Small PHP problem, if statement not working?

[JTEwv]

Hey Y! Answers,
Small PHP problem, anyone have any ideas?

Let's say $currentHour is date("g"), or, right now, the numerical 1, because it is 1 PM.

I have hourValues("1"); and hourValues("2");

Why does hourValues("1"); not produce the " selected" from the if statement $currentHour == $thisHour (or, conversely, $thisHour == $currentHour), but $currentHour == "1" will produce the right result?

function hourValues($thisHour)
{
echo "<option value=\"".$thisHour."\"";
if($currentHour == $thisHour)
{
echo " selected";
}
echo ">";
echo $thisHour."</option>\r\n";
}