Father's Day: The Bonding of Father, Son and Sports

Father's Day is about remembering your dad and remembering the times the two of you have shared.

For us sports fans, we all have our memories of going to games, talking about sports and life, and, for some of us, yelling at the opposing team.

I remember going to Yankee Stadium as a child with my dad and seeing Roberto Kelly smack a home run. Later on, Kelly became the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants, who just so happen to be our favorite team in our new home, the Bay Area.

Now, every time I see Kelly over there at first base, I remember my first experience at Yankee Stadium; the sights, the smells, the people, telling my dad after the home run, "Roberto Kelly is my favorite player now."

I remember going to Spring Training with my dad and his dad. I remember all of us getting sunburns. I remember yelling at Will Clark along with a slew of kids and interrupting him while he was playing catch (I never got an autograph, but I did get a picture of me smiling in my Giants hat with pitcher Bud Black behind me).

I remember going to Cooperstown with my dad and my mom's dad, my grandfather getting so excited at one point that he walked across the busy streets of New York, halting traffic as cab drivers yelled at him using words I had never heard. I remember walking back to the hotel once and my grandfather throwing a large pillow down on the street in front of me and scaring me half to death.

I remember my dad teaching me how to throw a baseball practically before I could even walk. I remember first learning how to bat and standing in the batter's box as a left-hander despite throwing with my right hand. My dad didn't flinch. If I wanted to be a left-hander, I was going to be a left-hander.

I remember hitting Wiffle balls into the trees at my house. I also remember letting go of the bat at one time and it smashing one of our windows.

I remember watching one of our favorite movies, Field of Dreams, and that line all us sports fans could relate to still rings in my ears: "Hey...dad? You wanna have a catch?"

I also remember the line, "If you build it, he will come," and wanting to turn our yard into a baseball diamond (with the required cornfield, of course). I didn't get a complete baseball diamond, but my dad did create base paths by mowing the lawn.

For all of us, Father's Day brings back a lot of memories.

What are yours?

Remember to let your dad know how much they mean to you on Father's Day.