Sports Dad For the Win

My first baseball game was at two weeks old, and while you'd think I couldn't remember much of anything at that age, I remember it all.

My dad umping behind the plate, while my five-year-old brother sat next to my Mom watching as intently as she was. My Dad always so dramatic behind the plate. I remember mimicking his movements when I knew it was a strike or ball. I remember never being afraid of foul balls. I remember him joking around with players as they entered the batter's box. I remember the songs that you've heard at every baseball park that will stay with me forever. I remember and live for the pizza after with all his ump friends.

Now, not only was my dad the cool umpire in my small town, he was also the voice of the town. He was the Sports Information Director and Voice on the radio at the local college for most of my childhood. We traveled with the team for their bowl games and it was the highlight of the year for me. From when I was three until eleven, we spent every other year in Hawaii with the team for the Oahu Bowl. Now, mind you, that bowl games for College Football are in the winter and my birthday was 5 days before Christmas. For the first couple years, I was convinced that every one in the stadium had come for my birthday, so I would walk around to as many people as I could and thank them for coming to my "birthday party". Obviously with my mom following behind telling people to "just go with it!"

I loved growing up with the sports dad that everyone in town knew, it was like living with a celebrity. I loved being able to run on the field after games. Soon enough, I started singing the National Anthem at most of the games - it was truly a family affair.

Growing up around sports events was my favorite part of my childhood and still remains a large part of adulthood, mainly for the love of the game, but also for the lessons that came from my dad and how he looked at sports and life. I can't imagine growing up without my dad behind the plate and I can't imagine growing up anywhere, except the baseball field, the football arena, or the basketball gymnasium. My dad definitely taught me lessons that applied on and off the field:

How to be a Good Sport:

No matter the outcome, always shake hands, look people in the eye, and say "thank you". This demonstrates respect to coaches, officials and other people who have taken the time and effort to make your game, and your sport, possible. This remains true in life as well. I took this lesson into job interviews, networking opportunities, and into most of my service jobs.

Letting it Go:

My dad, even if he had to kick someone out of the game or just had a coach run right up to him tomato red, he always kept his cool and locked right back in. I never understood how he didn't punch some of the coaches that got in his face and he would tell me after, "Oh I've wanted to, but what would that fix?" Letting it go is something that took me a little too long to learn. Even though my mom was my first call after a breakup, mainly because he never wants to hear his little girl cry, my dad was always the one that could bring me back to earth. He was always the guy that saw the bigger picture, no matter how hard the present moment was.

To Be Present:

Schedules are always hard for a parent that travels with the team, especially when sometimes that means being involved in the game itself. However, no matter what was going on with his work schedule, my brothers and I always came first. He never missed a recital or a family dinner. Being present was something my dad made look easy, even though I'm sure it wasn't always. And because my dad is present, I've always tried to show up for the people around me.

I loved growing up in sports. I loved watching my dad be the first one to yell at the ref at a basketball game, and the first one to laugh when we scored right after. I loved keeping the book while my dad dramatically called "threeeee" from behind the plate along with his sweeping movement. He never called "strike", but 1, 2, or 3, which I thought made it even more dramatic. I loved having a sports dad and I really love MY dad.

To my sports dad, and to all the sports dad's out there. Thank you. This playlist's for the baseball songs that transport you right back to the field: