The Fate of Number 8

On August 8, 2008, opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics began in Beijing: at 8 minutes and 8 seconds past 8 o'clock.The "8" did not stand for sports jerseys available from jerseys wholesalers or a tribute to Fibonaccinumbers! Rather, in the host country, "8" is a good luck number because it signifies prosperity. What American famous sports players have played with "numero 8" on their jerseys? Let's look at a few whose sports feats have inspired followers throughout time to wear "number eight" wholesale jerseys on their own backs.

Most listings of greats known for the number eight would start with MLB's Cal Ripken. One of the best shortstops ever to play baseball, Ripken spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles. His durability is legend. Another baseball performer would be Carl Yastrzemski. Yaz, his nickname, was the famous leftfielder for the Red Sox and won a heap of honors, including the American League Triple Crown. Yankee Yogi Berra cannot be left out of this poll: not only a fifteen-time All Star and a player in fourteen World Series, the irascible giant was a manager after his playing years and despite changing teams more than once proved to be accomplished at that as well.

Is baseball the only sport with well- known "number 8s?" Not at all. The NBA would cite Kobe Bryant, of course, the Laker's winning guard and arguably the top athlete in the National Basketball Association since Michael Jordan. But Bryant changedup his well-known number 8 a few years ago. During the 2009 Laker championship win, he wasarrayed in the number 24. Jersey wholesalers were delighted; his new jersey number sales have outsold his old.

Puck zealots would probably put Cam Neely front and center as their choice, the goal-making and determined power forward for the Canucks and the Bruins. Neely's scoring was matched only by his bravery in the face of serious injury; his "number 8" jersey was retired by the Bruins in his honor.

Not a jersey but a vehicle number, forever associated with the auto-racing great Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the "number eight" car won a great deal of a stock car race and stands for the entire family, beginning with Dale's racing grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt. Unfortunately, Earnhardt was unable to keep the number in 2008, when he transferred to a different company. What numeral is on his car now? The number "eighty-eight!"

The NFL, whose supporters snap up more wholesale jerseys than do the zealots of any other singlesport, would probably select for Troy Aiken, the hall ofFameQuarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Now a sports announcer, his wholesale jerseys sales are stillgoing well.

The Chinese had it right: "number eight" stands for prosperity.