There’s something about the number 11.
I was born on the 11th. I grew up with the German soccer novel “11 Freunde müsst ihr sein”. Later came “11 Freunde”, a wonderful monthly magazine about soccer culture. But if I’m being honest, my favorite association with the number 11 has nothing to do with soccer at all — it’s the movie “This Is Spinal Tap”.
Because 11, as we all know, is louder. 1 louder, to be precise.
I have a very good friend with whom I spend my summers at festivals, my winters at club gigs, and every now and then all year hanging out in his rehearsal room. Over time, “Eleven” has become a running gag between us — the kind that quietly takes on a life of its own.
It has gone so far that other people have had custom T-shirts made for us, with our names printed on them alongside the word “Eleven.” Someone even made us an engraved house number sign — our names on it, and the number 11. Whenever we’re at a festival, we hang it on our tent.
So yes, eleven means something to me.
And now the Spurs have won eleven in a row.