For SQL 2005 and up
SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER( ORDER BY SomeColumn ) AS 'rownumber',*
FROM YourTable
for 2000 you need to do something like this
SELECT IDENTITY(INT, 1,1) AS Rank ,VALUE
INTO #Ranks FROM YourTable WHERE 1=0
INSERT INTO #Ranks
SELECT SomeColumn FROM YourTable
ORDER BY SomeColumn
SELECT * FROM #Ranks
Order By Ranks
see also here Row Number