So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 0-00
As we stated our goal in today's Daily News column about trying to compile the all-time roster of Southern California athletes, it's not always clear who has ownership to a particular number until you see the list of candidates over the years.
To start this project off, you need to hit rock bottom.
The candidates for the numbers that are low as you can get:
No. 00:
Our pick:
==Benoit Benjamin, Clippers ('85-'91) and Lakers (28 games in '93).
Who else epitomizes what this number represents? He's the Clippers' all-time leader in blocked shots (1,117) and scored a career best 16.4 points a game in '88-'89. The Lakers traded Sam Perkins to Seattle to get him, then shipped him to New Jersey for Sam Bowie after two months. His greatest accomplishment may have been as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters ... and it happend off the court. He and four other Globetrotters were at Jayson Williams’ house when the incident happened where a chauffeur was killed by a shotgun blast. Benjamin, while testifying in the trial, stunned the courtroom by saying he saw Williams pull the trigger of the gun, leading the chief prosecutor to say: “I didn’t expect that answer."
One more story: When Benjamin played for the New Jersey Nets, he was warming up before a game with new teammate Yinka Dare, from Nigeria. Dare noticed that Christian Laettner, who was warming up for the opposing Minnesota Timberwolves, was wearing a “C” on his uniform. He asked Jayson Williams what that "C" stood for. “Caucasian,” said Williams. Benjamin overheard it and after Dare went to the layup line, Benjamin said to Williams: “That Dare is really stupid. He thinks Caucasian begins with a ‘C’ instead of a ‘K.’"
Others who wore 0:
==Orlando Woolridge, Lakers ('88-'90)
==Olden Polynice, Clippers ('90-'91 for 31 games, '91-'92 for 76 games, '03-'04 for 2 games)
==Al Oliver, Dodgers (played 35 games in '85, hit .253, at end of his 18-year career)
==Jerome Moiso, UCLA basketball (98-'00)
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 00: Jim Otto, Oakland Raiders
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 0: Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours:
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Orlando Woolridge also wore "0", with the Lakers.
Oliver, ever the one to be different, said the "O" was for "Oliver," rather than the the numeral. But what did he know?