Horse 1074 - 3 Numb3rs

Back in Horse 928, I had a look at the more ridiculous numbers that have appeared on football kits over the years. Now I admit that I am perfectly used to seeing really high numbers on cricket shirts like Brad Haddin and 57, or Andrew Symonds 63, and I even remember New Zealander Roger Twose sporting the "devil's number" for Australian cricketers 87, on a few occasions.

It was therefore with a bit of surprise that I saw Tommy Oar who made his debut for Australia against Indonesia at Lang Park, in Brisbane (1-0 Australia, and qualification to the Asian Cup in 2011 thank you very much), sporting the kit number 121.



Is Australian sport now ready for such a thing? Should we now throw open the door and let everyone play in whatever kit number they want to?

In my opinion... Yes.

To be totally fair, it doesn't really matter what number someone plays in. As far as their ability to do the job, the simple affixation of a number means very little. Conversely the kit number itself connects quite well with the identity of a player. Think of Peter Brock and 05, Dick Johnson and 17, John Terry 26, Wayne Gretzki 99, Ferrari 27, and of course Michael Jordan 23.

Why not even take it a step further and allow other numbers? Should be go as far as 7/8 like Leela on Futurama? I don't know really.



I wouldn't even be surprised if at some point someone who is personally sponsored by 3 Mobile, puts their 3 on their kit. Now that 3 really would be a magic number.