What's in a number, anyway?
by doritogrande on Sep 21, 2010 5:30 PM MDT
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PrintEditor's Note: frequent commenter and the Author behind the outstanding Bubbling Under, doritogrande, weighed in on Kevin Lowe's decision to unretire his sweater number so that Taylor Hall could wear it as an Oiler. doritogrande's opinion stands out as not everyone was as passionate about Hall getting #4. If you have an opinion you'd like to express, you can always use the FanPost feature at the right.
Five Stanley Cups
Seven-time All-Star
King Clancy Memorial Trophy Winner
1037 games played as an Oiler
432 point NHL career
First ever Edmonton Oilers NHL draft pick
Scored first ever Edmonton Oilers NHL goal
A well-deserved and rightfully earned Retirement ceremony of #4
And now.....
Better start dusting off the mothballs kids.
Kevin Lowe should be commended for his time spent as an Edmonton Oiler, especially so for his on-ice accomplishments. Perhaps his star has tarnished slightly during his management career, but he has earned the right to hold a halowed spot in the Rexall rafters.
He's giving up a part of himself , as TSN.ca reports that an 18-year old rookie will be wearing his jersey number for this coming season.
What he's doing is no small deal. He had every right to say no to the wunderkid, and I would have agreed 100% with his decision to do so. Lowe is sacrificing personal accomplishments and part of his legacy for the benefit of his team today, and we should proud we have a member of management willing to step up the way he did today.
Taylor Hall is a special kind of prospect, but he's not Crosby folks. He's taking on the responsibility of filling some big shoes by donning #4. Let's hope he shows that number the respect it deserves, by taking his team to the promised land as the old #4 once did.
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Classy move by Lowe. While the numbers of other retired greats dangle inert in the rafters, the ol’ #4 will roar back to life on the ice. Let’s hope that the kid does him proud.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
should have not even asked
I think if a number is retired you let it be. the kid just has to figure something else out
go to 14 or44, or 94..or whatever
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Sep 10, 2010 11:50 AM MDT reply actions
It’s not retired. It’s fair to ask.
Had he asked in Montreal or Boston, there would’ve been a very real problem.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Official spin story is that Hall didn’t ask, Lowe offered.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Sep 11, 2010 7:21 PM MDT up reply actions
Semantics, really. I don’t have a problem with the kid getting the number either way. Number retirements should always follow a statement like, “it would be a travesty to see another person ever don that number,” and far too many retirements fall short of that IMO.
Again, #4 in Montreal and Boston? Spoken for, forever. Beliveau and Orr saw to that pretty effectively. Lowe? I missed his prime, I know, but I don’t “feel” it like I do with some of the ones who’ve already gone up in Northlands.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Well, I’m the one who put Lowe on the Oilers Puckmore ahead of several of those banners hanging in the rafters, yet at the same time I’ve kinda been hoping all summer that he’d pull the #4 out of mothballs and give it to the kid. Just seemed like the right thing to do.
K-Lowe will get his due once he has once and for all retired from the organization. I know, can’t happen soon enough for some.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Sep 13, 2010 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions
I remember reading somewhere that Hall’s preferred number was actually 19, and that he liked it enough to include it in his email address. He only wore 4 in Windsor, but had worn 19 previously.
How hard is it to imagine a scenario where the Cannonball had settled on wearing number 19 with the Oilers, but KLowe was bound and determined to look like be the bigger man, and insisted that it was “no trouble at all” to give him the number 4 that he obviously wanted.
I have setup a FB page if anyone would like to join
http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=f0dbf2ee99a117d16f83751a5359b178&eu=-5dFWBYdsXMNvMP2_EWqtQ#!/group.php?gid=146803772026585&ref=ts
When someone’s first comment is a link to a FB group page…yeah. It doesn’t reflect well.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
I hope it isn’t true that he actually preferred 19 because otherwise this is another case of management getting what they want at the expense of a player.
by TigerUnderGlass on Sep 22, 2010 10:44 AM MDT reply actions
We can’t dishonour the great Marty Reasoner just to placate some Johnny-come-lately prospect.
by Benjamin Massey on Sep 22, 2010 10:52 AM MDT up reply actions
I think twisting this unusual situation into yet another anti-Kevin Lowe screed is a bit of a stretch, personally. The guy did the classy thing, and the next thing you know the evil organization is imposing its will on the innocent young player. Puh-leeze.
Besides, #19 is common to the point of cliche for the league’s stars nowadays. (POS notwithstanding) At least #4 is something different, esp. for a forward.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
I think twisting “I hope it isn’t true” to the point where you are calling it an “anti-Lowe screed” is an even bigger stretch.
Nobody can question that the guy did a very classy thing, one which most people never would have even considered. I wouldn’t have done it if I were him.
This is why I say I hope that story isn’t true, because if it is true then it wasn’t such a classy move after all. At that point it would become nothing more than a gesture to make himself look good. I hope this is not the case.
by TigerUnderGlass on Sep 22, 2010 12:00 PM MDT up reply actions
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