Today, Friday the 13th, may be your lucky day. The year 2010 only has one. I hope you do not suffer from paraskavedekatriaphobia [pronounced pair-uh-skee-vee-dek-uh-tree-uh-FOH-bee-uh) which means, “An irrational fear of Friday the 13^th” (www.urbandictionary.com).

 

According to Dr. Donald Dossey, the therapist who coined this phrase, if you can pronounce paraskavedekatriaphobia you will not suffer from the dreaded Friday the 13th affliction.

 

In sports, few athletes wear # 13, albeit with trepidation. Indeed, some of the greatest players (current and past) in sports have donned jersey #13. To honor this special day here are my top 13 athletes to wear #13 in the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB:

 

 

#13 Ken Linseman: “The Rat” was an agitator extraordinaire. He averaged nearly a point per game (807 in 860) in the regular season and over a point per game (120 in 113) in the playoffs. Linseman also averaged over two penalty minutes per game in his career (1978-1992) and won the Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 83-84.

 

#12 Don Maynard: This wide receiver played from 1958-73 and had his #13 retired by the New York Jets in 1972. Maynard was a 5-time all-AFL all-star, won a Super Bowl, and finished his NFL career with 633 receptions for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns.

 

#11 Billy Wagner: The Atlanta Braves closer is 5th in career saves. Wagner is a 7-time all-star who has averaged well over a strikeout per inning pitched throughout his 15-year career.

 

#10 Bill Guerin: This two-time Stanley Cup champion is the first NHL player to have a 20-goal season with seven different teams. Guerin has provided offence (429 goals, 427 assists) and a physical presence (1,660 penalty minutes) in 1263 games.

 

#9 Dave Concepcion: One of the best shortstops of all-time, Concepcion was a 9-time all-star, five-time Gold Glove winner and two-time World Series champion in 75 and 76. The Cincinnati Reds retired Concepcion’s jersey #13 in 2007.

 

#8 Omar Vizquel: He wore #13 for a major league record 20 years (1989-2009) but switched to #11 this year with the Chicago White Sox because Manager Ozzie Guillen wears #13. The 43-year-old Vizquel is an 11-time Gold Glove recipient who has the highest career field percentage by a shortstop (0.985). The 3-time all-star is one of just the 50 major league players to reach 2,750 hits.

 

#7 Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod would certainly be in the top five if his career was not marred by his steroid use. The New York Yankees third baseman is one of seven major leaguers to hit 600 homers. The 13-time all-star has a career batting average of just over .300.

 

#6 Pavel Datsyuk: One of the best two-way forwards in the NHL, Datsyuk has won four straight Lady Byng and three consecutive Selke Trophies. He also has two Stanley Cups with Detroit (2002 and 2008).

 

 

 

#5 Kurt Warner: The two time MVP appeared in three Super Bowl games, winning one over his 12-year career. Warner (65.5 %) has the second-highest completion percentage in NFL history (trailing only Chad Pennington).

 

#4 Mats Sundin: The Toronto Maple Leafs all-time goals (420) and points (984) leader became the first Swedish player to score 500 goals in the NHL. Excluding his rookie year, the shortened lockout season, and his half season with the Vancouver Canucks, Sundin scored at least 70 points every season (from 88-09). He retired without a Stanley Cup ring.

#3 Steve Nash: Although this Phoenix Suns point guard grew up in Victoria, he was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Nash is a two-time MVP, and 7-time all-star. He has also led the league in assists and free-throw percentage at various points of his career. Nash, one of the top three point shooters of all time, is still searching for a championship.

 

#2 Dan Marino: The Miami Dolphins quarterback (1983-1999) holds or has held almost every major NFL passing record. The 9-time time pro bowl quarterback is remembered for having a quick release and a powerful arm. The only blemish on his remarkable career is that he did not win a Super-Bowl.

 

#1 Wilt Chamberlain: Does the late Wilt “the Stilt” head the list because the lifelong bachelor became notorious for his claim to have had sex with 20,000 women? Seriously, three NBA teams (Warriors, 76ers, & Lakers) plus the Harlem Globetrotters has retired his number 13. Chamberlain won two NBA titles, 4 MVP awards and he holds numerous records in scoring and rebounding categories. He scored 100 points in a single NBA game, arguably the greatest one game performance by an athlete in any sport.

 

Therefore, some great athletes have excelled wearing #13. Considering the history of the Vancouver Canucks, the Prince George Cougars and the P.G. Spruce Kings, a player should wear that number this season. Anything is worth a try to change their luck.

 

Oh, by the way, today I will cross my fingers; I will knock on wood and most certainly avoid cracks in the sidewalk.

From the Quote Rack:  

 

There are now rumors that Brett Favre sent sexy text messages to a young woman who worked as sideline reporter. Hard to believe, it’s not just that Favre is a married man, but if he were going to “sext” another woman, how would he decide which one?

How bad was Tiger Woods' weekend? He said he'd have rather been spending Thanksgiving with Elin. 

 

 

CBS' Nick Faldo says that Tiger Woods 'needs to put a band-aid on his game'. Yeah, one about the size of a tourniquet.

The New Jersey Nets filed for an official name change with the NBA this week.After last season's performance, they should file for it with the Witness Protection Program.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

The last time he hit this many trees, he was trying to get out of his driveway.

Jay Leno of NBC after Tiger ended the Bridgestone Invitational second last at 18-over par. 

 

An exhibit at the Regina Plains Museum offers a history of the toilet. Visitors can start at a 4,000-year-old Greek outhouse, see the first flush toilet circa 1596, and finish with the current location of Tiger Woods' golf game. 

 

Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly changed his mind and dropped out of Mel Gibson's new movie Vikings. Brett Favre has called him a diva. 
www.Sportsdeke.com

 

38 billionaires, including Warrant Buffet and Bill Gates, have agreed to donate half of their fortunes to charity. As opposed to Tiger Woods, Tiger donated half his fortune to his wife when she found out about a stripper named Charity.
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg http://thordoggie.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Phil Mickelson revealed that he is suffering from a very painful arthritic condition. Upon hearing the news, Tiger Woods said, "Dammit, why didn't I think of that," and then hooked a drive into the next county.

 

The Chicago Bulls and center Joakim Noah are talking about extensions. But, enough about the man’s hair, what about his contract?

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

 

Lebron James took out a full page ad in an Akron Ohio newspaper as a gesture to his hometown fans. The ad would have only been a ½ page but it would not have allowed the gesture to include his complete middle finger.

Calgary researchers have created a microchip that "communicates" with brain cells and when implanted in a patient the 1st question from the chip was “What’s up with the Flames signing Joikinen?”  

 

Students in the New Jersey Mount Olive High School district will now be given grades of A, B, C, or F, as a result of a new "no-D" policy. Hmmm, seems like the Knicks have had the same policy for years. 

 

I'm not saying the Mets are in a critical state, but their games are now being aired over the Emergency Broadcast System. 

 

Vince McMahon says opponents of his wife Linda's U.S. Senate campaign are misrepresenting his WWE programming in campaign attacks to derail her election bid.
So let's see if I've got this straight: A pro rasslin' guy is complaining that somebody else is faking it? 

 

Tennis star Anna Kournikova's mother has pleaded guilty to child neglect in Florida. The question is, what took so long?
Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

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