I consider myself lucky. My Dad introduced me to a world that little girls sometimes, are assumed not to be interested in. That world usually reserved for fathers and their sons. That world I am referring to is the world of sports.
He always treated me with a unique style of respect. I hung on every word. Whether he was quoting stats of players on the Mets, Jets, Giants, Knicks or Rangers or telling me when game times were. ( Not to say he didn't take interest in other teams. These were just the chosen few.) He would fill me in on every bio, of every player. I learned early how important three letter clusters were....NFL, NHL, MLB,NBA. I marked each sport season with him.....World Series. Stanley Cup, SuperBowl. I was in awe of his passion as he watched each game. And in the days when I was young, and went to bed before most hockey games were televised, I would hear my dad getting frustrated at what he felt was an unjustified penalty. Or hear him celebrate that win, that made his team the one to be knocked off that pedestal. I knew I was missing something amazing. Why else would a person invest so much emotion?
I felt very fortunate to have that added dynamic with my Dad. My sons even had the experience of sharing all that with their "Pop". They had conversations with him, agreeing and maybe disagreeing at times. Just as I had. Guess that has been part of our tradition. And as the saying goes..."All good things must come to an end.".....They did to a certain extent. My Dad passed away almost 6 years ago......We still get the urge to pick up the phone and call him when something monumental or controversial happens. We think, "He would have loved to see this!"
Now I get to carry on, with my sons, what my Dad handed down to me. And though I'll never be the wealth of knowledge, in sports, that he was, my boys will be there to be his voice. I was very lucky, and so were my kids.
My Dad would really get a kick out of seeing the three of us flipping between sports channels,debating about trades, meeting pro athletes, and going to card shows.
I think... You set this all in motion. So.....Thanks Dad.......
