with whatever issues you want to bring up and also feel pretty comfortable with my position.

If you don't think numbers matter, fine... just don't insult people who have reasons to believe they do. 

 

[ZBBM]

With some trepidation, I'll say that jersey numbers are important.  Very.  Just like we all prefer same names to others (that surely is not a matter of indifference), some of us -- maybe most of us -- have numbers we prefer, for various personal, though not thereby necessarily irrational, reasons.

For me, 43 is ultralame for Kadri, a skill guy.  Prime numbers in the 40s all stink (yeah, that goes for you too Kulemin).  Why?  Because I grew up watching football and I associate them with blocking backs and other "non-skilled" players.  A personal, but not an irrational, reason.

Kadri wore 13 in junior, did he not?  Since on the Leafs no more jerseys are being retired he should just go for it and wear 13.  If Stajan could wear Keon's number, Kadri can wear Sundin's.

 

[Kin]

Sure, I'll put up sports psychology and how it affects players, fans, and business/marketing (yes, logos, images and numbers fall in to that category) right up there with whatever issues you want to bring up and also feel pretty comfortable with my position.

Again, lots of players have had very successful careers with very unconventional numbers. Jagr, Hasek, Bourque, Crosby and on and on and on. Kessel wears #81, Gilmour wore #93 and none of that impacted/affected their ability to play hockey or endear themselves to fans of the Maple Leafs.

If you don't think numbers matter, fine... just don't insult people who have reasons to believe they do.

They're wrong. And I think this board allows for people to say when other people are wrong about something.

I mean, listen to yourself for a second. Kadri is wearing #43, so obviously it's a number he likes, doesn't mind. If you think yourself justified in insulting his choice of number is and saying that it's "beyond lame" I'm pretty comfortable in the retort that it doesn't actually matter.

 

[maplesyrup]

With some trepidation, I'll say that jersey numbers are important.  Very.  Just like we all prefer same names to others (that surely is not a matter of indifference), some of us -- maybe most of us -- have numbers we prefer, for various personal, though not thereby necessarily irrational, reasons.

For me, 43 is ultralame for Kadri, a skill guy.  Prime numbers in the 40s all stink (yeah, that goes for you too Kulemin).  Why?  Because I grew up watching football and I associate them with blocking backs and other "non-skilled" players.  A personal, but not an irrational, reason.

Kadri wore 13 in junior, did he not?  Since on the Leafs no more jerseys are being retired he should just go for it and wear 13.  If Stajan could wear Keon's number, Kadri can wear Sundin's.

I couldn't agree more... I'll also add that some Chinese folks won't even but a house they're in love with because there's a "4" in the street address it... or is it "8", or both? Numbers I think have a lot of meaning. In sports and in life.   

 

[Kin]

Kadri wore 13 in junior, did he not?  Since on the Leafs no more jerseys are being retired he should just go for it and wear 13.  If Stajan could wear Keon's number, Kadri can wear Sundin's.

The images I have of Kadri in Junior are of him wearing #91(another high, non-traditional number).

Either way, I think it's pretty odd to be making a case for numerology and then saying "why not just wear #13?".

 

[maplesyrup]

I mean, listen to yourself for a second. Kadri is wearing #43, so obviously it's a number he likes, doesn't mind. If you think yourself justified in insulting his choice of number is and saying that it's "beyond lame" I'm pretty comfortable in the retort that it doesn't actually matter.

Kadri's #43 is lame by the word's very defintion just as a QB wearing #63 would be. Sorry but these are just the facts of the matter. Like I said earlier, I dig he wants to make it his own but it's still lame... just as Gretzky's might have been at first.

 

[Kin]

I couldn't agree more... I'll also add that some Chinese folks won't even but a house they're in love with because there's a "4" in the street address it... or is it "8", or both? Numbers I think have a lot of meaning. In sports and in life. 

Oh, I see.

Very well then. Has anyone weighed Kadri to see if he weighs the same as a duck?

 

[Kin]

Kadri's #43 is lame by the word's very defintion just as a QB wearing #63 would be.

