Fathers' Day tributes?

Thought this would be a good time to do this. Please post tributes to Dad's that meant a lot to your love for the sports you or others played.

here's mine:
My dad was a farmer. He did not go to all my games as a kid; we worked basically all the time. He was not a youth team coach; didn't have or take the time. When there wasn't a game or practice, he expected us to be working on the farm. Mom shuttled us to & from practices/ games.

But also he never deprived us of the chance to play ball. Never once did he keep us from playing because of what he wanted. He could have chosen to do that. It wasn't like that with some other kids I knew.

A memory that will last forever: In my jr. year in HS, he had been sick with heart-related trouble & was no longer able to carry on the farming; also was unable to attend games because of the sickness. We were playing an afternoon away game in our county & I was pitching.
I look over to the stands & there he sets with my mom also; as you can imagine a smile and a warm feeling came upon me.
He died later that spring before baseball season was finished.

 

My Dad worked a public job and grew tobacco, so there wasnt much time for ballgames. But he let us play, even tho he wasnt always there.But because of his work ethic and the start he gave me in life i have been fortunate enough to see most of my daughters games. I owe a lot of that to him I know, along with a lot of other things not softball related. I am very thankful that now he gets to spend a lot of his days and weekends watching his grandkids play ball.My parents most always travel with us now wherever we play,and he is Pa, to about 15 girls.

 

Father's Day

My Dad came to all of my baseball games. I pitched and I was very wild at times. I now know how nervous he must have been. He never once told me what I did wrong or what I should have done to improve. He was just proud of me. I wish that I could be more like him...:229031_ha :229031_ha :229031_ha

 

my pops

I was being asked to play for a LL team in Rocky mount, nc

(Yes, Rocky Mount was the home of the great Phil Ford and Buck Williams, hoops stars, and well, me )

Anyway,They won everything, 15-0 the year before, the other team was "winning challenged", to be PC.

My dad asked me if I wanted to play with the good team and win or play with him coaching and learn something, I said win, he said too bad, I was playing with him to learn something. We went 0-14 and the only game we were winning it began to HAIL.......

But he was right, I did learn something, that he loved me unconditionally no matter what our record was or good or bad I did...in turn, my kids are getting the same thing.....the only thing that really chaps my rear is when kids don't try or disrespect someone else

Mothers keep homes together, but dad's set the tone for how you look at situations that come up in your life. All of you that still have yours, you are very blessed.....

 

DAD

My Mom and Dad missed one game in my entire sports career, football, basketball, baseball! My Dad had to quit school in seventh grade to farm, later went into the army, broke two vertebrae in his back but finished HS after all that. Never played sports, never cared about it till I played. He encouraged me to be the best I could at everything I did and to give more than U take! Everyday he does that! He is 80, just had a heart attack which he survived and still is more concerned about others! I pray that someday I can live up to his standards! He is awesome. I encourage all that read this board to remember your Dad's, heck remember your family will always be there no matter what, keep them close!