We are coming up on Father's Day weekend. I am going to post up a story about my dad and if anyone wants to join in, I'd love to hear em. Doesn't have to be anything big. Just a memory about dad.
One of my fave memories about dad was actually something he did that I hated very much at the time.
It was my first day of full pads football practice. I was scared, like most other 4th graders their first day of practice in pads. I was playing and hitting very tentatively, when dad stormed onto the practice field and yanked me off of it by the jersey.
"You better start hitting harder, or I'm going to take you home." he told me.
"Take me home then." I said, embarrassed by this bullshit.
Halfway home dad told me "I just want you to be the best you can be. I just want you to play hard."
He continued talking but that's all I remember. And before we were home he had talked himself out of not letting me play and turned around.
When we got back to the practice field I was fuming, and I proceeded to take it out on the other kids and myself, running into everyone has hard as I effing could.
For a lot of years him doing this made me mad as hell. But later I appreciated him for it, because it made me pissed off, and I played far better pissed off. Shocker, I know.
Anyway, Happy Early Fathers day to my pops. I'm glad he's still around for me to tell him that.
My dad lifting in our shed in the backyard.
ReplyDeleteHe would tell us kids to stay back because we could get hurt, haha.
That shed was tiny, filled with yard equipment and had no AC or electricity.
My dad critiquing everything from my jab-cross combo to my pushup form, showing me that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I miss him everyday.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has been a mechanic the majority of his life. I was a big strong kid, or so I thought. I was working for him one day trying to get a bolt busted loose and I've got both hands on it straining like crazy. I made a comment about needing a cheater bar. Ol dad walks over reaches up and busts it loose like it was nothing with one hand.
ReplyDeleteJim Glover
Mine is from football camp the summer before 7th grade. It was my first year playing, and I was too heavy to play on the midget team for my age group, so I got moved up with the biggest kids.
ReplyDeleteSince I was new, I got singled out a lot. I remember a few practices where it seemed like I would get high/lowed every play for hours. After about a week of that, I'd had enough. I wanted to quit.
My mom called my dad (they were divorced), and he left work early to come over to our house. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that I wasn't quitting.
"I didn't raise a fucking quitter," he said. It was the first time he'd ever said "fuck" to me before.
He explained to me that quitting now would make quitting the next time that much easier, and pretty soon I'd never stick anything out. He told me that I didn't ever have to play football again, but that I had made a commitment for this season, and I would finish it out. Period.
"But the other kids pick on me! They don't like me!" I told him.
"They're just testing you. They want to see what you're made of. You'd better show them."
He drove me to practice that day, though it was almost over by the time I got there. He talked to the coach and the coach came over and I talked to him for a while, and told him I would be back the next day.
The next day, a Wednesday, I was there, back on the practice field. I continued to get my ass kicked for the next few weeks, but I stuck it out. By the time games started, I was actually having fun, so much so that I decided to play the next year. And the year after that. And the year after that...until I graduated from college, a four-year letterman at Case Western (D3 school).
I've often thought about what my life would have been like if my dad hadn't been there that day, or if he had just said "fuck it, kid doesn't want to play, nothing I can do." That day was THE turning point in my life. Everything I am would have been completely different if I had been allowed to quit that day.
That might sound a little melodramatic for something as trivial as football, but it's the truth. The game changed me. It gave me a purpose. My confidence grew every year I played. I would not be the man I am today if I had quit that day.
Thanks Dad.
Great story Justin. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteI remember shooting hoops and playing one-on-one in the driveway with my dad. I remember what a big deal it was when I could actually compete with him and even win sometimes. I also remember him going out and finding a huge old irrigation pipe and welding together some stuff so we had a nice sturdy hoop to play on. He shows he cares by just taking care of things and fixing whatever you need.
ReplyDeleteEven though he wasn't consistent with training, there was always some sort of lifting equipment around, which got me interested.
This is my first father's day as a dad. I never imagined how much I could love a little one until we had our son.
On the other hand, we know someone who's husband just walked out on her and their four kids again. I can't fathom what could make you do that. I get mad just thinking about it.
Congrats to all the fathers out there who are doing the right thing and raising their kids well.
Sean
Awesome Sean. Thanks man.
ReplyDeleteMy dad is one of two men than I look up to, the other is my grandfather. I personally think that having heroes is overrated. I think those people you look up to should earn it in your eyes, rather than because of something they did on the field/weight room/ etc. Respect if different than idolatry, a lot of guys need to be confident in themselves and learn the difference...enough of the rant.
ReplyDeleteMy dad worked 50-80 hour weeks. Nevertheless, he still showed up to every football/basketball/baseball/track/wrestling match, meet and game. He also worked those same hours and coached my little league football team for 4 years.
Now that I coach, he makes it to more of our games than a lot of my kids parents. At the time I took for granted him being at everything. Now I realize how great that is. He never complained when he had to stay at a basketball tournament game until 11 then go to work at 4 the next morning. He simply did what had to be done and stayed positive about it.
As I have gotten older he has helped me stay true to myself and keep the right course through life. I have gotten sick of some of the bullshit at my job and the backstabbing that goes on. I was considering quitting. He told me to think of my situation as something to make me mentally tougher and be thankful that I can provide for my family.
He is a good person and a great man.
Great post Dave.
ReplyDelete