Sure, this isn’t the high-brow, crack journalism I’m known for (*cough*), but look: It’s Friday, we’re all winding down for the weekend, our brains have checked out for all intents and purposes. Let’s just go for this ride and take it is the light fun it’s meant to be…
So, I’m perusing the interweb the other day and I come across this article in that caught my eye. Said article (from the Baltimore Sun:
Check it out here) told the story of Mr. Jimmy Smith from Virginia winning $100,000 in the lottery. “Luck piece of….” I says, about to continue my online research of “World’s Largest” objects (
Check out the size of this shuttlecock!!!) when something ELSE catches my eye. Turns out Mr. Smith won this lottery in a very hockey-related way. Specifically, he chose the numbers 8-19-21-22-28 for his ticket, which just so happen to be the numbers of his favourite Washington Capitals players: 8 = Alex Ovechkin, 19 = Nicklas Backstrom, 21 = Brooks Laich, 22 = Mike Knuble and 28 = Alexander Semin.
Anyways, this got me to thinking: I should do this! I mean, I don’t know Mr. Smith personally but I’m thinking I’m at least as much of a hockey fan as him so this should work for me to! Reality sank in quickly, however, with me realizing that as a Leafs fan my allegiance to the team cannot possibly do anything positive for me. So I nixed the idea. At the same time I still was thinking, if I did do this, which numbers would I pick? Living in Canada, the most established lottery is the 6/49 where players pick six numbers between 1 and 49. This caused immediately caused me great grief as the number 93 would definitely be out of play. I vowed to plug on though, and here’s what I came up with (allowing for both current and past players to be chosen):
1 = Johnny Bower
13 = Mats Sundin
17 = Wendel Clark
27 = Darryl Sittler
29 = Felix Potvin
32 = Steve Thomas
I'm not saying this is the "Leafs All Time All Star Team" or anything, but these are all players I really like for one reason or another, got a good vibe from the choices and feel as though they could bring me some luck!
Now comes my next dilemma: If I were to win money with these numbers, in the name of karma I would feel it only right to pick up something Leafs-related for myself. But what? With that amount of coin (lets for arguments sake put the winnings at a cool million just for the hell of it) it’d have to be something nice, but I’m not going overboard either as I’ve got more pressing plans for that kind of cash!!!
Final call was a basement renovation into a nice Leafs themed man cave with the plasma screen and surround sound, highlighted by a mounted replica jersey for each of the 1992-93 Leafs going around the periphery of the room. I’d say that’d keep me in the 5-digit price range, something nice to show for the winnings, and boatloads left to spend on much more meaningful and important items!
But that’s just me. How about you?
1) If you had to pick your 6 numbers between 1 and 49 based on players from your team, which would they be?
And
2) What team-related purchase would you make if you did win?
So it goes to you now:
"What if...": You Won The Lottery Using Jersey Numbers?
What team would you use? Whose numbers would you pick? Whose wouldn't you pick? What would you drop some coin on afterwards in a karma-filled gesture towards your fandom of the team?
Again, just some light, don’t have to think too seriously on a Friday activity for ya’s here, but an interesting one none the less! Have at it in the comments!
_________________________________________________________________________
Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
Facebook Group: Hockeybuzz Collectibles
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Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles
#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?
#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?
#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?
#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE
#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?
#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?
#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?
#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?
#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?
#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??
#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?
#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?
#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?
#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?
#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?
#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?
#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?
#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?
#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?
#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?
#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?
#21 Mark Cuban Owned An NHL Team?
#22 Should Divisional Play Be Overhauled?
#23 You Won The Lottery Using Jersey Numbers?
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#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard
#4: Ron Hextall
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#6: The Puck
#7: Don Cherry
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#1,
#2,
#3,
#4,
#5,
#6,
#7
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#5: Ted Lindsay Gets Kronwalled?
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