Jersey Numbers
A jersey number identifies a player on the field or court, but means so much more than that. I remember when I got my first jersey. It’s 2003, I’m eight years old and finally old enough to join the OLV Colts.
I’m standing in line behind my classmates and all I can think about is: I need number 16. Both my brother, Anthony, and my sister, Kanani, have worn that number as far back as I can remember. I have to continue the legacy. I have to make my family proud. When I reach the front of the line my eyes run laps up and down the tables scanning the sea of royal blue jerseys, searching for the one. I can’t find it. Someone else beat me to it. My heart sinks and my face flushes with the blues. I don’t care too much about the number itself, but I’m extremely bummed because I’m the odd one out amongst my siblings. This always happens to me. I sulk.
I take a second to look at the jerseys and search for one that speaks to me. I head to the section of the table where the smaller sizes are and see 53 and 55. To anyone older than 13, these probably seem like the most random numbers to choose from, but not to me. One of my favorite babysitters is the TV. These two numbers are my favorite channels to flip back and forth: Nickelodeon and Disney. I have an important decision to make and I decide to rep Nickelodeon. I pick up the jersey and claim it as mine. My smile is so big, my teammates probably wonder where my eyes have gone. My friend Chanelle asks, “What number did you pick?” I reply, “53, like Nick!” She’s just as excited as I am as she picks up 55 saying, “I’ll be Disney!” At that moment we’re both on top of the world and no one can tell us any different.
Looking back now, I’m glad I didn’t get my sister’s jersey number because that was the first time I made a decision that was solely mine. My jersey represented what was important to me at the time. I was a kid who didn’t know much, but I knew I loved my cartoons.
Players choose their jersey numbers based on what’s important to them. It can be their birthday, favorite player’s jersey, or simply a lucky number but whatever the case may be, it represents them. Its meaning is theirs and they wear it proudly.
