I love sports. And I love numbers, the universal
language of sports. This being my 200th column, I thought I’d honor nine
athletes — and their uniform numbers — who have made this weekly venture such a
pleasure since February 2002.
10 — Stubby Clapp. Why the Memphis
Redbirds haven’t retired this folk hero’s number yet is beyond me. Still the
Redbirds’ career leader in games (425), hits (418), and runs (258), Stubby would
be worth the honor for his moniker and pre-game back flips alone. He was the
spark for the 2000 Pacific Coast League champions and made the inaugural season
at AutoZone Park unforgettable. As for his number, it happens to match the one I
wore as an outfielder for the Northfield (VT) High School Marauders (1985-87).
20 — DeAngelo Williams. So he’s the
greatest player ever to wear shoulder pads at the University of Memphis. Sure,
he’s rushed for more yardage than any college player not named Ron Dayne, Ricky
Williams, or Tony Dorsett. And yes, the 57 touchdowns are impressive. But it’s
unlikely we’ll see again this kind of talent combined with the humility and
appreciation for team (and community) Williams displayed, and all with that
prize-winning smile.
23 — Anthony Rice. The Tiger
basketball program has suited up some special players since John Calipari’s
arrival in 2000, and you could name a few with more skills than Rice. But you
couldn’t find a better example of a college player if you spent the next 200
weeks. I’ve listened to countless post-game remarks from Calipari, and very
seldom did Rice’s name come up, positive or negative. But when I talked to the
coach near the end of Rice’s final season last winter, he said Rice is the
example he uses when teaching newcomers to the program. Having played more games
than any other Tiger (134), Rice remains quite an example.
7 — Dayton O’Brien. Yes, I’ve
covered some soccer. During my interview with O’Brien last spring (for a story
in Memphis magazine), I heard the word “sir” a record 37 times. The 2004 C-USA
Offensive Player of the Year (and second-team All-America), O’Brien practiced
his craft way outside the local spotlight, but managed to lead Memphis to the
2004 NCAA tournament (only the second such appearance for the Tigers) and
delivered more assists than any Tiger in history. At the Mike Rose Soccer
Complex, O’Brien is the one we should be calling “sir.”
18 — Danny Wimprine. The hardest part of
this gig is juggling a journalist’s objective standard with being a fan (which I
remain and will as long as my editors share out this space). After Wimprine’s
last home game at the Liberty Bowl (a dramatic win over Southern Miss in
November 2004), I managed to shake the record-setting quarterback’s hand as he
left the field, and thanked him for all he did to turn Tommy West’s program
around. No, he wasn’t DeAngelo Williams. But it’ll be some time before another
Tiger passes for 10,000 yards.
41 — Scott Seabol. Want to know the worst
three words in the life of a pro baseball player? “Career minor leaguer.” Until
the summer of ‘05, Seabol had spent nine years in professional baseball, all of
them except one at-bat — one at-bat! — in the minors. He hit 31 homers for the
2004 Memphis Redbirds and has hit more over his three years at AutoZone Park
(56) than any other player. Which made his promotion to St. Louis last May, on
the heels of an 18-game hitting streak, all the sweeter. Seabol made his first
big-league start on his 30th birthday (May 17th), then helped the Cardinals beat
the fabled New York Yankees at Busch Stadium with a 7th-inning, pinch-hit, 2-run
homer on June 12th. He hit .219 in 105 precious at-bats for St. Louis.
45 — Wesley Smith. A three-time
all-conference selection, Smith has started at safety in all 36 games he’s
dressed out for at the U of M. (He’s one of only three Tiger defenders to start
every game this season alone.) Recent history has the Memphis offense carrying
the program, and rightfully so. But Smith has been a consistently terrific
player in a defensive secondary that desperately needs his sideline-to-sideline
strength. When a big play comes up for the Memphis defensive unit, Smith’s
number is the one I find. He’ll be the best returning player for the Tigers in
2006.
5 — John Gall. I’m behind
anyone who played his college ball at Stanford (my sister’s alma mater). Despite
struggling to find a home with his glove (he’s small for a first-baseman, slow
for an outfielder), Gall has been a steady hitter at the Triple-A level and
finally received his first big-league promotion last summer (his two-run double
for St. Louis beat the Florida Marlins on August 2nd). Over his three years as a
Memphis Redbird, Gall has moved near the top of the franchise record book for
games (2nd), hits (2nd), homers (2nd), and RBIs (1st).
31 — Shane Battier. He happens to
wear my lucky number (ever since I received my seventh-grade football jersey).
Battier seems to have become a stereotype of sorts. “Good role player, but never
an All-Star. Nice leader, but never a difference-maker.” Well, horse feathers.
For a city welcoming big-league sports for the first time, Battier was a
flag-bearing godsend. Remember, he addressed a packed Pyramid before playing his
first regular-season game. During his rookie campaign (2001-02), I asked Battier
to name the three people — living or dead — he’d like to invite to dinner.
(Typical answers are God, Michael Jordan, and “my mom,” in no particular order.)
Battier’s response: Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, and Napoleon. Don’t ever
let leadership become a stereotype.
Now for kicks,
add up those numbers. And here’s to the next 200.
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