Not really. An NFL quarterback isn't actually allowed to wear #63 as the NFL has pretty strict rules regarding player's numbers. QB's can wear 1-19. Numbers in the NFL serve a very specific purpose as certain players are allowed to do things other players aren't. If a QB insisted on wearing #63 he'd be in trouble with the league.

As for the word's definition, leaving aside that you used the third word in the third definition the use of the word you're using is so broad(as #43 is an entirely satisfactory number to suit the league's purpose that every player wear a number) that anything that anyone may dislike for whatever reason is equally as "lame".

 

[maplesyrup]

I couldn't agree more... I'll also add that some Chinese folks won't even but a house they're in love with because there's a "4" in the street address it... or is it "8", or both? Numbers I think have a lot of meaning. In sports and in life. 

Oh, I see.

Very well then. Has anyone weighed Kadri to see if he weighs the same as a duck?

Wait, YOU brought up superstition when I said that if numbers weren't important, players wouldn't spend tens of thousands (or more) on them, not me.

 

[Kin]

Wait, YOU brought up superstition when I said that if numbers weren't important, players wouldn't spend tens of thousands (or more) on them, not me.

And your rationale, somehow, is that because people are superstitious that their superstitions are grounded in sensible reality. You're saying that people's superstitions make "numbers matter".

Again, weigh him to see if he's a duck.

 

[maplesyrup]

Kadri's #43 is lame by the word's very defintion just as a QB wearing #63 would be.

Not really. An NFL quarterback isn't actually allowed to wear #63 as the NFL has pretty strict rules regarding player's numbers. QB's can wear 1-19. Numbers in the NFL serve a very specific purpose as certain players are allowed to do things other players aren't. If a QB insisted on wearing #63 he'd be in trouble with the league.

As for the word's definition, leaving aside that you used the third word in the third definition the use of the word you're using is so broad(as #43 is an entirely satisfactory number to suit the league's purpose that every player wear a number) that anything that anyone may dislike for whatever reason is equally as "lame".

Ok, fine... I've always found Jagr's #68 as lame then... and just because it's the word's third defintion, it doesn't give it any less weight in my opinion.

 

[maplesyrup]

You're saying that people's superstitions make "numbers matter".

I don't see any fault in that.

 

[Kin]

Ok, fine... I've always found Jagr's #68 as lame then.

I'm sure you did. It's an important number to Jagr though as it represents the Prague Spring rebellion. For someone who's super quick to talk about how numbers that are important to him should be represented you're awfully quick to dismiss numbers that are important to others as being lame.

.. and just because it's the word's third defintion, it doesn't give it any less weight in my opinion.

That's why I said to leave it aside. What makes it not terribly weighty is that it can apply to absolutely everything in the world equally.

 

[ZBBM]

Kadri wore 13 in junior, did he not?  Since on the Leafs no more jerseys are being retired he should just go for it and wear 13.  If Stajan could wear Keon's number, Kadri can wear Sundin's.

The images I have of Kadri in Junior are of him wearing #91(another high, non-traditional number).

Either way, I think it's pretty odd to be making a case for numerology and then saying "why not just wear #13?".

OK, I stand corrected -- thought he wore 13.

However, it's not numerology I'm professin' -- numerology is the belief that numbers have some special power or other difference-making property.  I don't believe that; I just like some numbers in some contexts much more than others.

 

[maplesyrup]

It's an important number to Jagr though as it represents the Prague Spring rebellion. For someone who's super quick to talk about how numbers that are important to him should be represented you're awfully quick to dismiss numbers that are important to others as being lame.

That I did not know. Now, I don't find it lame. See? Easy.

Anyway, it's been a slice having the lengthy chat on the subject you said there were a billion other things worth chatting about.  and with that, I bid you a good night.

 

[Kin]

However, it's not numerology I'm professin' -- numerology is the belief that numbers have some special power or other difference-making property.  I don't believe that; I just like some numbers in some contexts much more than others.

Ok, then we agree. It doesn't matter. The difference between wearing a number that lots of other good players have worn before and one that people haven't is that Kadri will be, hopefully, the first guy to carve out an identity wearing #43. Just like Gilmour did with #93, if Kadri has success then the next guy who wears it will do so without a lot of questions.